Huge congratulations to the colleagues below in their elections:
- Chair Elect for Conference 2028 – Toby Hancock
- Two Honorary Auditors to the Conference - Mark Haigh and Shiv Pabary
- One representative to the GDPC – Ranjit Singh Chohan
- One representative to the Conference Agenda Committee – Andrew Bell
- One representative to the British Dental Guild – Sarah Canavan
A message from in-coming Conference Chair, Zoe Connelly
I would like to start by congratulating Sarah on what was a lively, engaging and thought-provoking LDC Conference. Sarah’s leadership inspired many new attendees to stand up and have their voices heard, which is exactly what LDC Conference is all about. Her choice of speakers generated plenty of discussion and questions from attendees, and her open, genuine manner made everyone feel welcome to contribute from the floor. We have had a fantastic year together as the first all-female Chair and Chair-Elect team, and I have learned a great deal from Sarah throughout the year. I would also like to extend a huge thank you to the BDA team and the Agenda Committee, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the Conference runs smoothly. There simply would not be a Conference without the hard work and dedication of Alex, Fiona and the wider team. I am very much looking forward to working with the BDA team and the Agenda Committee over the next year as we begin planning LDC Conference 2027. It is a pleasure to work alongside a group of people who are willing to share their views openly and who remain committed to ensuring that Conference continues to reflect the voice of the LDCs. I am also excited to announce that LDC Conference 2027 will be held at The Queens Hotel in Leeds. The hotel and conference facilities are fantastic, and Leeds is a vibrant, welcoming city, so I have no doubt we will have an excellent Conference. As we look ahead to the coming year, this year’s Conference theme, “Subject to Change”, still feels incredibly relevant. However, I hope that by next year we will have greater clarity regarding the future direction of the NHS contract. Will we be discussing a completely new contract, or will conversations still centre around care pathways, unscheduled care and UDAs? Whatever lies ahead, the Agenda Committee and I will be building a programme that encourages open debate on these important issues. We would encourage all LDCs to come along, join the discussion and share your thoughts and experiences as the grassroots voice of dentistry. When it comes to changes to the contract, your voices must be heard. In the meantime, please save the following dates in your diary: • LDC Officials Day – 27 November 2026• LDC Conference – 10–11 June 2027 I very much look forward to seeing everyone then! Best wishes
Zoe Connelly
LDC Conference Chair
