OnDemand: Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2026
Access Your OnDemand Conference
Purchasing OnDemand
You can watch all the insights, key sessions, and expert discussions from The Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2026 by purchasing our OnDemand Event. Access full recordings of every session, including presentations from leading industry speakers, and watch at your own pace.
Benefits of OnDemand:
- Watch on your own schedule – no need to clear your calendar or worry about time zones
- Learn at your own pace – pause, rewind, and rewatch key moments to fully absorb the content
- Get instant access after purchase to expert insights and curated content, perfect for industry professionals who want high-value content OnDemand
2026 Supporters Included
2026 Overview
The safeguarding landscape in higher education is shifting rapidly, driven by heightened awareness of mental health challenges, online risks and the urgent need to tackle harassment and misconduct. Universities are under growing pressure to create safe environments that protect students from harm and encourage wellbeing.
In February 2026 sector leaders, policymakers, and frontline practitioners united at The Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2026 to explore how to meet these new expectations. Through case studies, keynotes, and interactive discussions, you will gain practical insight into embedding safeguarding into every aspect of higher education from responding to harassment under E6, to tackling digital risks, improving student wellbeing and strengthening institutional cultures of safety and care.
2026 Agenda
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Chris East, Co-Founder, Cornerstone Safeguarding
Keynote: Latest Strategic Priorities for Safeguarding Students in HE
- Examining the evolving concept of duty of care in universities, including lessons from recent cases and national debates
- Comparing approaches to safeguarding across the UK nations and assess the impact of uneven public service provision
- Clarifying policy updates, including the rejection of a statutory duty of care and the role of initiatives like the Mental Health Charter
- Exploring future directions: balancing institutional responsibility with the role of NHS and social services, and advocating for stronger systemic support
Kate Flounders, Chief Executive, The Safeguarding Association
Keynote: Safeguarding, Prevention and Culture in Higher Education
Alex Somers, Head of Education, Everyone’s Invited
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote Panel: Evidence-based practice in embedding student wellbeing: 2 Case Studies from the University of Southampton
- Acknowledge the stressors and risks study can involve for our students
- Build inclusive systems that help mitigate stress, burnout, and disengagement among students
- Actively design wellbeing and institutional cultures of safety into academic life
- Recognise the distinct lived experiences and needs of international students
Professor Bonnie Latimer, Associate Dean Education, Member of the Advancing Assessment Team, University of Southampton
Professor Bryony Whitmarsh, Associate Dean International, University of Southampton
Professor Amanda Bragg-Mollison, Deputy Head of School University of Southampton
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Case Study: The Role of Senior Leadership in Shaping Safeguarding Culture
- How senior leaders shape culture through visible accountability and decision-making, and why safeguarding outcomes reflect institutional leadership more than written policy.
- How Office for Students Condition E6 has reframed harassment and sexual misconduct as strategic leadership issues, and what effective implementation looks like in practice.
- Why the way institutions respond to disclosures defines trust, and how trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches must be embedded at senior level.
- Leadership responses to international student vulnerability, Prevent duties, and emerging digital and AI-related risks, while maintaining inclusive and ethical practice.
Uzma Gilani, Module Lead, Arden University
Case Study: Uprating and Standardising Safeguarding in HE: The Need for Regulatory Reform
- Learn how the current regulatory regime leads to varying standards across institutions
- Discover the impact of reform in other sectors and how reforms such as ‘The Duty of Candour’ & ‘Opt-out’ reforms could be mirrored to increase wellbeing on campus
- Hear how taking an interdisciplinary approach by ensuring academic, pastoral, and wellbeing departments are integrated, helps prevent students ‘falling through the cracks’
Emma Roberts, Head of Law, University of Salford
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Implementing E6: Developing Safeguarding Cultures Against Harassment and Misconduct in Higher Education
- Discussing how E6 reshapes institutional duties and what compliance looks like in practice
- Strengthen institutional responses through effective reporting systems and specialist staff training
- Developing safeguards that address power imbalances, preventing exploitative staff–student relationships and setting clearer professional boundaries
- Advancing culture change by adopting practices such as safe hiring and shared accountability
Annelli Peavot, Head of Safeguarding, Canterbury Christchurch University
Case Study: The Benefits of Universities Linking with Local Adult Safeguarding Boards
Andrew Rabey, Independent Chair Safeguarding Adult Board Bexley and Kent & Medway
Case Study: Prevent in Higher Education Settings
- Communicating key Prevent messages to staff and students through newsletters and social media
- Engaging external Prevent advocates and speakers to illustrate real-world safeguarding examples
- Implementing clear referral pathways for early intervention when radicalisation concerns arise
- Showcasing accessible resources to raise awareness of Prevent and support services
Sam Slack, Regional Prevent Education Manager, Department for Education
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Chris East, Co-Founder, Cornerstone Safeguarding
Conference Close
Pricing Options
OnDemand
Full access to the OnDemand conference - get instant access after purchase to expert insights and curated content
2026 Speakers
Christopher East
Co-Founder
Cornerstone Safeguarding
Donny McCormick
Director
Safeguarding HE
Professor Bonnie Latimer
Associate Dean Education, Member of the Advancing Assessment Team
University of Southampton
Emma Roberts
Head of Law
University of Salford
Professor Berry Billingsley
Director of AI, Digital and Online Development
Department of Education, University of Swansea
Sam Slack
Regional Prevent Education Manager
Department for Education
Annelli Peavot
Head of Safeguarding
Canterbury Christchurch University
Testimonials
‘A highly engaging and informative conference, featuring a range of sessions focusing on many aspects of safeguarding within HE’
‘This has been one of my favourite online events as I feel I have learnt so much and feel inspired to drive forward changes within my University, thank you.’
‘A varied and thought provoking conference with good opportunities to network.’
‘An excellent agenda with some insightful speakers.’
