You can find conference presentations, resources and more information about the event on this page.
2025 Conference
The 8th Annual Epilepsy12 & OPEN UK National Conference was held on Monday 22 September 2025 at the Â鶹´«Ã½ building in London, welcoming 420 virtual participants alongside 35 attendees in London, as the conference returned in hybrid form for the third year.
Conference recordings are now accessible on .
Co-Chaired by Ailsa McLellan, Dr Richard Brown and Dr Colin Dunkley, the conference aimed to amplify the voice of children and young people with epilepsies and to bring professionals together to drive quality improvements in epilepsy care across England and Wales.
Key discussions focused on the importance of the Youth Advocates, the ongoing challenges in access to Epilepsy surgery and specialist services, and the expanding role of epilepsy specialist nurses in supporting children and families. Delegates also heard updates on Epilepsy12, medical adherence in paediatric epilepsy, and OPEN UK, prompting valuable debate and collaboration.
The event reinforced the importance of partnership between young people, families, and professionals in shaping and delivering better care and outcomes for those living with epilepsy.
Youth Legacy Award
At this year’s conference, the Youth Legacy Award 2025 was presented to Young Epilepsy and its Youth Voice Network. The award recognises individuals and organisations that amplify children and young people’s voices in epilepsy care, celebrating advocacy, youth-led initiatives, and the value of learning from lived experience. The award was collected on behalf of Young Epilepsy by Catherine Hodder, Head of Voice, Policy and Influencing, and Health Activity Lead.
The winning project was recognised for its pioneering work in co-developing a tailored Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for young people with epilepsy, in partnership with the South Paediatric Neurosciences Operational Delivery Network. Young people aged 13–25 led every stage of the project, from design through to evaluation, ensuring the therapy reflects their real needs and experiences.
Their achievement stood out among an inspiring field of nominees, which included mental health and wellbeing workshops, youth voice networks, and young fundraisers supporting epilepsy care. Congratulations to Young Epilepsy and the Youth Voice Network for their outstanding contribution to shaping the future of epilepsy services.
Previous Conferences
Access presentation recordings from previous conferences below.
- 2024 Conference
2024 Conference recordings can be viewed .
- 2023 Conference
2023 Conference recordings can be viewed .
- 2022 Conference
2022 Conference recordings can be viewed .
- 2021 Conference
Technology innovation in epilepsy care - Professor Sameer Zuberi, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow
Mental health research - MICE study update & PAVES data - Sophie Bennett, Clinical Psychologist, GOSH and Dr Ailsa McLellan
Patient engagement led by children and young people - Emma Sparrow, Â鶹´«Ã½ CYP Engagement Team Manager, jointly with Epilepsy Youth Advocates
- 2020 Conference
- Professor Finbar O'Callaghan, Professor of Paediatric Neuroscience at UCL, (Hon) Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, and BPNA President
- Epilepsy12 Youth Advocates with Emma Sparrow and Emma Hosking, Â鶹´«Ã½ Children and Young People's Engagement team
- Dr Richard Brown, Consultant Paediatrician, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Chair of OPEN UK
- Dr Colin Dunkley, Epilepsy12 Clinical Lead, Consultant Paediatrician, Sherwood Forest NHS Trust
- Dr Patricia O’Connor, Honorary Professor, University of Stirling in the Faculty of Healthcare Sciences and Sport, and Executive Director, QI Discovery
- Ms Louise Capeling, Children's Epilepsy Nurse Specialist, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board EQIP team
- Ms Helen Sneath, Trainee Consultant Scientist, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust EQIP team
- Dr Eve Bassett, Consultant Paediatrician with interest in Epilepsy & Neurology, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust EQIP team
- Ms Ailsa Grassam, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse, York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust EQIP team
- Dr Richard Brown, Consultant Paediatrician, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Chair of OPEN UK
- Professor Finbar O'Callaghan, Professor of Paediatric Neuroscience at UCL, (Hon) Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, and BPNA President
- 2019 Conference
- Emma Sparrow, Â鶹´«Ã½ CYP Engagement Team Manager, jointly with Epilepsy Youth Advocates
- Dr Richard Brown, Consultant Paediatrician, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Chair of OPEN UK
- Dr Colin Dunkley, Epilepsy12 Clinical Lead, Consultant Paediatrician, Sherwood Forest NHS Trust
Keynote presentation: The elephant of medication adherence - Professor Martin Kirkpatrick, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist and Clinic Lead, North of Scotland Child Neurology Network
- Dr Sutapa Biswas, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Amy Barker, ST5 Paediatric Trainee, Peterborough City Hospital
- Ms Kirsten Johnson, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust
- 2018 Conference
- Owen Thurston, National Paediatric Epilepsy Programme Board Member, Â鶹´«Ã½ and Epilepsy12 Youth Advocate, Rachael Lewis, National Paediatric Epilepsy Programme Board Member, Â鶹´«Ã½ and Epilepsy12 Youth Advocate and Emma Sparrow, Children and Young People's Engagement Manager, Â鶹´«Ã½
- George Matson-Phippard, Electronic Learning Officer, Epilepsy Action
- Dr Ailsa McLellan, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, NHS Lothian and Chair of BPNA British Paediatric Epilepsy Group, and Dr Kirsten Verity, Neuropsychologist, NHS Lothian
- Dr Martin Kirkpatrick, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist & Honorary Reader, NHS Tayside
- Dr Jonathan Holland, Paediatric Registrar, West Suffolk Hospital
- Liz Stevens, Children’s Epilepsy Specialist Nurse, Luton Children’s and Adult Community Health Services
- Dr Colin Dunkley, Epilepsy12 Clinical Lead and Consultant Paediatrician, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Contact
The Epilepsy12 project team members are available to respond to any related queries at epilepsy12@rcpch.ac.uk or on Tel: 020 7092 6157.