The November 2025 BA Manager Forum (BAMF) broke its attendance record, with 162 practice leaders at the event – many of whom were first-time attendees. Many thanks to those who made the (in some cases long) trip to central London on a Friday, in heavy rain.

The BAMF was founded to increase the maturity of the BA profession through the sharing of ideas and peer-to-peer learning. With so many BA Managers and BA Leaders present, there was a wealth of combined knowledge under one roof.

BAMF workshops are interactive, allowing BA leaders to share their insights and develop knowledge together. There was a choice of four morning workshops; delegates each chose two to attend:

• Don’t Think Harder, Think Smarter (Mike Williams and Chris Goy). An exploration of thinking ‘traps’ and techniques to help us all think smarter.
• The BA Role within Business Change and How BAs can Overcome Resistance to Change (Saffron Leppard and Carlos Pullen-Ferreira). Focusing on how BAs can engage during a time of organisational change, with a case study and practical models.
• Establishing and Keeping a Community of Practice Alive and Kicking (Faizal Dawood and Craig Rollason). Practical strategies to keep CoPs sustainable, vibrant and engaging.
• You Can’t Just Not Do Analysis (Gill Dunn). A troubleshooting session focusing on how to deal with resource cuts and changing roles, with a practical exercise challenging groups to decide on what analysis activities to prioritise.

At lunchtime there was a chance to network and discuss the topics of the day, with delicious food provided by the Grand Connaught Rooms. Returning delegates appreciated the opportunity to catch up with peers they don’t see very often. One compared regular attendance at BAMF to compound interest, in terms of the cumulative benefits. Many members have built important connections through attending the events.

People were heard commenting on how much they appreciated Gill Dunn’s session about the changes her BA practice experienced. Many BA Practices are facing “rationalisation” and amalgamation of the BA role with other roles, so this session was particularly timely and constructive.

In the afternoon, delegates picked up useful branding and communications tips in a special interest workshop from Sam Carrington, professional comedian, and founder of the agency ‘Smirk.’ It was an informative and fun session.

Overheard on the day:

“I felt right at home amongst so many other BA’s – it’s like I spoke the language!”

“The sense of camaraderie is what stood out to me – really feeling like you’re part of something bigger – such a great event (my first one!)”

You can find session slides and output from the BA Manager Forum, plus output from past forums, here.