WSPMA's conference has become something of a fixture for practice managers across the region, a rare chance for people who usually spend their days managing everyone else's workload to step back and focus on their own. The morning covered WSPMA's year of achievements from Chair Josiane Wadey, a seminar on digital transformation from Kirstie Ingram, Chief Corporate Officer at South Downs Health & Care, and a keynote from Karen McDowell, Chief Executive of NHS Surrey Heartlands and NHS Sussex ICBs, on delivering the NHS 10-year plan, followed by a Q&A panel bringing together voices from across primary care.
After lunch and time with the exhibitors, Conference Chair Dr David Whitehead welcomed delegates back and it was Richard who opened, taking the stage as the afternoon's keynote speaker. His session was followed by a short break, then a seminar from Gemma Bayley, WSPMA's Wellbeing Lead, on techniques to enhance wellbeing, before Dr Whitehead closed the day with a round-up and raffle.
Why this audience mattered
Practice managers sit at the centre of a huge amount of pressure. They're managing staff, budgets, patients and constant regulatory change, often with limited resources and even less recognition. It's rewarding work, but it's also relentless and burnout is a real risk in a role that rarely gets to switch off.
The brief for Richard's session reflected that directly: to inspire hardworking practice managers who face daily struggles managing huge workloads, supporting their teams and finding the motivation to keep going. Resilience was the thread WSPMA wanted woven through the talk, not as a buzzword, but as something practical and personal. Richard's own story of facing profound adversity and finding a way through it was chosen specifically to speak to that. Delivered with warmth and honesty, the session was built to leave the room feeling uplifted and reminded that the smallest acts of encouragement, the kind practice managers give out every single day without much thanks, genuinely matter.
A conference with a track record
WSPMA has built a strong reputation for its choice of keynote speakers, having welcomed Anthony Bennett, known as the Miracle Man, the previous year. Richard's invitation continued that tradition of pairing genuine, personal storytelling with an audience that spends its working life supporting others, and rarely gets the chance to be supported in return.
The impact
For a room of around 100 practice managers who give so much of themselves to their roles, the afternoon keynote was designed to do one simple thing: hand a little of that energy back, right at the point in the day when people needed it most.
"Loved Richard McCann, really inspiring and made me shed a few tears."
"Richard McCann was a great speaker. Really great story and very engaging."
Looking for a keynote speaker who can bring genuine, personal impact to your conference or annual gathering? Get in touch to talk about your event.
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