Leadership exchange 2027
In-person conference
2-3 February 2027
In-person conference
2-3 February 2027
Leadership exchange 2027 will bring charity chief executives and senior leaders together for two days of leadership development, peer learning, reflection and collective problem-solving.
The new event has been designed in response to the changing realities of civil society leadership and feedback from attendees of ACEVO’s former annual conference, ACEVOFest. Rather than a traditional conference built around a series of plenary sessions, Leadership exchange will create more space for leaders to work through the challenges they are facing, learn from their peers and consider how leadership itself needs to evolve.
Day one, with the topic of Leading under pressure, will explore judgement, courage, legitimacy and difficult choices. Day two, framed around the topic of Leading beyond control, will focus on influence, interdependence, collaboration and regenerative approaches to leadership.
The programme will combine keynote provocations and fireside conversations with practical leadership labs, facilitated peer exchange and collective problem-solving. Sessions will explore issues including financial fragility, CEO–chair relationships, coalition breakdown, culture and burnout, political hostility and the challenge of leading beyond organisational boundaries.
The event will also provide dedicated space for reflection, informal networking, wellbeing and peer connection, including an evening meal on day one.
See the programme tab above for timings – further details of the programme and speakers will be announced over the coming months. Limited numbers of early bird tickets are available now at reduced prices.
“ACEVO’s conference is the highlight of each year as it relates to what is real in the sector”
| Member tickets | |
|---|---|
| Early bird – less than £1m income | £200 |
| Early bird – £1m-£5m income | £250 |
| Early bird – £5m-£10m income | £300 |
| Early bird – over £10m income | £350 |
| A limited number of early bird tickets are available in each category. Once these have sold out, full price tickets will be listed. |
| Non member tickets | |
|---|---|
| Early bird – non member | £400 |
| A limited number of early bird tickets are available. The non-member price stated here is exclusively for attendees meeting the criteria blow. If you are a sole trader, private sector employee or business owner, please contact corporate.partnerships@acevo.org.uk to purchase a ticket. |
By agreeing to take part in an ACEVO event, you agree to meet the expectations set out in the code of conduct.
Booking is a confirmation of your attendance, unless cancellation is received in writing to events@acevo.org.uk. Cancellations received one month or more before the event are eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellations received less than one month before the event are not eligible for a refund.
By booking a place on this event you agree to the Events, programmes and activities terms & conditions.
Where non-members are welcomed to ACEVO events, we ask that you are:
Further details of the programme and speakers will be announced over the coming months.
2 February 2027 | Day one: leading under pressure |
12:00-13:00 | Arrival, lunch & networking |
13:00-17:30 | Presentations, conversations, leadership lab and exhibition |
18:00-20:00 | Evening meal, informal networking and light-touch facilitated discussions |
3 February 2027 | Day two: leading beyond control |
09:00-10:00 | Arrival, refreshments, exhibition and reconnecting |
10:00-13:00 | Presentations, conversations, leadership lab and exhibition |
13:00-14:00 | Lunch, networking, masterclasses or quiet reflection |
14:00-16:15 | Presentations, collaborative commitments and closing reflections |
Leadership exchange 2027 will take place at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG, approximately a ten-minute walk from the main commercial and retail centre of Birmingham.
Google Maps
WhatThreeWords: ///vote.boats.hush
The venue is within 15 minutes walk of New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill railway stations.
West Midlands Metro trams call at the Millennium Point stop a few minutes away from the venue.
National Express coaches in Birmingham primarily stop at Birmingham Coach Station on Mill Lane in Digbeth (B5 6DD), which is a short walk from the Bullring and New Street Station.
From the city centre to the Millennium Point entrance on Jennens Road, catch numbers 14 (stop BS7), 55/55A 90 or 94 (stop BS9).
The nearest motorways are the M6, M5 and M42. If using sat-nav please use the following postcode – B4 7AP.
