Futureproof 2026

SHAPING A GREENER, SMARTER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Nottingham is set to take the centre stage in the UK’s sustainability landscape this year as it hosts FUTUREPROOF 2026 – a major new national forum designed to bring together the brightest minds and most ambitious organisations committed to building a greener future.

Taking place on Wednesday 25 February 2026 at the environmentally focused Broadway Cinema, the forum will gather business leaders, academics, policymakers, innovators, and sustainability specialists for a full day of insight, collaboration, and practical action.

FUTUREPROOF 2026 will explore seven core sustainability themes each designed to spark conversations that drive real-world action and central to the UK’s long-term climate and green growth ambitions aligning with the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals: Greener Travel, Greener Energy, Becoming Greener, Greener City, Greener Buildings, Greener Mindset and Greener Finance.

Confirmed line-up of speakers include (new speakers are announced every week in the run up to the event):

• Lord Ravensdale (Daniel Mosley) – Member of the House of Lords and Chief Engineer in the nuclear industry, with a leading role in shaping UK’s energy and sustainability legislation
• Amy Harhoff – Chief Executive, East Midlands Combined County Authority, leading inclusive growth, transport, housing and climate resilience across the region
• Michael Gallagher – Director of Climate Resilience and Green Growth, East Midlands Combined County Authority, former Director of Environment and Sustainability at Nottingham City Council and founder of the Midlands Net Zero Hub
• Leanne Smith – VisitEngland, bringing national insight into sustainable tourism and the visitor economy
• Fionnuala Horrocks-Burns – Policy and Public Affairs Director, DHL UK & Ireland, leading on trade, aviation, skills and employment policy
• Becky Valentine – Multi-award-winning Sustainability and Building Health Consultant and co-owner of Spenbeck, with specialist expertise in decarbonising heritage buildings
• Will James – Associate Engineer at ARUP and founding member of the East Midlands Sustainability Partnership, with hands-on experience in decarbonisation and sustainable developments
• Dr. Fred Paterson – Founder of Accelerate the Shift, supporting SMEs on sustainability journeys
• Dr. James Cowan – Director of Whole Programme and STEP Fusion Programme Director, leading the UK’s next-generation fusion energy programme based in Nottinghamshire