Invited Speakers

Phil Hadridge - Conference MC

Since the 1990s Phil has specialised in supporting groups working to achieve an important social or public ambition – working both in the UK, and internationally across all continents.

He spends his time coaching leaders, moderating large meetings and development teams working for ethical fashion, wildlife conservation, healthcare improvement and educational advancement amongst others. He enjoys the mix of organisation types too, including development charities, government ministries, public schools and health service bodies.

Phil hosts events with diverse groups;  sometimes in a room together  - or online or hybrid.  Always, the focus is on how to improve things.  

He specialises in bringing people together to achieve a social purpose beyond financial profit.

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Jane Davies

Session summary

Lean Your Life: Lean Thinking for a Sustainable Future

Lean Thinking is grounded in understanding how processes work, evolve and impact outcomes. When applied to sustainability, it helps identify areas for improvement and innovation, providing a robust framework for integrating sustainable practices into both organisational operations and individual lives.

In this session, we will explore how analysing existing processes through a sustainability lens can help organisations and individuals:

• Identify waste: Spot inefficiencies and unnecessary steps.
• Optimise resource use: Minimise consumption.
• Enhance productivity: Streamline workflows to achieve more with fewer resources, freeing up time for change.
• Engage and develop individuals: Foster well-being and improve work-life balance.

Understanding the connection between Lean Thinking and sustainability is crucial for those seeking to optimise processes while building sustainable practices for the benefit of all.

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David Hall

Dr David Hall is an experienced Chief Executive, having operated broadly across a number of science and engineering-based organisations. He has an innate passion for driving innovation and has developed a unique approach to using some most unusual creativity techniques to both embed and then drive the innovation process. Dave set up the Ideas Centre in 2011 to help organisations to escape from "more of the same", conventional and traditional thinking. Slightly random stuff of note: 

• E-on Award – “UK’s Most Energetic Boss”! (2007)
• In 2007 became Visiting Professor in Business Creativity at the University of Bedfordshire.
• Writer and presenter of documentaries on Sky History: WWII Mystery
• Foo Fighters, Roswell Revisited (both about UFO’s!), and JFK Revisited

Session summary

Beyond Lean: the Challenge and Power of Dis-Continuous Improvement

The world is changing at an ever-increasing pace, but the decisions we make and the behaviours that we display are based on models of “reality” which in turn are based on increasingly outdated patterns from the past … which lead to better, but more of the same. We must find ways of challenging these patterns, to free up our thinking, to generate fresh, creative ideas that then feed innovation.

Fundamentally based on incremental improvement, Lean approaches are fabulous but quite distinct from step function change which is core to the innovation process. This presentation will explore how creativity can remove the blockages that operate within everyone’s minds that trap them in “more of the same” thinking, to then build upon and move beyond Continuous Improvement.

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Katherine Hirst

Katherine Hirst is Head of Strategic Operations at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Katherine’s role includes working to ensure that CISL and University processes are embedded in a way that allows CISL to deliver its wide-ranging activities from convening global networks, developing pioneering research, catalyzing entrepreneurship to delivering empowering education – all with the aim of transforming economies for people nature and climate. 

Katherine joined CISL in 2019 as Senior Project Manager, and later as Education Operations Manager before moving to her current role. Prior to that Katherine worked across the non-profit sector for a range of national and international organisations, undertaking a variety of roles bringing together process management with a significant focus on people, operational excellence and impact.

Katherine holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Bristol and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge.

Session summary

The Entopia Building– managing processes whilst balancing sustainability objectives

With a conference title of 'Sustainability in Lean' the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) was excited to discuss a range of topics but had to pick only one. In this session we will discuss the development of CISL’s ultra-sustainable new home – the Entopia building – looking at how you manage processes whilst balancing sustainability objectives including: 

• Radical improvements in the building’s energy efficiency
• Minimisation of whole-life embodied carbon
• Prioritisation of circular design principles
• Maximisation of bio-based materials and nature-positive design solutions
• Adherence to responsible procurement practices
• Careful attention to indoor environmental quality, health and safety concerns, social and community value, and heritage conservation
• Attention to economic concerns, including opportunities for employment and decent jobs, training, knowledge creation, and knowledge exchange 

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Nicolae Florea (CUPA)

Nicolae is one of the latest talent acquisitions of Cambridge University Press and Assessment joining as manager of the Operations Excellence team in January 2024. Nicolae started his career as a Business Consultant in 1997 and developed a passion for Lean and Continuous Improvement during his MBA in 2012/2014 dedicating his career to Operations Excellence in 2014. Nicolae is a highly accomplished Lean Coach, Continuous Improvement & Operations Excellence professional with a strong background in analysing and improving business practices. Nicolae brings a passion for developing Lean transformation programs, implementing change and organisation wide continuous improvement.

Together with his team Nicolae works towards creating a more efficient and sustainable operation, finding innovative solutions that not only drives Operations excellence but also promote greener and more sustainable processes in Assessment operations.

Session summary

Driving Productivity and Environmental Sustainability: Applying Lean Practices to deliver incremental and transformational changes.

Embracing sustainability is not just a moral obligation but also a strategic benefit, since consumers, regulators, and investors are placing greater emphasis on environmentally friendly business. 

Nicolae will discuss who Cambridge University Press & Assessment are and how their operations impact individuals worldwide. He will share Cambridge's lean journey, sharing the steps taken and benefits achieved through investment in people, tools, strategy deployment and culture. In setting out the journey you will learn how incremental changes have created engagement and shifted the dial in reducing our environmental impact alongside improving financial performance. Finally he will share how Cambridge has embraced lean principles to set out its program to achieve transformational change in its fulfilment processes to Assessment customers worldwide.

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