About our Conference 2023 Speakers
We have put together an engaging speaker programme covering a wide range of topical subjects that will interest anyone in the Funeral Profession.
Key issues facing the funeral sector
Natalie McKail – Independent Chair, Independent Funeral Standards Organisation
Former Inspector of Funeral Directors in Scotland, Natalie now chairs the NAFD’s independent standards monitoring inspectorate and is feeding into the current Ministry of Justice review looking at the effectiveness of the NAFD and SAIF’s voluntary regulation of the funeral sector. Natalie will talk about the work of IFSO and her wider experience and expertise, both in Scotland as part of the development of the forthcoming licensing scheme within the Scottish Government’s Inspectorate of Funeral Directors.
James Blackburn – Head of Funerals for Scotmid Co-operative
James has campaigned for the introduction of resomation in Scotland and continues to press the Scottish Government for a timetable for a public inquiry into its introduction. He will talk about the commitment that Scotmid has made into exploring and investing in alternative forms of disposal, as part of the firm’s wider sustainability programme.
Jeremy Field OBE – Managing Director of CPJ Field & Co
Jeremy will share his experience of giving evidence to the first phase of the Fuller Inquiry and representing the NAFD in meetings with the Department of Work and Pensions, Law Commission and others on standards matters. He will also share his insight into the critical issues likely to be faced by funeral firms as public and regulatory attention focuses on how deceased people are looked after.
Simon Holden – Chief Executive Officer, Faunus Group
Born from a belief that “for conservation to stand a chance, there has to be a profit in it. The bigger the profit, the greater the good you will do,” the Faunus Group invests, develops, and supports sustainable businesses in the end-of-life sector that aim to transform the future of funerals. At Conference, Simon will be talking about his work to develop alternative forms of disposal to burial and cremation and the development of innovative solutions to the unique sustainability challenges the sector faces.
The workforce of the future – developing tomorrow’s leaders
The AW Lymn Residential Training Programme
Matthew Lymn Rose – Managing Director, AW Lymn – The Family Funeral Service
Since 2001, A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service has operated a unique training programme which gives a young person each year the chance to learn all aspects of the funeral profession, from arranging and floristry to embalming and monumental masonry, while generally living on site at the firm’s central Nottingham base. Recently the format has changed to a course welcoming new staff of any age who get a taster for each department of the business. Matthew Lymn Rose will be talking to Conference about the challenges they’ve faced along the way, the changes that have been made to the course during its life, and the many opportunities and benefits it has created for both A.W. Lymn and the young people who have joined the programme.
Perspectives on the future
Kyle Daley Dip.FD BIE(Assoc) – Funeral director and operations manager, Hillier Funeral Service
As well as being a funeral director and emerging leader within Hillier Funeral Service, Kyle Daley has also volunteered for the NAFD as a steward at both the 2019 National Funeral Exhibition and 2022 NAFD Conference. In conversation with Nick Britten, Kyle talks about the development of his career in funeral service, his influences, inspirations and what he sees as important for the future of funeral directing.
Have you thought about who will run your business in the future?
Fiona Graham – Director of External Affairs and Policy, The Institute for Family Business
From succession planning and nurturing future leadership potential, to ensuring your plans grow as your family does, Fiona will run through some of the things that funeral firms should be thinking about as they plan for the future and answer your questions on the key topics facing all multi-generational businesses.
Unlikely? Unexpected? Under Control! – Managing risk in your funeral business
Alex Harding – Head of Compliance and Risk – Ecclesiastical Planning Services
How do you anticipate and manage all of the risks that your business might face in a market that is changing as rapidly as funerals? Alex Harding shares the risk assessment approach taken by Benefact Group businesses, including SEIB and Ecclesiastical Planning Services. Using industry-specific case studies and practical tools, NAFD members will be shown how they can be fully prepared to meet a wide range of financial, operational, strategic, environmental, and regulatory risks.
Positive Mindsets and mental wellbeing of funeral Staff
James Gardner – Managing Director, Viners & Sons
How to improve our mindset in every aspect of our life and business. Looking at how to create a positive mind to help deal with any challenges that may come our way. James will talk about the way we can help our staff in our businesses to help improve their mental wellbeing.
Key note address: BREAK-POINT
Ollie Ollerton – SAS Who Dares Wins
Ollie’s style is certainly unique, engaging and thought provoking. His credibility as a former Special Forces Operator and his stories of life-or-death experiences compels the audience immediately paving the way for further content to be absorbed and implemented to improve the personal and professional lives of all attendees.
We all have BREAK-POINTs to face – at the gym, in the office, in our personal lives – those moments of self-doubt where we have to dig deep and find something within to grab hold of and push us through. Ollie Ollerton has faced his own BREAK-POINT’s and now he tells us the lessons he has learnt along the way. From a child survivor of a freak attack to elite fighter, Ollie’s incredible story features, high-speed shoot-outs, counter-terrorism and humanitarian heroics.
Special Forces soldiers are not supermen. Bullets don’t bounce off them. They don’t hit the target with every shot. They have the same vulnerabilities and doubts as the rest of us. But ordinary people can achieve the extraordinary, under the greatest pressure, in the most challenging situations.
NAFD Conference and AGM 2023
The 2023 NAFD Conference and Annual General Meeting, chaired by NAFD President John Adams, takes place at the centrally located Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon from Friday 19- Sunday 21 May 2023 – offering a weekend of insight, education, networking and entertainment in the relaxed and convivial company of friends and colleagues from across the funeral profession.
The first Annual General Meeting since the appointment of new Chief Executive Andrew Judd, the meeting will provide members with an opportunity to hear Andrew’s vision for the NAFD, as well as discussing the Association’s progress towards some of the key goals in its Five-Year Strategy. Come and hear first hand how NAFD are learning from the past to create the future.