Royal Armouries, Leeds, 11 - 12 November 2026
We are delighted to announce that the ever-popular Autumn Conference is returning to the Royal Armouries in Leeds.
Exhibitors
Click here to view the exhibitors
Registration
Attendance is free for British APCO members.
Click here to register
Programme
The programme delivers two inspiring days of insight, innovation and collaboration, bringing together the experts shaping the future of public safety technology. Attendees will benefit from exceptional networking opportunities, connecting with leading practitioners, decision-makers and industry innovators.
Featuring a dynamic mix of keynote presentations, expert panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions, the event also includes a dedicated exhibition showcasing the latest solutions and technologies. The experience culminates in an exclusive evening networking supper, held within the unique setting of the Museum’s Tournament and War Galleries.
The outline programme for the event are:
| Wednesday 11 November 2026 |
| 1000 |
Exhibition, Networking & Registration |
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Welcome
Darryl Keen, Chair, British APCO |
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One Standard, One Platform, One Contact: Accelerating the AI‑Driven Transformation of Public Safety Communications
Chris Philpott, Assistant Chief Officer, Humberside Police
This session explores how policing is developing an integrated, AI‑powered contact and deployment platform that will streamline information flow, strengthen decision‑making, and support a reformed, future‑ready policing model. |
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Public Safety after AI: What must change?
Chris Philpott, Assistant Chief Officer, Humberside Police; Aaron Page, Principal Consultant, Actica Consulting; Robert Hogg, CEO Black Marble |
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When Risks Collide: Lessons from public safety, resilience and national security
Dr Egbe Manners, Market Development Lead (National Security and Resilience) & Jonathan Allsup, Geospatial Analyst, Ordnance Survey
Drawing on practical examples from across public safety, resilience and national security, this session explores how organisations are using authoritative OS data and capabilities available through the PSGA to support planning, situational understanding and response. It will examine the lessons when disruption crosses organisational and sector boundaries, before turning to the question of collective readiness. |
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Exhibition, Networking & Lunch |
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Breakout Session 1a: How do you plan to use ESN?
Kevin Partridge, Head of Campaigns, ESN - Home Office
This workshop will invite attendees to discuss some of the potential ESN tools that users and first responders could use, as well as opportunities for ways in which their day-to-day roles could be made easier once they are transitioned to ESN.
Breakout Session 1b: Beyond Response: Building multi-agency readiness for an increasingly unpredictable world
Dr Egbe Manners, Market Development Lead (National Security and Resilience) & Jonathan Allsup, Geospatial Analyst, Ordnance Survey
As risks become more connected and their consequences move across organisational boundaries, what does genuine multi-agency readiness require? This interactive breakout will explore emerging and interconnected risks, critical dependencies and the barriers to sustained preparedness. Participants will share experience and identify practical priorities for strengthening collective readiness across public safety, resilience and government. |
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Breakout Session 2a: MAIT - Open Forum
Tony Bracey; Darryl Keen, Chair, British APCO
An interactive discussion reviewing the current position of the rollout, including members’ experiences, lessons learned, and opportunities to support wider adoption. The session will also provide an update on website development, encourage greater engagement and registration, and explore priorities for continuous improvement.
Breakout Session 2b: ESN Transition: Modernising with Confidence
Dawn Griffiths, BDD UK + Benelux, Sepura & Luke Stanley, Head of Pre Sales Engineering, Sepura
As ESN moves closer to reality, public safety organisations are balancing the desire for new broadband-enabled capabilities with the need to maintain trusted operational communications. This interactive breakout session explores the opportunities and challenges of transition, including organisational readiness, risk management, the coexistence of TETRA and broadband services, and long-term migration planning. Delegates will be invited to share their own experiences, concerns and lessons learned, creating an open discussion on what successful transition looks like in practice. |
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Exhibition, Networking & Refreshments |
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Cyber conversations: AI, safety and threat actors, are we doing enough?
