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• ISTR Autumn Symposia & Workshops, 11-13 November 2025

  • Start
    11 November 2025
  •  
    09:00
  • End
    13 November 2025
  •  
    15:00
  • Location
    Burleigh Court, Off Ashby Road (A512), Loughborough University (West Park), Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3GR

  Register

  
  
  

  ISTR AUTUMN SYMPOSIA and PRE-SYMPOSIA WORKSHOPS

  Theme: Brave New World: Challenges to traditional ways of thinking in research health and safety

  Tuesday 11th - Thursday 13th November 2025

  Burleigh Court Conference Centre, University of Loughborough

  Following last year's successful symposia looking back at 50 years of the HSAWA this year we turn our attention to issues faced today in our working environments which challenge traditional ways of thinking about health and safety.

  This year we are also offering something new, a day of pre-symposium workshops for those who want to learn in greater depth about being an effective safety practitioner, understanding how human factors influence working safely and looking at mental health and wellbeing. The workshops will be led by Rosie Russell and Jon Gawn. You will need to book early as workshop places are limited.

  The Symposium programme is wide-ranging and will enhance delegates' knowledge and understanding of various new sustainability initiatives, use of readily available software to manage safety tasks, and the experience of neurodiverse individuals. Delegates will consider reasonable adjustments for those with mental health issues and work together through a range of tabletop scenario exercises to discover what reasonable adjustments can be made for individuals in various situations.

  We are delighted to welcome Ann Diment, a health and safety practitioner, ambassador for ADHD UK, published author and as our Keynote Speaker. 

  For 2025 we are able to provide a fantastic offer of a 2-day Symposia at Burleigh Court Conference Centre at the University of Loughborough, with accommodation and conference dinner included in a very attractive ticket price. This can be extended to include the Pre-symposium Workshop. 

  

  

  Programme of events
  

  Day 1 Pre-symposium Workshops 
  Sign up for the day and attend a morning and afternoon session. Please note there will be a maximum of 14 places available in each session.

  Tuesday 11th November

  Morning Session 09.00-12.30hrs
  Mental health and wellbeing (Rosie Russell), or
  Coaching skills for safety advisors (Jon Gawn)

  Afternoon Session 13.00-16.00hrs
  Human factors (Rosie Russell), or
  Coaching skills for safety advisors (Jon Gawn)

  

  Symposium Provisional Programme (tbc)

  Wednesday 12th November

  9.30 Registration, Coffee and Networking

  10.30 Welcome, Andy Minnis (ISTR Chair)

  10.45 HSE Update. Holly Dove (HSE)

  11.30 LEAF - Researching sustainably is not the same as research into sustainability. Rachel Fairfax, UCL 

  12.15 Lunch & Networking

  13.30 Validating a sustainable alternative to autoclaving. Colin Fricker, Envetec 

  14.10 Sustainable Labs Mark Wheatley

  14.50 Refreshments, Networking

  15.20 DIY Safety Systems: Smarter Tools for Leaner Times, David Kemp, University of Nottingham

  16.00 Reasonable adjustments for those with mental health issues. Laura Williams, Thive Law 

  16.45 Close of Day 1
  
  

  19.00 Burleigh Court Drinks reception 

  19.30 Symposium Dinner, Burleigh Court
  
  

  Thursday 13th November

  09.30 Coffee and Networking

  10.00 Welcome,

  10.15 Experiences with autism. Dev Agarwal, University of York

  11.00 Tabletop scenario exercises - Reasonable adjustments. All

  12.30 Lunch and Networking

  13.15 Keynote address - Neurodiversity. Ann Diment,

  14.30 Closing Remarks. Andy Minnis, ISTR Chair

  15.00 Symposium close

  

  Symposium Venue: Burleigh Court, Off Ashby Road (A512), Loughborough University (West Park), Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3GR 

  Drinks reception and Symposium Dinner: At Burleigh Court and included in the ticket price.

  Tickets: Earlybird booking (before 15 August) is highly recommended and offers existing ISTR members fantastic value for money.

  Fully inclusive tickets: offer members attendance at the Pre-Symposim Workshop, Symposium, lunch and refreshments during the symposium, attendance at the Conference Drinks Reception and Dinner and two nights Bed and Breakfast accommodation at Burleigh Court on 11/11 and 12/11/25. Numbers of Fully inclusive tickets are strictly limited.

  2-day Symposium tickets: offer exceptional value and includes attendance at the 2-day symposium, lunch and refreshments during the symposium, attendance at the Conference Drinks Reception and Dinner and Bed and Breakfast accommodation at Burleigh Court on Wednesday 12/11/25. 
  

  Non-member tickets: Non members are very welcome to attend the 2-Day Symposium. If any Workshop tickets remain unsold these may be made available to non-members in early October.

  Sponsors/Trade Stands - please enquire for details to  istr-eventssecretary@istr.org.uk 

  Payment options: Online payment by card is the preferred payment method. Purchase orders are accepted but please remember to select this option when booking and upload a copy of your purchase order at the time of booking to secure your place and avoid disappointment. 

  Accommodation at Burleigh Court: INCLUDED in the ticket price.
  Local ISTR members wishing to attend but not requiring accommodation should contact istr-eventssecretary@istr.org.uk 

  Final details and refunds:  Bookings close on Monday 13 October (Early bookings required again!) to meet the accommodation and catering requirements. Refunds for cancellations or non-attendance cannot be made after this date. If a delegate cannot attend, a colleague may take their place. Contact istr-eventssecretary@istr.org.uk to discuss. Any refund will be subject to a £25 administration charge.

  Transport: For details of how to reach Burleigh Court please visit  https://www.burleigh-court.co.uk/location/

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