The British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show and Dental Technology Showcase advisory board plays a critical role in shaping the event’s educational direction. For 2026, the board continues to reflect the full dental ecosystem, reinforcing the importance of dental laboratories as a vital and inseparable part of the wider dental industry.

Championing the dental laboratory sector

Dental laboratories remain central to the delivery of high-quality patient care, combining technical expertise, digital innovation and close collaboration with clinicians. Through strong representation on the advisory board, DTS ensures the voice of the dental laboratory industry is embedded within the event’s education programme, supporting content that reflects the realities of modern, multidisciplinary dentistry.

Key contributors to this representation include Nina Frketin and Andrea Johnson, who bring extensive experience, insight and advocacy for the dental laboratory profession. The addition of Andrea Johnson as a new advisory board member for 2026 strengthens this perspective further, introducing fresh insight into the evolving challenges and opportunities facing laboratories today.

Together, they help ensure laboratory-focused topics, from digital workflows and materials innovation to workforce development and effective collaboration with clinicians are meaningfully integrated into the wider DTS programme.

Strengthening education through industry insight

The advisory board supports the DTS across several core areas, ensuring laboratory perspectives sit at the heart of event planning:

• Industry credibility, shaping content through respected voices from across the dental laboratory and clinical sectors
• Content relevance, ensuring sessions align with current laboratory challenges, technological advancements and skills development
• Quality assurance, supporting strong speaker selection and maintaining high educational standards

This approach ensures DTS education remains relevant, credible and commercially impactful.

Representing a vital part of the dental industry

By maintaining strong dental laboratory representation within its advisory board, the DTS reinforces its commitment to supporting the professionals who underpin clinical outcomes and innovation. The inclusion of laboratory leaders alongside clinicians and industry experts reflects the collaborative nature of dentistry and the essential role laboratories play in patient care.

The DTS 2026 advisory board

A diverse group of respected clinicians, educators and industry leaders from across dentistry. For 2026, the Board includes:

• Andrea Johnson (New) - CEO and Chair of Den-Tech
• Nina Frketin - Dental Technician
• Aditya Naidu - Specialist Prosthodontist
• Cat Edney - Dental Therapist
• Chinwe Akuonu - General Dentist, Global Speaker and Educator
• Chris McConnell - Private Dentist and Implantologist
• Fiona Ellwood BEM - Executive Director, Dental Nurse and Associate Professor
• Fiona Sandom MBE (New) - Dental Therapist and Lead Dental Educators
• Monica Neil - Consultant in paediatric dentistry
• Pamela Swain MBE (New) - Chief Executive, BADN
• Rachel Derby - Cosmetic and Restorative Dentist
• Rebecca Silver - Dental Nurse
• Reena Wadia - Specialist Periodontist and Founder of  RW Perio & Perio School
• Sameer Patel - Clinical Director and Tutor
• Trishala Lakhani - Broadcaster and GDP

 

Dental Technology Showcase returns to NEC Birmingham on 15-16 May 2026, bringing together dental technicians, laboratory owners and industry partners for two days of education, networking and collaboration guided by trusted voices from across the dental laboratory profession.