KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Michael Ballé

Michael Ballé is a globally recognised lean expert, author, and executive coach specialising in lean transformation and leadership. With over 25 years of experience, he has helped numerous organisations adopt lean principles by emphasising respect, problem-solving, and leadership development. Co-author of bestsellers like The Gold Mine series and The Lean Strategy, Ballé advocates a strategic vision of lean based on developing people at the Gemba. His approach focuses on building sustainable lean cultures rather than short-term cost-cutting. As co-founder of the Institute Lean France, he continues to influence the lean community through research, coaching, and speaking engagements worldwide. 

Michael Ballé will talk about “Lean Transformation to create a Lean Culture for sustained organisational performance and excellence”. Most companies featured in "The Lean Strategy" and "Raise the Bar" continue to practice lean to this day. CEOs who adopt lean integrate it into their organization's culture, yielding significant results. So, why do we hear about lean programs failing after two to three years? From experience, it's crucial to understand a CEO's priorities. Additionally, it's important to explore what lean truly is—Toyota's TPS method outside of Toyota—and what it isn't—Taylorism disguised as lean. Furthermore, recognizing that people development is a genuine source of transformation and understanding its practical implications is essential, and what it means in practice. Lastly, as you learn, use, and teach lean, ensure that lean tools address business problems to follow the lean strategy of fixing the base and growing the business.

Daryl Powell

Daryl Powell is KONGSBERG Chair Professor of Production Management at the University of South-Eastern Norway. A trailblazer in Lean Digital, he is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Bergamo, Italy and Professor of Practice in Digital Lean Manufacturing at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. His expertise and accolades speak volumes. Daryl Powell's keynote, "Beyond the Hype: Leading Sustainable Digital Transformation with Lean Leadership", promises invaluable insights into navigating the digital landscape with lean principles.
Join us for this enlightening keynote as Powell delves into the essence of sustainable digital transformation, emphasizing the pivotal role of lean leadership. Learn why real change transcends technology trends, focusing on robust leadership and action-based learning for enduring impact in the digital age.

Peter Hines

Peter Hines is one of Europe’s most influential voices in lean thinking, combining academic excellence with deep practical insight. As Co-Founder of the Lean Enterprise Research Centre (LERC) at Cardiff Business School—once the largest academic research centre dedicated to lean globally—he has been at the forefront of shaping how organisations around the world adopt and sustain lean practices. Author and co-author of twelve books, Peter’s work has received multiple international accolades, including several Shingo Publication Awards. His most recent book, Why Bother (2022), won the prestigious Shingo Prize in 2023 and reflects his continued commitment to exploring the deeper purpose behind excellence. Today, Peter leads the Enterprise Excellence Network, supporting European companies through benchmarking and knowledge exchange. He remains actively engaged in academic work, particularly in the areas of Lean and Industry 4.0, and Lean and People Development. He currently serves as Visiting Professor at South East Technological University (SETU) and Faculty Fellow with The Shingo Institute at Utah State University. In his keynote talk, “Lean Industry 4.0: Research into Leadership and Sustainability”, Professor Hines will explore the leadership capabilities required to drive sustainable transformation in the digital era. Based on extensive global research—including the perspectives of 85 leading academics and over 1,000 practitioners—his presentation will highlight critical success factors, barriers, and enablers to Lean-Industry 4.0 integration. He will present a maturity model for Lean in the context of digitalisation, draw lessons from real-world case studies, and offer a research agenda to guide the next generation of improvement leaders. At the heart of his message lies a powerful truth: in a technology-driven world, people—and how we lead them—matter more than ever

Luís Fonseca

Luís Fonseca is a leading authority in Quality Management, Organizational Excellence, and Sustainability. He is Professor Coordenador (Associate Professor) at ISEP – Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, where he teaches Quality and Industrial Management. With a PhD in Management, an MBA, and over 30 years of academic and industry experience, he has held prominent leadership roles, including General Manager of APCER and Vice-President of IQNet. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and has been repeatedly recognized by Stanford University as one of the world’s top 2% most-cited researchers. His keynote, “Digitalization as a Catalyst, not a Hurdle: Advancing OPEX Through Data-Driven Quality Systems”, introduces a digitally enabled Operational Excellence framework that integrates ISO 9001, TQM, and Quality 4.0 technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain, and big data. Based on international best practices and empirical research, the model proposes a layered approach combining compliance, culture, digital integration, and sustainability. Rather than replacing traditional improvement routines, digitalization is presented as a powerful enabler of real-time feedback, predictive quality, and long-term value creation — aligning OPEX with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and modern organizational challenges.

Sanjay Bhasin

Sanjay Bhasin is an accredited senior Operational Excellence practitioner depicting high-ranking management positions within the industrial, education and public sectors. As a master Black belt in LSS, his recent role as “Head of Continuous Improvement” for the Probation Service in England and Wales predominantly incorporated steering the organisation towards a higher level of OPEX maturity. He has now joined full time academia as “Programme Director” and Professor of OPEX and Innovation at Buckingham University. Recognition includes most commended award for his research on “culture” in the “International Journal of Lean Six Sigma” and winning national awards for his research on organisation culture by the “Institute of Continuous Improvement for Public Services. He is a Fellow of “Institute of C.I. in Public Services,” the “Chartered Quality Institute” and International Lean Six Sigma Institute.” He retains his links with academia and cutting-edge research as a pracademic. His current area of research focuses upon operational excellence maturity.
His Keynote will be on the topic of "Leadership for Operational Excellence in the Digital World". In the digital era, public sector leadership for operational excellence has evolved significantly, requiring new skills and mindsets. Traditional bureaucratic models have given way to agile, data-driven, and citizen-centric approaches. Leaders need to navigate rapid technological advancements, integrating AI, automation, and data analytics to enhance service delivery and decision-making. New competencies such as digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, and strategic foresight are essential to manage risks and leverage opportunities. The shift towards remote and hybrid work models demands strong virtual collaboration, adaptability, and resilience. Leaders must also champion innovation, foster a culture of continuous learning, and ensure ethical governance in deploying emerging technologies. Moreover, public sector leaders must build cross-sector partnerships, driving digital transformation through collaboration with private industries, academia, and civic technology groups.

James Dwan

James Dwan, CEO of Catalyst Consulting, is a renowned expert in business transformation, operational excellence, and agile methodologies. With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades working with global enterprises, James has empowered businesses to achieve sustainable performance enhancements through Lean Six Sigma, business agility, and systems thinking. His influence extends across various sectors such as financial services, manufacturing, and government, where he has effectively steered organizations towards embedding continuous improvement and strategic resilience. A respected speaker and consultant, James is dedicated to leveraging AI to elevate decision-making, promoting a culture of experimentation, and ensuring that transformation endeavors yield tangible, enduring outcomes.
James will present on "Why Operational Excellence Fails to Sustain – And How AI, Organisational Learning Culture, and Business Agility Will Change That." This keynote delves into the challenges leading to the inability of many organizations to maintain long-term benefits from Operational Excellence. By spotlighting AI, Jidoka (automation with human intelligence), and Business Agility, the discussion emphasizes the shift needed in today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment. In this era, mere incremental improvements are insufficient; learning organizations have become imperative. The session advocates for revolutionary advancements, not just evolutionary progress, with a focus on aligning and empowering teams rather than enforcing control. Attendees can anticipate insights on AI-driven analytics, self-regulating quality assurance, and adaptive leadership approaches aimed at instigating enduring transformations in OPE

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