7th European Regional Sigma Conference 2024

Sigma’s 7th Biennial European Conference will be hosted in 2024 by the Phi Mu Chapter and the Department of Nursing Science at Bournemouth University.  The Conference venue will be the University’s Bournemouth Gateway Building and will combine a high-quality scientific programme with a vibrant social programme. 

Sigma

Sigma Theta Tau International (Sigma) is an Honour Society of Nursing and a non-profit organisation in more than 100 countries around the globe with 12 chapters in Europe, including chapters in Armenia, Croatia, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Wales and England (the Phi Mu Chapter). 

Sigma’s Vision is to promote connected and empowered nurse leaders to transform global healthcare.  Linked to this, Sigma’s Mission is to develop nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere.  In seeking to achieve this Mission, Sigma focuses on recognising and supporting scholarship and excellence in nursing practice.

The Phi Mu Chapter

The Phi Mu Chapter is Sigma’s only Chapter in England and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021.  The Chapter is hosted by the Department of Nursing Science at Bournemouth University and has members from across England, Europe, Canada, the United States of America and Africa.  The Chapter is delighted to be hosting the 7th Biennial European Conference in Bournemouth in 2024 and will draw on experience gained in hosting the 5th Biennial European Conference in Cambridge in 2018.

Bournemouth University

With more than 19,000 students, Bournemouth University is in the county of Dorset on the South Coast of England.  The Department of Nursing Science works collaboratively with local and regional health and social care providers to provide high-quality education, professional practice development and research that meets the needs of the evolving healthcare sector and supports excellence in nursing practice.  The Department of Nursing Science is committed to promoting the effective integration of education, research and professional nursing practice.

Planning for Sigma’s 7th Biennial European Conference has involved a large number of people across four committees and from across the European Chapters:

European Planning Committee 

• Dr Liz Westcott (Chair), Europe Regional Coordinator, Sigma Europe
• Varduhi Avetisyan, President, Chi Delta Chapter (Armenia)
• Professor Snježana Čukljek, President, Alpha Alpha Gamma Chapter (Croatia)
• Dr Leslie Gelling, President-Elect, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Professor Tarja Kvist, President, Alpha Beta Nu Chapter (Finland)
• Harshida Patel, President, Tau Omega Chapter (Sweden)
• Dr Milko Zanini, President, Alpha Alpha Beta Chapter (Italy)
• Dr Lurdes Lomba, President, Phi Xi Chapter (Portugal)
• Professor Joy Merrell, President, Upsilon Xi at Large Chapter (Wales)
• Professor Margreet van der Cingel, President, Rho Chi at Large Chapter (The Netherlands)
• Professor Mark White, President, Omega Epsilon at Large Chapter (Ireland) 
• Professor Dalit Wilhelm, President, Omega Lambda Chapter (Israel)
• Dr Marie-Louise Luiking, Chair, European Awards and Recognition Committee

Phi Mu Chapter Planning Committee

• Dr Liz Westcott (Chair), President, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Professor Parveen Ali, Chair, Research Committee, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Dani Collins, Chair, Communications Committee, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Michelle Crostron, Vice-President, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Dr Leslie Gelling, Vice-President & President-Elect, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Emma Heron, Chair, Finance Committee, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Dr Sharon Holland, Counsellor, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Professor Bridie Kent, Treasurer, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Raluca Oaten, Vice President, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Professor Elizabeth Rosser, Past President, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Dr Janet Scammell, Past President, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Dr Heidi Singleton, Chair, Leadership Succession Committee, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Ashley Spriggs, Chair, Leadership Succession Committee, Phi Mu Chapter (England)
• Dr Lee Yarwood-Ross, Chair, Governance Committee, Phi Mu Chapter (England)

Scientific Committee

• Professor Vanessa Heaslip (Chair), Professor of Nursing and Healthcare Equity, University of Salford (UK)
• Professor Jehad Omar Al-Halabi, Professor of Adult Health & Women’s Health, Qatar University (Qatar)
• Dr Liz Berrgan, Associate Professor, University of Gloucestershire (UK)
• Professor Monica Bianchi, Professor in Interprofessionality in Education & Social-Health Practice, University of Applied Sciences & Arts of Southern Switzerland (Switzerland)
• Emmanuel O. Adesuyi, PhD Student, Birmingham City University (UK)
• Dr Dani Collins, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, London South Bank University (UK)
• Professor Snježana Čukljek, Professor and Vice Dean for Teaching, University of Applied Health Sciences (Croatia)
• Professor Mariann Fossum, Professor of Nursing, University of Agder (Norway)
• Dr Leslie Gelling, Associate Professor in Adult Nursing, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Professor Sabine Hahn, Head of the Division of Applied Research and Development in Nursing, Bern University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland)
• Professor Bridie Kent, Professor of Leadership in Nursing, University of Plymouth (UK)
• Frank Kiwanuka, PhD Student, University of Eastern Finland (Finland)
• Professor Julie McGarry, Professor of Nursing and Gender Based Violence, University of Nottingham (UK)
• Professor Márcia Pestana Santos, Adjunct Professor of Nursing, Nursing School of Coimbra (Portugal)
• Dr Janet Scammell, Visiting Fellow, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Professor Alison Steven, Professor of Research in Nursing and Health Professional Education, Northumbria University (UK)
• Dr Filipa Ventura, Researcher, Nursing School of Coimbra (Portugal)
• Dr Liz Westcott, President, Phi Mu Chapter
• Dr Peter Wolfensberger, Lecturer in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Bern University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland)

