CBCE 2026

Programme

TUESDAY 23RD JUNE
09.00 hrs FBCA National Executive Committee Meeting
10.30 hrs FBCA Annual General Meeting
11.30–12.30 hrs Delegate arrival and registration – Exhibition Opens
12.30 hrs Buffet Lunch in Exhibition Area
13.30–14.00 hrs Opening of Event by Professor Hilary Grainger OBE (Chair of The Cremation Society)
Introduction to the work of the MND Association – CBCE 2026 Charity
14.00–14.45 hrs From McFunerals to Meaningful Farewells
Alain Thys, Founder, The Transformation Architects and Tom Wustenberghs, LLM, EMBA, General Manager, Pontes, and Chairman of the Flemish Association of Public Crematoria
14.45–15.30 hrs From Curiosity to Capability: AI in Deathcare, One Year Later
Katie Stanley, Commercial Enablement Manager and Courtney Kyle, Product Manager - PlotBox
15.30 hrs Refreshment Break in Exhibition Area
16.00–16.45 hrs Terramation in the UK and the Evolution of Sustainable Funeral Practices
Simon Holden, CEO, Faunus Group
16.45–17.15 hrs Sponsor Spotlight Presentation
Rob Boreland, RS Bruce
17.15–18.15 hrs Networking in Exhibition Area
Evening Welcome Barbeque on Lakeview Terrace
WEDNESDAY 24th JUNE
09.30–10.15 hrs Insuring for the after-life: funeral practices through prehistory
Dr John Mitchell, BA, MSt, DPhil (Oxon), Managing Director, Wessex Insurance Brokers Ltd
10.15–10.30 hrs CSGB and FBCA update
10.30–11.00 hrs Sponsor Spotlight Presentation
Steve Gant, The London Cremation Company Plc
11.00 hrs Refreshment Break in Exhibition Area
11.30–12.15 hrs Raising Standards: The Next Chapter In Funeral Regulation
David McLaren, Managing Director – At Need, Pure Cremation Limited
12.15–13.00 hrs Scottish Regulations Update 2026
David McNaughton, NAFD (DipFA), QICCM (DipHons), National Operations Manager, Horizon Cremation
13.00 hrs Buffet Lunch in Exhibition Area
14.00–14.45 hrs Designing Change: Creating Cyprus’ First Crematorium in a Traditionally Burial-Led Culture
Mark Doohan, BA(Hons), DipArch, RIBA, ARB, Managing Director, Benchmark Architects
14.45–15.30 hrs Overview of Department for Work & Pensions Employer Initiatives
Lucy Bowman, National Recruitment and Partnership Consultant, Strategic Relationship Team, Department for Work and Pensions
15.30 hrs Refreshment Break in Exhibition Area
16.00–16.45 hrs Law Commission’s Report on Burial and Cremation, and Forthcoming Work
Professor Lisa Webley, Law Commissioner, Law Commission of England and Wales
16.45–17.15 hrs Sponsor Spotlight Presentation
Dennis Jacobs, DFW
19.15 hrs Pre-dinner Networking in Lakeview Terrace
19.45 hrs Event Dinner
From 22.30 Post-Banquet Networking in Beefy's Bar
THURSDAY 25th JUNE
09.30–10.15 hrs Coroners, Burial and Cremation Policy: Update and Forward Look
Terry Davies, Deputy Director – Death Management, Inquiries and Coroner Policy, Ministry of Justice
10.15–10.45 hrs ICF: Building the global network for cremation expertise
Tom Wustenberghs, LLM, EMBA, General Manager, Pontes, and Chairman of the Flemish Association of Public Crematoria
10.45–11.30 hrs Supporting the bereaved to make informed choices
Sophie Hadley, ACIM, Business Owner and Marketing Specialist, SH Marketing
11.30-12.00 hrs Refreshment Break – Last opportunity to visit Exhibition Area
12.00–12.45 hrs The archaeology of death with case study HS2 Ltd Phase 1, Park Street Burial Ground, Birmingham
Katie Rees-Gill, BA(Hons), MA, MCIfA, Associate Director, Head of Heritage Operations, AtkinsRéalis
Alan Ford, BA(Hons), MCIfA Associate Director, Head of Archaeological Services, AtkinsRéalis
12.45–13.30 hrs From Publication to Practice: Implementing the New Crematoria Guidance Note PG5/2(25)
Richard Williams, BSc(Hons), EHRB, DipANC, Manager and
Chidiebere Igwebuike, Senior Advisor, Local Authority Unit, Environment Agency
13.30 hrs Close of event – Alan José – President of FBCA
13.45 hrs ‘Lunch to Go’ from Registration Foyer

(All timings are approximate. Programme and speakers are subject to change.)