Speaking Topics
As a keynote speaker, Andy Roe focuses on leading change and transformation, building resilient teams, and managing risk through real-world leadership lessons. He draws on his frontline and regulatory experience as London Fire Brigade Commissioner to show how clear communication, inclusive leadership, robust governance, and human judgment can drive effective reform and prevent future crises.
Synopsis
Topics &
Change and Transformation:
When Andy Roe became LFB Commissioner in 2020, he inherited an organisation resistant to change, deeply affected by the Grenfell Tower Tragedy and placed under special measures. Drawing on a lifetime’s experience of working in high-risk and dynamic environments, Andy looks at the challenges faced, and the process involved in devising a credible plan that a workforce, political leaders, media and regulatory stakeholders buy into. He also explores strategies to overcome internal and external resistance and drive lasting change, even under intense pressure.
Key Messages
How to successfully communicate the case for change.
Who are your change leaders and how do you use them?
The structures, systems and governance needed to change quickly.
Understanding risk and defining the outcomes you want.
Assurance, evidencing change and holding yourself to account before others do.
Building a change legacy, maintaining and improving outcomes.
Leading a high performing team:
As CEO of one of the largest Emergency Rescue Services in the world, Andy led more than 6,300 staff across 103 Fire Stations and managed an annual budget of over £510 million. Successfully transforming a service under scrutiny, through strategic changes in governance, financial management and culture, Andy demonstrates the vital importance of resilience, clear and effective communication, and a balanced approach to reward and accountability, in building, leading and sustaining high-performance teams. He also offers valuable insights for leaders navigating complex, high-pressure environments.
Key Messages
How to identify and build resilience in your team
The importance of the different voice and how you should include them properly in your team
Communication under pressure
Reward and accountability
Clarity as a leader
Risk and Consequence
As commander at some of the UK’s most high-profile and tragically consequential major incidents, Andy has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact when risk management fails. With unparalleled frontline experience, he is uniquely positioned to examine risk management through the lens of real-world outcomes. He also explores how organisations can better anticipate failure, respond effectively under pressure, and build systems that prevent future crises. He also looks at why and how, in an age of advanced technology, systems can never entirely remove the need for human judgment, adaptability and leadership.
Key Messages
How seemingly minor failures can have giant consequences.
How systems can never entirely remove the human factor, so how can you humanise the understanding and management of risk.
The importance of robust inspection, assurance and being ruthlessly honest with yourselves
How to build a curious, learning culture.
How to be an effective professional sceptic.
How to build layers of effective safeguards and assurance.