Gillian Fyfe, Cyber Resilience Lead, NFCC ; Daniella Thorpe, Humberside Fire; Mark Rice, Cyber Security & Information Manager, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service; Michelle Ohren, Director, The Cyber Resilience Centre for West Midland;
Cyber isn't just the responsibility of the IT dept, and they doesn’t start after an attack. Our panel will discuss how fire and rescue services are considering both physical and cyber security to get the balance right when they want to make fire stations open community assets but safe from harm. If AI is lowering the bar for cyber attacks, making it easy for threat actors to get into systems, what conversations should services be having to get ahead of the game? |
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What happens when the technology fails: Human in the Loop
Susan Whyte, Emergency Management and Resilience Manager, University of Wolverhampton; Rich Bell, Resilience Consultant
Scenario: There has been a complete failure of police technology. There is an ongoing large scale major incident in a major city with casualties…we examine the
importance of cyber specific response plans and the intersection of running a physical major incident and a cyber attack incident. |
| 1800-2100 |
Evening Social & Networking Reception in the Royal Armouries War Gallery
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sponsored by
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| Thursday 12 November 2026 |
| 0930 |
Welcome |
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Resilience when severe weather hits |
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Staying operational in extreme weather conditions |
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Exhibition, Networking & Lunch |
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Breakout Session 3a: Working together to transition to ESN
Karen Larkin, Information Management Lead, ESN - Home Office
This workshop invites you to share thoughts on areas of consideration around ways of working when organisations begin to transition to ESN, as well as inviting your feedback on what additional information you might need to know during this time.
Breakout Session 3b: Skills for What’s Next: Upskilling, AI and Career Pathways with IBM SkillsBuild
Raj Sritharan, Learning Experience Designer, IBM
This workshop will explore how IBM SkillsBuild can help you develop skills for the future. Through an introduction and a live demonstration, we’ll explore free learning opportunities in areas such as AI and digital technologies, as well as pathways to grow in your current role or prepare for what comes next. You’ll come away with practical ideas for taking your first steps. |
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Exhibition, Networking & Lunch |
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Connecting Emergency Calls Across Borders - The journey towards a global public safety directory
Louis Fraser-Wilson, Performance Manager Call Handling, London Ambulance Service
NHS Trust What happens when a caller in one country needs emergency help in another? As international emergency calls continue to rise, public safety agencies face an increasingly complex challenge: finding and contacting the right emergency service across borders. Drawing on research undertaken through the Ian Thompson Bursary Award, this session explores the realities of international emergency call routing, lessons learned from existing directory initiatives around the world, and how collaboration through CC:IPS is helping shape a common framework for future public safety interoperability. |
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British APCO Bursary Awards
British APCO Board |
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Benefits of ESN today and latest development
Jayne Gardner, Deputy Director for Delivery Assurance, ESN – Home Office
Find out the latest developments on the Emergency Services Network (ESN), including learnings from recent testing events and milestone activities, and a discussion of what Deployment will look like in the future for both user organisations and suppliers. |
| 1430 |
Closing Remarks
Darryl Keen, Chair, British APCO |
CPD
The Autumn Conference is CPD accredited for 15 points.
Exhibition and Sponsorship
Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are now open for Advancing Critical Communications, British APCO’s Autumn Conference to be held at Royal Armouries, Leeds on 11 and 12 November 2026.
This long-established event in the British APCO calendar is highly respected for its rigorously selected programme which highlights the latest innovations, successes and challenges in mission critical communications for the emergency services and public sector. Examples of best practice and practical, user-driven technology solutions will also be discussed in roundtable style, interactive breakout sessions.
The conference provides a forum where frontline practitioners and industry suppliers come together to share information and experience to facilitate learning and improve outcomes in a mutually supportive environment.
Participants will include public safety communications professionals from the emergency services, government, academia, and industry.
To allow British APCO members complimentary attendance, funding for this event relies on the generosity of our industry partners. We invite you to support the event as a sponsor and/or exhibitor.
Please contact victoria.armstrong@bapco.org.uk to reserve your exhibition stand or discuss the sponsorship opportunities.
Venue
Armouries Way, Leeds LS10 1NF
Parking
This is an on-site multi-story car park for 1250 vehicles.
Train Travel Discount
LNER offer a 25% discount on train tickets to the event. Details will be available to registered attendees.
Hotels
Located on the Royal Armouries doorstep are three hotels, ranging from 2 to 4 star. Discount codes will be available to registered attendees.