A new national event dedicated to employee resource groups, staff networks and the professionals who guide them will debut in London in April 2026.
ERG Blueprint has been developed by the Inclusion and Cultural Awareness Network (iCAN) in partnership with people intelligence specialists Howlett Brown. The one-day, face-to-face conference will focus on strengthening employee impact and advancing inclusive workplace practice.
Scheduled for Tuesday 28 April 2026 at Leonardo Royal St Paul’s, the gathering will bring together ERG leads, HR and DEI practitioners, executive sponsors and inclusion advocates from across the UK. Television presenter AJ Odudu will host the event, with speakers including Richard Etienne of The Introvert Space, Charlene Brown of Howlett Brown and Vanessa Vallely from We Are The City.
The conference arrives at a time when employee networks are under growing pressure to show measurable outcomes, manage complex workplace dynamics and respond to changing organisational priorities, while also addressing declining engagement levels. ERG Blueprint aims to provide practical frameworks, shared experience and forward-looking approaches to support these challenges.
“Employee networks are powerful engines for change – but the people running them are often under-resourced, under-supported, and expected to deliver extraordinary impact,” said Ajay Mistry, Co-Chair of iCAN. “This conference is designed to change that – giving leaders the tools, strategy and support they need to succeed.”
The programme will include sessions on governance models, influence, managing difficult conversations, data and reporting, brand positioning and personal resilience, offering attendees tools to strengthen both their networks and their own leadership.
Highlights include:
- Identifying Challenges and Barriers Workshop
- Framing the Value of ERGs for Chairs, Members, DEI Leads and Sponsors
- Influence and Persuasion Workshop
- Identifying Challenges, Barriers & Solutions Workshop
The day will also explore why ERGs matter and the challenges of leading through turbulent times, while also offering interactive workshops to help networks define their unique value points and capture their impact through better metrics.
“We know that network leaders sit at the intersection of culture, strategy, and lived experience, making them the true catalysts of inclusion and belonging,” said Charlene Brown, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Howlett Brown. “They are not just volunteers – they are strategists, influencers and connectors. This conference equips network leaders to future-proof their networks, scale their impact, and deliver measurable value aligned to organisational purpose.”
The ERG Blueprint conference is designed for:
- ERG Chairs, Co-Chairs and core team members
- HR and DEI Professionals embedding networks into organisational strategy
- Executive Sponsors advocating for inclusion from the top
- Aspiring ERG Founders, leaders and members
- Stakeholder groups, partners and consultants working alongside employee networks
The conference is open to all sectors and is designed to foster cross-industry learning and collaboration.
Tickets are now available at: https://erg-blueprint.co.uk