Local Organising Committee

• Dr Leslie Gelling (Chair), Associate Professor in Adult Nursing, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Dr Sue Baron, Senior Lecturer, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Emma Böckle, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Dr Chantel Cox, Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Professor Steven Ersser, Professor of Nursing & Dermatology, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Dr Nikki Glendening, Principal Academic in Adult Nursing, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Professor Sue Green, Professor of Nursing, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Professor Vanessa Heaslip, Professor of Nursing and Healthcare Equity, University of Salford (UK)
• Dr Sharon Holland, Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Dave Hunt, Learning Technologist, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Jade Miller, Student Nurse, Bournemouth University (UK)
• John Moran, Learning Technologist, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Sarah Pishgoo, Student Nurse, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Michelle Sanderson, Events and Conference Manager, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Lindsay Silsby, Student Nurse, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Dr Heidi Singleton, Lecturer in Childrens and Young Peoples Nursing, Bournemouth University (UK)
• Dr Matt Hodson, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.  

To register to attend the 7th European Region Sigma Conference in 2024 click the link below.

Registration fees are:

• Sigma Member Full Conference (Early Bird by 31/03/2024) - £300
• Sigma Member Full Conference (From 01/04/2024) - £350
• Sigma Member Full Conference (Low Income Country) - £200
• Non-member Full Conference (Early Bird by 31/03/2024) - £375
• Non-member Full Conference (From 01/04/2024) - £425
• Day Delegate - £150 per day
• Student Member Full Conference - £100
• Student Non-member Full Conference - £150
• Retired Members - £150
• Online Delegates - £100

The main theme for the Conference is: Promoting Global Nursing: Education, Research and Practice to meet tomorrow’s health and care needs.

The main theme incorporates the following six sub-themes:

• Working together across disciplines, boundaries and countries, including co-production with service users, patients and families
• Entrepreneurship: creativity, enterprise and innovation
• Inclusivity: working with socially excluded and vulnerable groups
• Sustainable nursing: climate, resource and workforce
• Nursing during times of conflict, crisis and disasters
• Digital health

The following speakers will be presenting Keynote presentations during the conference, each focusing on one of the sub-themes:

• Joanne Bosanquet MBE, Chief Executive, Foundation of Nursing Studies
• Professor Michael Shannon, Global Leadership Consultancy
• Professor Joy Duxbury OBE, Professor of Mental Health, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Maggie Langins, Nursing and Midwifery Policy Advisor, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Europe
• Professor Martin Bricknell, Professor of Conflict, Health and Military Medicine, King’s College London
• Professor Natasha Phillips, Future Nurse & Honorary Professor, University of Salford.

We are also delighted to announce that Dr Sandra Bibb (President of Sigma from November 2023) and Dr Liz Madigan (Chief Executive Officer of Sigma) will be attending and speaking at the Conference.

The full scientific programme will be made available in January 2024.

Before and during the Conference there will be a series of social events which can be booked as add-ons when registering to attend the conference. In addition to the following list, more information is provided in the below flyers.

Stonehenge (25/06/2024)
Florence Nightingale Tour (25/06/2024)
Pre-Conference Reception (25/06/2024)
Conference Reception (26/06/2024)
Conference Dinner (27/06/2024)

Bournemouth is in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England.  It is a seaside resort and a vibrant metropolitan town.

Rail:  There are frequent trains running between Bournemouth and London with multiple links to all other parts of the UK.  Eurostar provides good rail links between London and Paris/Brussels.

Air:  There are multiple international airports in London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City) with easy onward travel to Bournemouth.  There are also many European flights into Southampton and Bournemouth airports. 

There is a wide range of accommodation available in Bournemouth within easy walking distance of the conference venue.  The following document includes information about hotels in Bournemouth who have agreed to reduced rates for Conference delegates.

The Conference organisers are now seeking sponsors and exhibitors to support the Conference. Supporting this event will be an opportunity to raise your profile and awareness of your product or service. You will be able to meet nurse leaders and key decision-makers from universities and health providers from across Europe and around the world. This will help you to establish new collaborative relationships. Supporting this Conference will also allow you to invest in the development of nursing in Europe and globally. 

For more information about sponsorship opportunities please contact [email protected].