New National Conference Launched in Response to Growing Demands for Employee Resource Groups to Demonstrate Strategic Impact

A brand-new conference designed to elevate the work of employee networks, resource groups and forums, and those who lead them, is launching in April 2026 in London.

ERG Blueprint, created by iCAN (the Inclusion and Cultural Awareness Network) and people intelligence company Howlett Brown, is a one-day, in-person conference aimed at professionals shaping the future of employee impact and workplace inclusion.

Taking place on Tuesday 28 April 2026 at Leonardo Royal St Paul’s, the conference will bring together ERG leaders, HR and DEI professionals, Executive Sponsors and workplace inclusion advocates from across the UK. It will be hosted by TV personality AJ Odudu and feature high profile speakers such as Richard Etienne (The Introvert Space), Charlene Brown of Howlett Brown and We Are The City’s Vanessa Vallely.

At a time when employee networks are needed more than ever to mitigate the national decline of employee engagement, as well as facing increasing pressure to demonstrate impact, navigate political tension, and align with shifting business priorities, ERG Blueprint offers future-proofing strategies, practical guidance, real-world insights, and renewed purpose.

“Employee networks are powerful engines for change – but the people running them are often under-resourced, under-supported, and expected to deliver extraordinary impact,” said Ajay Mistry, Co-Chair of iCAN. “This conference is designed to change that - giving leaders the tools, strategy and support they need to succeed.”

What to Expect:

ERG Blueprint will offer a series of high-impact sessions on everything from future-proofing ERG strategies and structure, to influence, conflict navigation, data, branding, and resilience. 

Highlights include:

• Identifying Challenges and Barriers Workshop
• Framing the Value of ERGs for Chairs, Members, DEI Leads and Sponsors
• Influence and Persuasion Workshop
• Identifying Challenges, Barriers & Solutions Workshop

The day will also explore why ERGs matter and the challenges of leading through turbulent times, while also offering interactive workshops to help networks define their unique value points and capture their impact through better metrics.

“We know that network leaders sit at the intersection of culture, strategy, and lived experience, making them the true catalysts of inclusion and belonging,” said Charlene Brown, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Howlett Brown. “They are not just volunteers – they are strategists, influencers and connectors. This conference equips network leaders to future-proof their networks, scale their impact, and deliver measurable value aligned to organisational purpose.”

Who Should Attend?

The ERG Blueprint conference is designed for:

• ERG Chairs, Co-Chairs and core team members
• HR and DEI Professionals embedding networks into organisational strategy
• Executive Sponsors advocating for inclusion from the top
• Aspiring ERG Founders, leaders and members
• Stakeholder groups, partners and consultants working alongside employee networks

Join Us

The conference is open to all sectors and is designed to foster cross-industry learning and collaboration.

Tickets are now available at: https://erg-blueprint.co.uk

About iCAN:

iCAN (Insurance Cultural Awareness Network) is the UK’s leading independent multicultural inclusion network for the insurance sector, with over 13,000 members worldwide. ERG Blueprint marks its latest cross-industry initiative to support practical, inclusive change.

About Howlett Brown:

Howlett Brown is a people intelligence company, specialising in investigations, culture, sustainability, business intelligence, diversity, equity, equality and inclusion (DEEI), workplace training communications, conflict resolution, crisis, and people advisory solutions. Howlett Brown exists to help organisations build an environment where their integrity, inclusion and purpose thrive and their people risk is low.