The conference has taken place every year since 1957 and is the flagship of all the other Group Relations conferences and institutions around the world. It is only for those who are deeply invested in understanding their relationship to leadership and authority in complex, uncertain contexts. It is the home of learning by experience.

Task Authority Organisation: Studying the socio-ecological and reticular in organisations

Welcome to this iteration of the Leicester Conference of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, celebrating 77 years in 2023. The TAO of Tavistock has always provided a leading-edge criticality for leaders – working below the surface of apparent realities to engage in profound ways with what it means to be human and how we can meaningfully relate to each other and most critically, our environment.

As we enter 2023, our social systems are facing their legacies – and unpicking from the ruins of the rubble, a renewed sense of purpose – which for us is Task; seeking out how to function effectively – which for us is Authority; and questioning the shape, boundary and processes of the social world – which for us is Organisation.

When we speak about The Reticular, we refer to the hidden web of entangled systems and processes that support life. From cell biology to soil substructure, transport and broadband networks – they are all reticular. Being able to navigate the reticular is a nuanced skill, and a LC offers the opportunity to develop the ability to see, listen and speak into the spaces between apparently separate objects, persons, nations and perspectives, and experience that reticular dimension whilst studying it.

So, as it has done over the last 66 years, the Leicester Conference is the living laboratory where all leaders, change agents, group and system practitioners, come to deepen their capacity to survive -and thrive - turbulent times and contexts. A place in which to hone the craft of acting in the face of uncertainty, directly from their own experience. 

As we all face the coming decade up to 2033 the UN sustainable develop goals, the digitalisation of the global economy and surviving a climate catastrophe will draw out of us a new set of competencies, skills and abilities to shape our social order. The Reticular skill set is at the heart of the learning from a Group Relations conference in general and the Leicester Conference in particular.

The Primary Task of the Conference is:

To study the exercise of authority in the taking up of roles through the interpersonal, inter-group and institutional relations that develop within the conference as an organisation within its wider context.

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What happens at the Leicester Conference?

A temporary organisation is created, in which all members and staff co-create the culture and practices of the organisation as it unfolds. We hold a close scrutiny to everything that happens within the organisation and surface what meanings are embedded within the behaviours as they happen.

The Groups are formed, and events are consulted to by the staff. Designed to surface our assumptions and myths about organisational and social life. As the conference is fully residential, we have the experience of immersing totally into the life of the organisation, eating sleeping and working together consistently for 14 days. There is nothing quite like it.

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What the Directors say about The Leicester Conference: 

Dr. Leslie B. Brissett, conference director and director of the Working conference is the Group Relations Programme Director at the Tavistock Institute, has directed 6 Leicester Conferences (2016–2022) and has contributed as Director and Associate Director and Staff member to this - as well as dozens of other Group Relations Conferences – nationally and internationally.

Dr. Eliat Aram, conference director and director of the Deepening Praxis Training Group (DPTG) is the CEO of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations and has directed 11 Leicester conferences (2007–2022) and many conferences all over the world.

Conference Administrators’ Narratives

Leah Ashton-Hurst is the Operations Manager & People Co-ordinator at the Tavistock Institute.

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Emily Kyte has been an Administrator at the Tavistock Institute since 2019 and, alongside this work, is training on the MSc in Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Practice at the Metanoia Institute.

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The Conference Staff Will Be Drawn From

• Pietro Catania

• Winnie Fei

• Markus Feil

• Jinette de Gooijer

• Rachel Kelly

• Debra Noumair

• Irina Ponomarchuk

• Antonio Sama

• Haritha Sarma

• Christopher Scanlon

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Venue

CIM Moor Hall, Cookham, Maidenhead, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 9QH.

Located in the idyllic village of Cookham, with close proximity to Windsor, Maidenhead and Heathrow Airport, Moor Hall is an elegant 19th century Manor House. All bedrooms come with ensuite and and guests at Moor Hall can take advantage of onsite lounge bar, quiet work area, gym and restaurant. 

Moor Hall is one hour out of Central London, easily accessible by public transport and situated on 9 acres of peaceful Berkshire countryside. 

Representing outstanding value, the fee includes 13 night’s accommodation, all meals and refreshments and the consultancy of world leaders in the field of systems psychodynamics, organisational consultancy and coaching.

Further Discounts for joint applications from the same organisation, or joint applications from those affiliated to the same national group relations sponsoring organisations. For severe financial hardship, bursaries and scholarships are available on application and further supporting statement.

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Sub-conferences

Working Conference: is for people who have never attended a residential group relations conference, or those who choose to return and rediscover the member role a fresh.

Deepening Praxis Training Group: for those who wish to train as group relations conference consultants and those seeking to deepen their organisational consultancy skills. The Deepening Praxis Training Group (DPTG) is for people who have attended at least 2 residential group relations conferences recognised by the Tavistock Institute, at least one of which is a Leicester conference.

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Next Steps

Please click the ‘Apply Now’ button to start your application. 

If you have any questions about the conference, please contact Leah Ashton-Hurst or Emily Kyte, Conference Administrators.