Date: Tuesday 30th September – Wednesday 1st October
Venue: Chesford Grange Hotel CV8 2LD
Registration: 9am each day, for a 10am start Tuesday and 9.30am start Wednesday.
Choices: Come for one day or both, stay at the venue or get a day ticket – we have a range of ways to make this CPD opportunity work for you.
Speakers: A range of professionals from across the sector – all with valuable insights and learning points to share.
Interactive: the speed learning event launched last year is back – your chance to ask a range of experts questions in a small group setting.
Research: meet the suppliers & learn about the latest developments in the exhibition
Monday 7pm – 9pm
If you’re coming from further away you can include a Monday night stay with hot food and a chance to have a relaxed,informal, meet and mingle with colleagues in the private bar area ready for the conference opening on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday 30th September
08:30 – 09:30 – Registration & exhibition opens
09:30 – 09:40 – Presidential address and conference opening
09:40 – 10:00 – Mat Crawley ICCM Chief Executive Embracing Change
10:00 – 10:30 – Eimer Duffy FIT Social Media The Google Tool For Cemeteries & Crematoria
10:30 – 11:00 – Lisa Parkes Wirral Council Historic baby burial issues
11:00 – 11:30 - Refreshments in the exhibition
11:30 – 12:00 – Prof. Lisa Webley & Prof. Alison Young Law Commission Update on strands 1 & 2 (Reform on burial and cremation & new funerary methods)
12:00 – 12:30 – Jennifer Hamilton & Jane Matheson Scottish regulation impact
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch in the exhibition
13:30 – 14:00 – Chidi Igwebuike & Richard Williams LAU cremation PG Note update
14:00 – 14:30 – Debate One
14:30 – 15:00 – Guido Strijbos Crematech Electric cremation & innovation
15:00 – 15:30 – Refreshments in the exhibition
15:30 – 17:00 – Speed learning
Wednesday 1st October
09:00 – 09:30 – Exhibition opens
09:30 – 10:00 – Clea Harmer Sands
10:00 – 10:30 – Mark Wrigley Human Tissue Authority HTA origins and relevant standards
10:30 – 11:00 – Refreshments in the exhibition
11:00 – 11:45 – Jeremy Weinbren Medical Examiner Impact of new legislation
11:45 – 12:30 – Nuria Capdevila Circle Corporation The role of cemeteries in environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change: Insights from Spain
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch in the exhibition
13:30 – 14:15 – Tommy Lowden Environment Agency
14:15 - 15:00 – Cemetery of the year awards
15:00 – 15:30 – Refreshments in the exhibition
15:30 – 16:15 – Debate Two
16:15 – 16:30 – Close of conference
The first impression families have of your cemetery or crematorium often happens online, so what does Google say about you?
In this engaging, informative, and practical session, Eimer will explore the power of Google Business Profiles, a free tool that plays a vital role in how your services are seen, trusted, and chosen by the public. With easy to use tips and tools to support the process, help to draft thoughtful responses to reviews, suggest engaging updates and streamline communication. No technical expertise required. Expect real-life examples and practical takeaways - you’ll leave with actionable insights your team can use straight away.
Top 3 learning points
1) How to identify free improvements for your online presence
2) When AI can be useful
3) Interactive “profile detective” exercise
About the Speaker
Eimer Duffy, is a leading expert in social media and digital marketing with a deep understanding of the unique sensitivities and challenges faced by for the funeral and bereavement sector. Through her interactive training sessions, Eimer has helped countless funeral professionals grow their businesses, connect meaningfully with their communities, and achieve long-term success in an increasingly digital world. Her mission: to help funeral industry professionals create a strong, trustworthy online presence. Over recent years, she has shared her expertise as a featured speaker at prominent industry events including at ICCM24 where her talk was given 5 stars in feedback.
This session will present the strategic project developed by the Association of Municipal Funeral Homes and Cemeteries (AFCM) in collaboration with CIRCLE Corporation, led by Núria Capdevila, focusing on how cemeteries in Spain are actively contributing to environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation. The session will showcase best practices, realcase studies, and innovative strategies that are being implemented across Spanish public cemeteries. Attendees will gain insights into decision-making frameworks that align sustainability with operational efficiency. Spain is at the forefront of integrating sustainability in the funeral sector, and this session will provide exclusive insights into how Spanish cemeteries are adapting to new environmental challenges.
