08:30 - 09:00 - Registration, refreshments, and networking 

An opportunity to connect with fellow delegates, speakers and partners ahead of a day focused on how sustainability and environmental ambition can help shape healthier lives, healthier places and a healthier nation.

09:00 - 10:30 Morning Plenary Session I (Cotton Theatre)

Healthier Lives, Healthier Places.

09:00 - Welcome to the Green Goals Conference: Healthier Lives, Healthier Places.

• Morning Plenary - Policy and Strategy

09:00 - Chair's Opening Address. Green Goals, Healthier Lives: Why This Conversation Matters Now.
David Gent, Conference Chair, CEO, Active Humber (Confirmed)

• Why sustainability must mean more than targets, terminology and policy language.

• Why the places we live, work and play shape physical and mental wellbeing.

• Why sport and physical activity can help lead a more human, outcome-led conversation.

• Why leadership, collaboration and implementation matter more than ever.

09:10 - Climate Change Impacts on Sports and Public Health and Why Adaptation is Essential.
Olivia Shears, Senior Analyst. Climate Change Committee (Confirmed)

• ​The role of the Climate Change Committee, its responsibilities, and the independent advice it provides to the government.

• The latest evidence on climate risk, including flooding, extreme heat, and drought.

• Why climate adaptation and resilience are essential for protecting public health, community infrastructure, and opportunities to be active.

• What does the latest independent advice on UK climate risk and adaptation say, and what does it mean for organisations managing buildings, facilities, outdoor spaces, and community assets?

• Practical measures organisations can consider to better understand risk, strengthen resilience, and plan for the long term.

09:30 - Nature, Access and Prevention: The Environmental Case for Better Health.
Dave Bell, Principal Adviser: Health and the Environment at Natural England (Confirmed)

• The relationship between nature, health and participation.

• Why access to nature matters in creating active communities.

• How healthier environments can support prevention and wellbeing.

• The role of the natural environment in the wider sustainability agenda.

09:50 - From Sustainability Strategy to Community Outcomes.
Denise Ludlam, Environmental Sustainability Strategic Lead, Sport England (Confirmed)

• The Every Move Strategy and what it means in practice.

• The Sustainability Matrix and how it can support better decision-making.

• Turning sustainability thinking into outcomes that improve lives locally.

10:20 - Headline Partner Presentation. - A focused contribution from a headline partner sharing insight, innovation or support relevant to the sustainability journey of the sector and wider communities.
Partner to be confirmed

• Presentation topics to be confirmed

10:30 -11:00 - Coffee, Refreshments, and Networking

A chance for delegates to reflect on the opening themes and continue conversations with fellow attendees and speakers.

11:00 - 12:30 - Morning Plenary Session 2 

• Facilities, Infrastructure and Community Environments.

11:00 - The Future Leisure Facility: Lower Carbon, Higher Social Value.
Jennifer Huygen, Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships, Community Leisure UK, (Confirmed)
Jeremy Gould, National Sustainability Manager, GLL (Confirmed)

• The national challenge facing public leisure facilities around energy, sustainability and long-term resilience.

• The role of ukactive and Community Leisure UK in supporting a more coordinated sector response.

• What the integrated facilities system project is seeking to achieve with Sport England.

• What has been learned from the first phase and the expansion into 27 sites?

• How operators, trusts, local authorities and partners can move from ambition to practical action.

• How lower-carbon leisure facilities can also deliver higher social value for local communities.

11:20 - Delivering Healthier Lives through Sustainable Transport.
Steve Gilshom, Event Transport Management, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Confirmed)

• How transport supports healthier lives and places.

• Why reducing car dependency matters.

• The Bee Network and Greater Manchester’s integrated approach.

• How events can drive behaviour change at scale.

• Practical lessons from partnership working and major events.

11:40 - Greater Manchester in Action: Connecting Climate Ambition, Active Lives and Local Leadership (Cotton Theatre)
Louise Robbins, Strategic Lead, Walking and Active Environments, GM Moving.  (Confirmed)

• Why environmental sustainability matters not only to the planet, but to healthier lives, fairer communities and reduced inequalities across Greater Manchester.

• How GM Moving is embedding environmental thinking through organisational practice, partnership working and network-wide influence.

• The role of the city region in connecting sport, physical activity, transport, place and climate ambitions.

• Practical examples of how communities, clubs, schools and partners are already taking action locally.

• What collaboration needs to look like next to turn ambition into visible change on the ground.

12.00 - Greener Game, Stronger Communities.
Ian Grange, Senior National Development Manager. (Networks and Programmes) The Football Association (Confirmed)
Anna Quick, National Development Manager, The Football Association (Confirmed) 

• Supporting grassroots clubs to become more sustainable.

• Practical tools, knowledge and resources.

• Investment opportunities.

• The role of grassroots sport in creating healthier, more resilient communities.

12:30 - Case Study Presentation - Planning for Movement: Designing Places That Support Healthier Lives. (Cotton Theatre)
Jennette Emery-Wallis, Director of Landscape Architecture, LUC (Confirmed)

• Wimbledon Park Planning Project.

• A live example of how place, landscape and movement can be brought together through planning and design.

• Creating environments that encourage movement and interaction.

• Why active, playful landscapes matter to healthier and more sustainable communities.

12:30 - Case Study Presentation (Conference Room)
Speaker to be confirmed 

• Presentation topics to be confirmed

13:15 - 14:15 Lunch and networking.  
An extended opportunity for delegates to connect, share ideas and explore future collaborations.

• 2-course buffet lunch

14:15 - 16:15 Afternoon Plenary Session (Cotton Theatre)

Turning Green Goals into National Health and Well-being Outcomes.

14:15 -  Panel Debate: Healthier Places, Cleaner Air, More Active Lives: What Should Happen Next?​​
Katie Cross, CEO, Pledgeball (Confirmed)
Graeme Bannister, Account Director, Mobilityways (Confirmed)
Steve Gilholme, Event Transport Management, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Confirmed)
Modeshift (invited) 

• How organisations can move beyond facilities and infrastructure to address how people travel to and from sport and physical activity.

• The role of sport in supporting cleaner, healthier environments.

• How active travel, air quality and local design influence participation.

• The barriers to implementation — and how to overcome them.

• What organisations can realistically deliver in the next 12 months?

15:00 - Comfort Break and light refreshments.
​​​

• A short break to recharge before the final implementation-focused sessions.

15:10 - Afternoon Plenary Session 2.​​

• How organisations actually implement change.

15:10 - From Ambition to Action: How Organisations Actually Deliver Change.
Antony Gough, Specialist Programme Manager and Facilitator, Investors In The Environment (Confirmed)

• A practical session focused on how organisations can improve internal understanding, processes and culture to deliver real environmental progress.

• Building stronger internal processes.

• Improving environmental understanding.

• Embedding change across the organisation.

• Moving from intention to delivery.

15:30 - Making Green Goals Stick: Turning Everyday Action into Environmental and Social Impact.
Richard Dickson, Co-Founder and CEO, Play It Green (Confirmed)

• Why sustainability needs to feel accessible, practical and real.

• How organisations can make greener choices visible and achievable.

• Turning workforce, customer and community behaviour into measurable impact.

• How small everyday actions can support wider health, wellbeing and environmental outcomes.

• Examples from Play It Green’s work across sustainability education, nature repair and social impact.

15:50 - Questions and Answers -

• A final opportunity to put questions to the afternoon speakers and leave with a clearer view of what meaningful action looks like.

16:15 - Conference Closed 
 

• Thank you for supporting the Green Goals Conference