Building on some of the main themes from our national #TrustLeaders COO conference, our national COO network will delve into further detail on how the COO role is evolving (looking at how COOs can navigate key areas such as estates, procurement, environmental sustainability, people, efficiencies and much more), the importance of forging strategic partnerships, and exploring areas where key efficiencies can be made during times of significant financial challenge. Our conference introduced these themes at a high level and our network meeting will further develop these areas through examples of practice and ideas sharing across our network.

There will be the opportunity to discuss and reflect on:
• The evolution of the COO role – considering how the role is changing (and what will stay constant) and how we adapt with it
• A range of different approaches to partnership working and how these partnerships add value to the organisation
• How we continue to identify and implement efficiencies in a financially challenging environment

With contributions from:
• Alice Gregson, CEO, Forum Strategy (Network Lead)
• Jenny Geary, experienced fomer COO and author of the acclaimed book ‘How to be a Chief Operating Officer’
• Kerri Edge, Deputy CEO & Debbie Amato, Trust Inclusion Lead, Rivermead Inclusive Trust
• Zoe Levitt, Executive Director of Education, Consilium Academies

This session is a unique opportunity for members of our national COO network to come together and share ideas, reflections and practice on areas of strategic importance for the role. We look forward to welcoming colleagues. Please note, we are now sending out calendar invitations to our online events to make it easier to access. Please accept or decline the invitation depending upon whether you wish to join.

Alongside, we are trialling a small change in the structure of the network meetings, recognising how busy our members are and adapting our approach to provide greater flexibility with accessing content and making time for important network discussions and connections. There will now be two main elements to our network meetings:

•Three videos – of no more than 25-30 minutes each – which we will share with in advance of the network meeting (the content will be the same as our usual network meetings – and will include education, cross-sector and partner content – but shared so it can be viewed in colleagues’ own time)

•A 90-minute online network meeting which will be led by our CEO, Alice Gregson, and will include a timely, thought-provoking input from Alice which will then take colleagues into our network meeting which will be discussion based and focused on sharing thoughts, practice and ideas from across the country 

There will be absolutely no expectation that members attending will have watched all of the content before the network meeting, although it will be helpful if there has been the opportunity to, as it will link to our network theme for the term and may spark some questions or ideas. We can also connect colleagues with any of our contributors for a follow-up discussion or to cover any questions attendees might have after watching their inputs – please just email Alice and she will make introductions. We hope this is a helpful change, recognising how busy everyone is, but preserving all the elements we know members value from Forum Strategy national network meetings. This is a pilot, so please do feedback to Alice or James, on whether this is a welcome change.<