Face-to-face Events

Our face-to-face HR Director Boardroom events offer a unique opportunity to connect in person with fellow HR leaders. Set in carefully chosen venues, these sessions create a focused and engaging environment where open discussion, real collaboration, and meaningful relationships can thrive.

What to Expect:

• Small, curated groups of HR Directors for high-quality discussion

• Inspiring guest speakers and expert facilitators

• Interactive sessions held under Chatham House rules

• Networking over breakfast or refreshments in premium venues

• A chance to build trusted connections that last beyond the event

Why Attend:
Face-to-face sessions are designed to deepen connections, encourage candid conversation, and allow for more personal interactions. They provide the perfect balance between thought leadership and peer-to-peer exchange.

Date: Wednesday 29th April 2026

Time: 8:30am – 10:00am

Topic: Why Authentic Intelligence is the Leadership Skill AI Can’t Replace

Venue: Eversheds Sutherland – Leeds Office

Key Takeaways:

• Where has the rise of AI come from?
• What does the rise of AI mean for the world of work in 2026 and beyond?
• What are some of the impacts that AI can have on our ability to connect as humans who need to work together?
• What does Authentic Intelligence look like, and why is it increasingly becoming a critical skill?
• What can leaders / HR teams do to stay human and connect with their teams?

Simon Rice-Birchall

Simon is a Partner in Evershed Sutherland’s Employment group. Simon has considerable experience in employment tribunal litigation and has a reputation in the marketplace for his discrimination law knowledge. Simon has been responsible for a number of high-profile discrimination cases over the last 20 years and continues to build this area of his practice. In addition, Simon’s contentious workload includes unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and executive terminations.

Simon qualified in 1992 and has been an employment litigator all his career. In addition to his contentious practice, Simon also gives advice in relation to non-contentious matters such as the implications of the TUPE regulations in many different change situations, issues relating to proposals to change terms and conditions of employment and large-scale redundancy exercises.

Steph Evans-Hill

Steph is an experienced senior HR leader with a pragmatic, optimistic, and long-term mindset. She is passionate about delivering business results through progressive people strategies that enable teams to reach their full potential and enjoys challenging the status quo! Her strengths lie in her commercial acumen and ability to influence through clear, actionable business activity.

With an HR career spanning almost 20 years across multiple industries, including food manufacturing and FMCG, Steph has worked for household names such as Nestle, PPG and is now the Group People Director at the William Jackson Food Group. She has significant senior HR experience across the UK and international markets and has led a number of large-scale, complex transformations. Steph is an ICF-qualified coach and also acts as a non-employed Director of a family-founded design business in the UK.

Our in-person HR Director Boardroom events are returning in 2026, bringing senior HR leaders together across the UK for insightful debate and meaningful connections. Each session combines thought-provoking content, expert guest speakers, and open discussion under Chatham House rules – all in a confidential and collaborative environment.

Join us at one of our upcoming events and be part of the conversation shaping the future of HR leadership. More information and booking details will be available closer to the time.

Our online HR Director Boardroom events make it easy to connect with senior HR leaders, no matter where you are. Engage in meaningful discussions, gain fresh perspectives, and be part of a trusted community – all from the convenience of your screen.