Introduction
Welcome to DLCC2025
The Developing Leadership Capacity Conference (DLCC) was established in 2009 as a forum for leadership and management academics, practitioners, policy makers and students to come together to debate and explore recent developments in the theory and practice of leadership development. It is a companion event to the International Studying Leadership Conference which is associated with the Sage journal Leadership. Each year DLCC is hosted by a different University that is passionate about developing leaders. In previous years it has been hosted by Henley Business School, the University of the West of England, the University of Exeter and the University of Bolton. We are very pleased to have DLCC return to Lancaster University this year.
Conference theme
The theme of DLCC2025 is Leading with Care and Compassion. We aim to explore caring and compassionate approaches to leading and leadership in organisations. DLCC is a place for dialogue between leadership development practitioners and academics. As such, we welcome the latest academic research papers alongside practitioner workshops, leadership development case studies, keynote speeches and round table discussions where we will explore the theory, research and current leader and leadership development practices focused on caring and compassionate leadership. There is more information on the conference theme page, and details of the submission process on the call for submissions page.
Overview of PEML and LUMS
Lancaster University Management School has a rich history of management learning, with renowned pioneers in the field such as Michael Reynolds, John Burgoyne and Mark Easterby-Smith laying foundations in reflective practice, management and organisational learning and management research methodologies. This history has helped to shape the School’s Professional & Executive Management Learning unit (PEML). Created in 2023 and working particularly with ideas of compassionate leadership and responsible management, PEML design and deliver research-informed non-accredited and accredited post-graduate and post-experience management and leadership education. We seek to equip individuals with the knowledge, experience and skills to lead and shape positive futures. Working with organisations, we provide management and leadership development solutions to help them address complex systemic challenges.
DLCC 15th “Developing Leadership Capacity Conference” 2025 Lancaster University