We recently hosted an event for senior People leaders from across the portfolio for an afternoon of sessions themed around 'Navigating the changing landscape', to share experiences, gain practical insights and plan for the future.
Freddy West, Managing Director, Talent at Inflexion, and Rachel Farley, Partner at Heidrick & Struggles, opened with a fireside chat on the CPO of 2030. Matt Austin and Adam Rice from Travers Smith then led a practical session on the Employment Rights Act, with discussions around how certain scenarios will be impacted - and how best to prepare for the changes. The afternoon closed with Jan Beitner, Director, Data & AI at Inflexion, sharing how agentic AI is being deployed across the portfolio, and an interactive session given by Kusia Pell, Founder and CCO of Elevayte, on driving AI-enabled transformation.
Key takeaways from the day:
- The CPO role has fundamentally expanded
- The Employment Rights Act changes are broader and closer than many realise, with several provisions taking effect from October 2026 and January 2027 – preparation needs to start now
- AI adoption is accelerating, but the biggest barrier remains cultural, not technical – People leaders are best placed to lead this change across their organisations
