Conference Agenda
Day 1 – Tuesday 28th April 2026
07:45 – 09:00
Exhibition Halls
Registration, Coffee & Networking
09:00 – 09:05
Imperial
Chairs Introduction
Rose Gallagher – Professional Lead Sustainability – Royal College of Nursing [Confirmed]
09:05 – 09:30
Imperial
HCAI’s. The National Picture
Dr. Joanna Harris – Head of Infection Prevention and Control – UK Health Security Agency [Confirmed]
09:30 – 09:55
Imperial
Antifungal Resistant Fungi in a One-Health Context: Global Challenges and Perspectives
Fungal infections now cause more attributable deaths that those due HIV, TB and malaria combined, and cause suffering and major health care costs associated with recurrent or chronic morbidity. This global health burden is exacerbated by the rise of drug resistance across common clinically relevant fungal species and the emergence of a number of new drug resistance species that were unknown as clinical pathogens until recently. This presentation will provide a one-health analysis of the rise of Candida auris, drug resistant dermatophyte species and other fungi, and the possible contribution of climate change and changing socio-economic factors to the evolution of these new health threats.
Prof. Neil Gow – Professor – MRC Centre for Medical Mycology – University of Exeter [Confirmed]
09:55 – 10:20
Imperial
Health Equity and Prevention: Learning from the COVID-19 Inquiry
Reflecting on the third report: systemic IPC gaps and future design
Rose Gallagher – Professional Lead Sustainability – Royal College of Nursing [Confirmed]
10:20 – 10:55
Imperial
AMR & Sustainability Gains in Vascular Access – Case Study
Speaker to be Announced
10:55 – 11:30
Exhibition Halls
Morning Coffee & Networking
11:30 – 12:00
Imperial
Workshop 1: UTI Prevention
Speaker to be Announced
11:30 – 12:00
Ballacraine
Workshop 2: Fungal Infection Treatment
Speaker to be Announced
11:30 – 12:00
Bracebridge
Workshop 3: SSI Prevention
Speaker to be Announced
12:00 – 12:05
Transition
12:05 – 12:35
Imperial
Workshop 4: Diagnostic Innovation
Speaker to be Announced
12:05 – 12:35
Ballacraine
Workshop 5: Venous Catheter Best Practice
Speaker to be Announced
12:05 – 12:35
Bracebridge
Workshop 6: Managing E.Coli Outbreaks
Speaker to be Announced
12:35 – 13:45
Exhibition Halls
Afternoon Lunch & Networking
13:45 – 14:15
Imperial
Workshop 7: CPE – What to Do in an Outbreak Situation?
Dr. Mark Garvey – Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control – University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust [Proposed]
13:45 – 14:15
Ballacraine
Workshop 8: Correct Use of PPE with HIgh Consequence Infectious Disease
Marie-Claire Hoyle – High Consequence Infectious Diseases Networks Coordinator – NHS England – Highly Specialised Services [Confirmed]
13:45 – 14:15
Bracebridge
Workshop 9: Building AMR Resilience Upstream: Vaccines, Systems, and Equity
Looks beyond antimicrobial use, and into education, vaccination, structural levers, and community-led change.
Speaker to be Announced
14:15 – 14:25
Transition
14:25 – 14:50
Imperial
The Scientific and System-Level Challenges Needed to Improve Infection Outcomes
Drawing on the AMR National Action Plan (2024-29), I will address the challenges, and potential solutions to improve infection management. The solutions will include both system / policy level changes and scientific interventions.
Prof. Mark Wilcox – National Clinical Director for Infection Prevention and Control & AMR Diagnostics – NHS England [Confirmed]
14:50 – 15:20
Imperial
Panel: Preventing the Preventable: What a Truly Preventive IPC System Looks Like
Include experts from estates, primary care, policy, public health, and behavioural science.
Speaker to be Announced
15:20 – 15:25
Imperial
Questions & Answers
15:25 – 16:00
Exhibition Halls
Afternoon Coffee & Networking
16:00 – 16:25
Imperial
UTI prevention: Pee, Prevention, and the Planet – Greener UTI Care in the Community
Tracey Doolan – Infection prevention and Control Nurse- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust [Confirmed]
16:25 – 16:50
Imperial
BBV Testing in A&E – What We Have Learned?
Andy Turner – Transformation Programme Director – NHS South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Pathology – Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [Invited]
16:50 – 17:00
Imperial
Questions & Answers
17:00
Close of Day 1
Day 2 – Wednesday 29th April 2026
07:45 – 09:00
Exhibition Halls
Registration, Coffee & Networking
09:00 – 09:05
Imperial
Chairs Introduction
Rose Gallagher – Professional Lead Sustainability – Royal College of Nursing [Confirmed]
09:05 – 09:30
Imperial
Biofilm Management: Can It Be Done Sustainably?
Materials innovation, diagnostics, and the antimicrobial pipeline.
Catherine Harrison – Infection Prevention and Control Healthcare Scientist – NHS England [Confirmed]
09:30 – 09:55
Imperial
The Complications of Surface Disinfection
Prof. Jean-Yves Maillard – Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology – School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science – University of Cardiff [Confirmed]
09:55 – 10:20
Imperial
Waterborne Pathogens – Keep High Risk Patients Safe
Dr. Noah El Sakka OBE – Vice President – Royal College of Pathologists [Confirmed]
10:20 – 10:45
Imperial
Industry Insight
Speaker to be Announced
10:45 – 10:55
Imperial
Questions & Answers
10:55 – 11:30
Exhibition Halls
Morning Coffee & Networking
11:30 – 12:00
Imperial
Workshop 1: Biofilm Eradication
Speaker to be Announced
11:30 – 12:00
Ballacraine
Workshop 2: Ensuring Antimicrobial Efficacy
Speaker to be Announced
11:30 – 12:00
Bracebridge
Workshop 3: Eradicating Waterborne Infections
Speaker to be Announced
12:00 – 12:05
Transition
12:05 – 12:35
Imperial
Workshop 4: Airborne Pathogens
Speaker to be Announced
12:05 – 12:35
Ballacraine
Workshop 5: Patient Isolation
Speaker to be Announced
12:05 – 12:35
Bracebridge
Workshop 6: Continuous Disinfection or Continuous Compromise? Solving the Occupied-Space Challenge
Speaker to be Announced
12:35 – 13:45
Exhibition Halls
Afternoon Lunch & Networking
13:45 – 14:10
Imperial
Designing Out Risk – Environmental Health for IPC
Speaker to be Announced
14:10 – 14:35
Imperial
Case Study – Infection Outbreak Management
Emyr Phillips – University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust [Confirmed]
14:35 – 14:45
Imperial
Questions & Answers
14:45 – 15:15
Exhibition Halls
Afternoon Coffee & Networking
15:15 – 15:40
Imperial
Is your Building Air Quality Good Enough?
Douglas Booker – Lecturer in Air Quality – University of Leeds [Proposed]
15:40 – 16:10
Imperial
Protect Against Airborne Pathogens
Cat Makison Booth – HM Specialist Inspector – Microbiology and Biotechnology – Health and Safety Executive [Proposed]
16:10 – 16:20
Imperial
Questions & Answers
16:20
Close of Day 2