Leadership in Practice: Engaging People, Delivering Results
Thursday 26 March 2026 16:30 - 21:00
Location: N303 (Registration), N242 (Event), Sir Ian Wood Building, RGU, Aberdeen
Leadership in today’s organisations is shaped by constant change, rising expectations and increasing complexity. Without clear direction, even capable teams can lose focus and momentum. Effective leadership provides the clarity, confidence and purpose.
This leadership conference is designed to provide practical insight, professional inspiration and meaningful discussion for anyone seeking to strengthen their leadership capability in today’s demanding organisational environment. The purpose of the event is to explore how leadership can move beyond traditional models towards more engaging, human-centred and resilient approaches that deliver sustainable performance. The event is aimed at staff, students, early-career professionals, project managers, aspiring leaders and experienced practitioners who want to deepen their understanding of leadership in complex settings. Whether you are leading a small team, managing large-scale projects or preparing for your next career step, the sessions will offer relevant and applicable learning.
The programme features three experienced speakers followed by an interactive panel discussion and networking session. Alan Glennie will open the event with an introduction to leadership, discussing how it compares with management and highlighting some of the traits and behaviours of effective leaders. Gordon MacKay, an APM Fellow, will explore the importance and benefits of evolving from command-and-control project management to leadership that engages and empowers. The session will also explore the mental health and wellbeing impacts of these different leadership styles, promoting adult-adult over parent-child relationship building for effective stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Graham McGhie will conclude the speaker sessions by talking about leadership from a personal perspective, drawing on experience in energy project delivery, national crisis response, global consultancy, elite sport, and military conflict. He will share insights on purpose, authenticity, resilience, and how lessons from Aberdeen University shaped his leadership journey.
The event runs over an afternoon and early evening session, concluding with structured networking to encourage professional connections. This event offers a valuable opportunity to gain insight, build networks and reflect on own leadership journey. Attendance is free for staff and students.
Event Schedule
- 16:30 - Registration and refreshments
- 17:30 - Presentations
- 20:15 - Networking
- 21:00 - Close