There is a multi-storey car park owned and managed by Birmingham City Council situated adjacent to Millennium Point. The car park is open from 6am to midnight and can be accessed via Curzon Street and Millennium Point is clearly signposted from all main routes into the city – simply follow the signs from the A4540 Ring Road. Parking starts from £3.30 for up to 2 hours to £11.50 for up to 24 hours. Full list of prices can be found here. If you have a Blue Badge, parking will be free with no time limits.
There are cycle stands around the venue.
There are direct trains from Birmingham International to New Street station which take about ten minutes.
There are a variety of hotels close to the venue, including:
Clayton Hotel (5 minutes walk)
Travelodge Central Moor Street (10 minutes walk)
Premier Inn Exchange Square (10 minutes walk)
Premier Inn New Street Station (15 minutes walk)
Holiday Inn Express Snow Hill (15 minutes walk)
Hotel du Vin (20 minutes walk)
Grand Hotel (20 minutes walk)
Burlington (20 minutes walk or 10-15 minutes on bus/tram)
Malmaison (25 minutes walk or 15 minutes walk/ tram)
Holiday Inn Express City Centre (25 minutes walk or 20 minutes walk/ tram)
If you have a Blue Badge, there is free parking with no limits in the multi-storey car park. There are 33 designated blue badge bays in the car park, with the bays spread across levels 1-7 (except level 3), and the majority of the bays being located on levels 1 and 2. Millennium Point staff can help you from the car park to the venue if needed – please let us know in advance if assistance is required.
All entrance points to the building have wheelchair access, and there are lifts and escalators to all floors. There are accessible toilets on all levels. There is dedicated accessible seating space on a viewing platform in the auditorium, with clear sightlines to the stage.
A hearing loop is available on request and presentations will captioned.
Please let us know about any accessibility requirements when you book your ticket.
Sustainability is important to us in choosing where and how to run our events. You can read about Millennium Point’s sustainability measures and policies: Sustainability at Millennium Point.
The event will be as paper-free as possible, as part of your booking you will be given access to the Eventsential app which gives you access to the programme, delegate list, exhibitor details and all the event information you need.
Leadership exchange 2027 will take place at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG, approximately ten minutes walk from the main commercial and retail centre of Birmingham.
Google Maps
WhatThreeWords: ///vote.boats.hush
The venue is within 15 minutes walk of New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill railway stations.
West Midlands Metro trams call at the Millennium Point stop a few minutes away from the venue.
National Express coaches in Birmingham primarily stop at Birmingham Coach Station on Mill Lane in Digbeth (B5 6DD), which is a short walk from the Bullring and New Street Station.
From the city centre to the Millennium Point entrance on Jennens Road, catch numbers 14 (stop BS7), 55/55A 90 or 94 (stop BS9).
The nearest motorways are the M6, M5 and M42. If using sat-nav please use the following postcode – B4 7AP.
There is a multi-storey car park owned and managed by Birmingham City Council situated adjacent to Millennium Point. The car park can be accessed via Curzon Street and Millennium Point is clearly signposted from all main routes into the city – simply follow the signs from the A4540 Ring Road. Parking starts from £3.30 for up to 2 hours to £11.50 for up to 24 hours. Full list of prices can be found here. If you have a Blue Badge, parking will be free with no time limits.
There are cycle stands around the venue.
There are direct trains from Birmingham International to New Street station which take about ten minutes.
There are a variety of hotels close to the venue, including:
Clayton Hotel (5 minutes walk)
Travelodge Central Moor Street (10 minutes walk)
Premier Inn Exchange Square (10 minutes walk)
Premier Inn New Street Station (15 minutes walk)
Holiday Inn Express Snow Hill (15 minutes walk)
Hotel du Vin (20 minutes walk)
Grand Hotel (20 minutes walk)
Burlington (20 minutes walk or 10-15 minutes on bus/tram)
Malmaison (25 minutes walk or 15 minutes walk/ tram)
Holiday Inn Express City Centre (25 minutes walk or 20 minutes walk/ tram)
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
The openness and honesty of the speakers was inspiring. Safe space in which to meet and discuss issues with other CEOs.
Rob Mills
Walton Charity