- Annual Conference 2025: From System Holes to Whole System
- Call for Posters
- Assisted Dying Bill - Perspectives Informed by Palliative Care
- SPPC’s response to the public consultation on the SG Strategy for Palliative Care
- Adults with Incapacity Act
From system holes to whole system
SPPC Annual Conference
John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh
12 November 2025
Catch up with colleagues from across Scotland and make new connections at the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care Annual Conference.
Hear new and challenging perspectives, take part in interactive sessions and be energised and inspired.
Exploring a whole system approach
As someone approaches the end of life they may need a range of supports – from health services, from social care services, from the welfare system, and from family, friends and their communities. Over the course of the day we will explore how this complex web of supports can work more effectively as a system to improve people’s experiences of living with serious illness, dying and bereavement.
Early Bird Bookings
Book before 18 August to receive our Early Bird rate: Book tickets
Speakers
Toby Lowe
Toby has a PhD in Political Theory from Newcastle University, exploring “the Concept of Community in Political Theory”. He was Chief Executive of a participatory arts charity in North East England, supporting marginalised and excluded people to explore and address their creativity.
He has also done policy work addressing poverty in neighbourhoods for the Social Exclusion Unit, and worked as a public management action researcher – helping public service organisations across the world to change their approach to management by using a Human Learning Systems approach.
He is passionate about helping to change how public service is managed, as he believes that how we perform in public management is directly connected to governments’ ability to address the complex challenges faced by people.
Donald Macaskill
Donald has worked for many years in the health and social care sectors across the United Kingdom. A particular professional focus has been issues related to dementia, bereavement, palliative care and individual human rights. He is the current Chair of the Bereavement Charter Group for Scotland and a former UK Bereavement Commissioner.
He is the CEO of Scottish Care, the representative body for care providers in the independent sector in Scotland, namely private, charitable, and employee-owned care organisations which includes care home and home care organisations.
He serves on several Scottish, UK and international charities and boards related to health and social care including at present as a Director of the Global Ageing Network. A weekly blogger, podcaster and public speaker he is an active campaigner for older person rights.
Cormac Russell
Cormac is a social explorer, an author and a much sought-after speaker. He is the Founding Director of Nurture Development and a member of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute, at DePaul University, Chicago.
Over the last 25 years, Cormac’s work has demonstrated an enduring impact in 35 countries around the world. He has trained communities, agencies, NGOs and governments in ABCD and other community-based approaches in Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe and North America.
His most recent books are The Connected Community- Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighborhoods (Coauthor John McKnight); Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2022, and Rekindling Democracy – A Professional’s Guide to Working in Citizen Space; Cascade Books, 2020.
More speakers to be announced...
Call for Posters
Are you involved in an interesting project or in an area of work that you would like to discuss with or show to other conference attendees? Why not present your work in the poster exhibition. See this flyer for details on the call for posters, exhibition stands or publication displays.
If you are interested in presenting a poster or bringing along your display stands, please contact Pauline Ellison for a proposal form for completion at pauline@palliativecarescotland.org.uk.
The closing date for submission of applications for poster proposals or exhibitions is Monday 29 September 2025.
Book Now
Ticket rates and bookings are available here: Book tickets Book before 18 August to receive our Early Bird rate.
Poster photo credit: Yonghyun Lee
Photo of Cormac Russel: Georg Lulich
