Strategic Leadership Summit 2026

Strategic Leadership Summit 2026

On 3 June 2026 CIfA will be holding its first Strategic Leadership summit at the Kings Centre in Oxford. The event will be in-person with recordings available afterwards. 

The aim of the Summit is to bring together leaders from across the profession to discuss some of the biggest issues facing archaeology today and how, collectively, we can look to address them.

This year, the theme of the day is Strategic approaches to archaeology. Contributors will reflect on UK major strategic vehicles for advancing the archaeological profession's practices and delivering benefit. Specific reflections on England's 21st Century Challenges for Archaeology Programme, Scotland's Archaeology Strategy, the Heritage Sector Resilience Plan, the Northern Ireland Archaeology 2030 programme, and Heneb's 5-year plan  will be shared and debated. The day will also feature discussion of advancing the sector's approach to dissemination of information following on from the Trowel and Error survey, undertaken by the CBA in 2024.

This event is suitable for anyone with an interest in shaping the future of the profession, discussing key issues, and developing solutions to challenges. This will include senior professionals, aspiring managers and leaders, and early-career individuals keen to learn and network. The Summit will host a range of speakers talking about sector strategy and new ideas and approaches, with plenty of opportunity for audience discussion. There will also be plenty of opportunity to connect with others who are equally interested in shaping the future of the profession.

Everyone attending should leave with fresh perspectives, practical ideas and a clearer sense of how you can support change.

Fees

The ticket price includes refreshments, lunch and free access to the post event recordings.

• We have five reduced tickets available at £60 per day for low-income delegates. These are reserved for CIfA members. If you would like to apply for a reduced ticket please contact rob.lennox@archaeologists.net. These will be issued on a first come first served basis.
• We are also offering a 10% discount on tickets to one attendee from each of our Registered Organisations. Please select this option when booking your place.

Historic England bursaries

In addition to the reduced tickets for low-income delegates, we are pleased to announce that Historic England will be providing bursary support for any student, early career, or unemployed archaeologists living, working, or studying in England.

We have up to 10 bursaries available. These bursaries will pay for recipients' registration fees as well as up to £100 to subsidise travel costs.

To apply for a bursary place, please email conference@archaeologists.net with a brief statement indicating your ties to England and why you would like to attend the summit.

Summit agenda

• National perspectives and debating sector strategies
  Speakers: Claudine Gerard (Heneb), Mike Heyworlth (HEF), Gavin McGregor (Archaeology Scotland), Richard Nicholls (Heneb), Rhonda Robinson (DfC), Barney Sloane (Historic England), Jan Wills (Oxford Archaeology)
  This session will reflect on national approaches to tackling critical challenges in archaeology; how sector strategies (or other approaches) have been used to respond to identified issues and political contexts and how they have sought to set priorities, develop stakeholder buy-in, set road-maps or action plans, and lever funding. 
  Attendees will hear from those leading strategies and programmes from around the UK about the current status of different approaches and reflection on current challenges and opportunities.
• Future leaders presentations
  Speakers: Sarah Howard, Phil Pollard, Michaela Schauer
  This session features 3 short presentations from CIfA members who are developing leadership roles within the archaeology sector. The session is intended to allow these individuals to talk about a project, or other aspect of their career development, that has been impactful or inspiring, and reflect on their career journeys to this point. These talks will touch on developing skills and careers in archaeology, the Global pXRF Network, and developing leadership skills in human-centred people management.
• Progress in public benefit practices
  Speakers: Katrina Foxton (MOLA), Sara Perry (UCL), Ayesha Purcell (Oxford Archaeology), Neil Redfern (CBA), Brendon Wilkins (DigVentures)
  This session picks up a key element of many sector strategies and asks what the sector needs to do to advance practices for delivering on archaeology’s commitment to public benefit. It will consider the need to engage with key stakeholders, processes for measuring social value, knowledge gaps, and expectations, as well as how we can ensure that the current/next suite of sector strategies succeed in driving an evolution in archaeological practice.