Annual Residential Conference
The CDF 2025 Annual Conference will be from 17 ‒ 19 October at Highgate House Christian Conference Centre, Northamptonshire, NN6 8NN
Our annual family residential conference is a special weekend treat – a time for reflection, encouragement and sharing our faith journey within the context of being dental professionals.
Speakers for 2025
Guest Speaker Reverend Peter Dunn
Peter Dunn is this year’s Guest Speaker. He came to faith in Northern Ireland and, after a career in construction, trained for ministry with his wife Jane. He pastored, led missions with BMS, and joined Biglife in 2019 as European Director. He now equips believers across Europe in disciple-making, building on Biglife’s global movement.
Peter will be speaking on “Living as Disciples of Jesus in today’s world – who, what and how?”
Clinical Speaker and Chief Executive Officer of our Guest Charity – Professor John Gibson
John Gibson has held key roles in dental academia and governance. He is Emeritus Professor of Oral Medicine in the University of Aberdeen, has received an Honorary Life Fellowship from the British & Irish Society for Oral Medicine and was awarded the President’s Award of the College of General Dentistry for 2024.
In 2019 his youngest son Cameron died by suicide. John now works to prevent suicide, and offer support to individuals, families and communities affected by suicide, through the actions of The Canmore Trust, a charity set up by the Gibson family.
Venue
In 2025 we move to Highgate House Christian Conference Centre. We will have exclusive use of this venue and will benefit from a mixture of historic features and modern facilities.
General format
The CDF residential conference runs from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime, providing a weekend of prayer and worship, fellowship and fun, with opportunities to catch up with old friends and make new ones. There is teaching and entertainment, education and relaxation, understanding and encouragement.
Children get their own programme and there is also plenty to interest and engage non-dental partners as well.
The conference is for all members of the dental team and their families – typically around 100 people of all ages, including clergy, students and retired practitioners, come together each year. We also encourage students and those studying for their ORE to join us. Bursaries are available to members, you only need to ask.
Conference testimonials
“It’s a chance to catch up with old friends and make new friends, a great time of teaching and we get to see God’s work through our dental profession.”
“Great to be here at my first CDF conference – fantastic to meet with lots of other dental people who care about teeth, care about Jesus, care about how things are going at work, and to be able to share and pick up top tips.”
“Really enjoyed bringing my children, they’ve been coming since they were babies. They really enjoy seeing all the friends they’ve made in CDF.”
“It’s our first conference, everyone has been so welcoming and coming up to say hi.”
“What I like about coming to conference is finding a balance between following your faith at the same time as improving your clinical skills and how to mix both things together.”
“Meeting fellow Christians, worshipping God, being re-enthused about my faith, and hearing the amazing things that are happening on the mission field.”
“A place where two of the most important things in your life – your career and your faith – come together. It’s great to encourage one another and grow to the glory of God, so I’d recommend it to anyone.”
