SIDA’s new community for leaders!
The Leaders Knowledge Exchange Forum, started in October 2025, is a space where senior leaders come together to discuss and share about a topic which is vital to their leadership role.
The forum invites all those in a senior leadership capacity within our membership to join and contribute in their areas of expertise, knowledge sharing via informal presentation and discussion. Topics are pre-determined and forum participants volunteer to share on a subject in which they have insight or which they are needing support with.
Organisations can self select who from their organisation may attend a forum gathering, it could be the same person every time or different people for different agenda topics (whoever could offer the knowledge on a subject) as long as they hold a position in the senior leadership team. From time to time, where there is interest in a specialist subject, we may invite external guest speakers to deliver to forum participants.
Why have we launched this forum? We wanted to:
- Strengthen the community via a dedicated time and place for knowledge sharing among members
- Provide a space for senior leaders with shared experiences to come together and peer support
- Enhance our knowledge exchange offering and the resources we provide as part of SIDA membership
The forum will:
- Take place once per quarter: Feb, Apr, Jul, Oct
- Have both virtual meetings or hybrid in person and virtual meetings, which may take place alternating between Edinburgh and Glasgow and may be hosted by members
- Be 1.5 hours in length split between delivery and discussion
- Be community led – community will take the lead on topics, chairing and general engagement
- Have SIDA logistical support in preparation, running and advertising
- Provide an online space – e.g. private chat channel via an online platform where people can talk, ask for advice, suggest topics for next meet, etc.
- Allow the option for sub groups to form – if someone would like to start a sub group and there is a demand from the forum members, SIDA can support with the logistics of the sub group
- Use the Chatham House Rule
- Be for SIDA members only
We will also ask for feedback via a short survey after each session for the first year at least and can explore improvements to the forum based on suggestions.
For individuals to take part in the forum, you must:
- Be a member of SIDA
- Be in a senior leadership position within your organisation
- Be willing to contribute and knowledge exchange with the community through delivery and/or discussion
We’d love for you to join us in this new and dynamic space. Please sign up to the mailing list below to become a forum member and to receive the latest updates and event invites.
Please be aware, we may share your email address with other members of the forum. Please email kelly@intdevalliance.scot if you wish for your email address not to be shared, or if you have any other questions about the forum.