What are the top 3 key learning points will delegates gain from this session?:
- How public cemeteries can play a key role insustainability and climate action through innovative strategies and efficientresource management.
- Examples of best practices implemented in Spain,showcasing how cemeteries can reduce their environmental impact and enhance community integration.
- Tools and strategic frameworks for transitioningto sustainable cemeteries, aligned with circular economy principles,biodiversity conservation, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Núria Capdevila Roig, founder and CEO of CIRCLE Corporation, a consultancy specializing in CSR, sustainability, and ESG for the funeral, industrial, and service sectors. With a strong background in circular economy and sustainable development, her mission is to transform industries into more ethical, transparent, and environmentally responsible models. She holds a Master’s in Circular Economy and Sustainable Development, a PDG from IESE Business School, and degrees in Industrial Design Engineering from TU Delft and Elisava, as well as Advertising and Public Relations from UOC. Her expertise have led her to collaborate with global organizations, including serving as a scholar at The Cemetery Research Groupand playing a key role in FIAT-IFTA’s first Sustainability Committee, where she worked on the sustainable transition of cemeteries. With her experience and passion for sustainable transformation, she is eager to engage with the audience, spark meaningful discussions, and drive actionable change.
Introduction to the Human Tissue Authority, standards andguidance . Approach to security at licensed establishments responsible for storing bodies and tissue.
Top 3 learning points
1) HTA legislation
2) Standards
3) Spotlight on security related standards
About the Speaker
Mark Wrigley is the Head of Regulation at the Human Tissue Authority responsible for the Post Mortem ad Public Display sectors. My background is in Policing including investigations into misconduct, counter terrorism, homicide and serious and organised crime. Over recent years I have led a team of HTA regulation managers with responsibility for superintending licensable activities in areas of body and tissue storage.
The Law Commission’s project has a number of different sub-projects. The Burial and Cremation sub-project closed its consultation in January and will report in early 2026. The New Funerary Methods sub-project will close its consultation period in September and report in spring 2026. Come and hear updates on the progress of those projects from Commissioner Alison Young, and new Commissioner Lisa Webley.
What are the top 3 key learning points will delegates gain from this session?:
Possible future law reform on the law relating to Burialsand Cremation
Possible future law reform to regulate new funerary methods
Future law reform projects relating to rights andobligations relating to funerary methods and human remains.
About Alison
Alison the Law Commissioner for Public Law and the Law in Wales. The Law Commission is an independent body that looks at law reform. I am the Commissioner overseeing the law reform project on new funerary methods. Iam also a professor of Public Law at the University of Cambridge.
About Lisa
Professor Lisa Webley is the Law Commissioner for Property,Family and Trust Law. She joined the Commission in September 2025. She is also the Chair in Legal Education and Research at the University of Birmingham and an Associate Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies,University of London.
Sands is the UK's largest pregnancy and baby loss charity, working to save babies' lives and to ensure bereaved parents and families receive the care and support that they need and deserve. It is a privilege to be able to make a difference to so many families, and this session will look at how we are able to do that as Sands
Top 3 learning points
1. An understanding of the needs of families and parents bereaved through pregnancy and baby loss, and of how Sands works to ensure they get the care and support that they need
2. An understanding of how Sands works to save babies' lives
3. Information relating to Baby Loss Awareness Week and how to be more involved
About the Speaker
Clea is the Chief Executive of Sands which works to save babies’ lives and to support bereaved parents and families Clea is also currently the Chair of the Maternity and Neonatal Programme Stakeholder Council; Chair of the National Bereavement CarePathway; Co-Chair of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group; and Chair of the Baby Loss Awareness Alliance. With growing public awareness of the issues surrounding baby death and pregnancy loss, and a national commitment to reduce the number of babies dying, she passionately believes that now is the moment to make a difference for parents today and in the future.
Sponsored by
Here is some of the feedback from last year, this year is going to be even better
A fantastic event catching up with friends old and new. Collaboration is key to providing the best possible service for bereaved people, and our event is a perfect example of what it looks like to come together and celebrate this. Thanks to all the delegates, staff and suppliers and see you all again soon.
Also to say thank you for an excellent event. It made a welcome change for a recent event to be commercially worthwhile and really enjoyable. Not easy in these times. Thank you again
Thank you for all the hard work that went into making the convention it was really enjoyable
and I got a lot out of it...
Great conference. Excellent work.
Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth CV8 2LD