The University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) Vice-Chancellor is drawing on his own research areas to deliver a highly respected memorial lecture.
Professor Mike Thomas’ talk, entitled Kindness and Compassion – Challenges in Leadership Roles, has been chosen as this year’s Elizabeth Bryan Foundation Trust Memorial Lecture.
Professor Thomas, who has carried out years of academic research into the area of compassion and kindness in leadership, said: “I’m truly honoured to have been asked to present the 2017 Elizabeth Bryan Foundation Trust Memorial Lecture. Throughout my career I’ve always been interested in these topics so to be able to help lend my support to such a worthy cause is fantastic.”
His lecture will encompass the variables that develop, support and challenge kind and compassionate leadership and include authenticity, relational management, equity, gender, organisational ethos and people development. Professor Thomas will contextualise kindness and compassion challenges within the structures of digital technological developments, time and resilience.
Professor Thomas joined UCLan in the summer of 2014 and supervises a number of PhD students who explore management and leadership with particular emphasis on stewardship, values and resilience.
As an ex-submariner, he has also worked on projects for many years which support military discharged service personnel to find new life and career opportunities. He works with a team of active ex-service academics and those with a special interest or specialism in the field of transition support and is the Director of the College for Veterans and Emergency Services.
The Elizabeth Bryan Foundation Trust is a charitable trust founded in memory of the eminent paediatrician Elizabeth Bryan, whose work with families with twins, or multiple births, brought together the best of skilled medical practice with a profound commitment to the wellbeing of her patients and their families. The Trust aims to inspire, educate, lead the debate and encourage all those involved from politicians, funders, managers, providers of services (doctors, nurses, social workers etc), patients, clients and carers to ensure that vision is central to their concern.
The Memorial Lecture will take place in UCLan’s Greenbank Lecture Theatre on Wednesday 11 October. Drinks and canapés will be served from 5.30pm, while the lecture, which will include a Q&A session, will commence at 6.00pm.
The event is free to attend and free parking will also be available. For further details, and to register online go towww.ebftmemoriallecture.eventbrite.co.uk
