SFIA week is coming - we need your input

While this initiative was inspired by the success of last year's Australia and New Zealand event, SFIA Week 2026 is a global event and we welcome sessions from all countries and time zones.

We'd particularly like to hear from SFIA users

Some of the most valuable sessions each year come from people who use SFIA day to day rather than those who sell services around it: practitioners, HR and workforce planning teams, employers who have built a skills framework, and individuals who have used SFIA in their own career development. If that's you, this section is for you.

We know the reasons people hold back are usually the same:

• "I'm not sure what's actually involved." It's more informal than it sounds. A session can be a 15 to 20 minute account of what you did, followed by questions, or a conversation format rather than a formal presentation. We can talk you through what fits before you commit to anything.
• "I don't think our story is interesting enough." The sessions people value most are usually straightforward accounts of a real implementation, including the parts that didn't go to plan. You don't need a polished success story. What worked, what didn't, and what you'd do differently is exactly the content the practice strand is looking for. If you'd rather not carry a session on your own, joining a small panel alongside two or three other practitioners is a good option, sharing the floor tends to make this feel much less daunting.
• "I don't have time to put something together." At this stage we're only asking for an expression of interest, not a finished session. A short reply is enough, and the detail can be worked out later with plenty of time before November. A panel slot also needs far less preparation than a stand-alone presentation, since it's built around a moderated conversation rather than slides.
• "My organisation may not be comfortable with this." This comes up often, and there's usually more flexibility than people expect. Sessions can be anonymised, and you don't need to name your organisation, use its branding, or share anything commercially sensitive to give a useful account of your experience.

If any of this sounds familiar, the best next step is a short conversation rather than the form. Contact us at [email protected] and we'll help you work out whether you have something to share and which strand it might fit.

The week in three strands

Monday 16 November: Foundations

Sessions for people entirely new to SFIA. Introductions to the framework, how it is structured, and how organisations typically start.

We are open to a small number of contributed introductory sessions. These must be about the framework itself, with no reference to a particular product, tool or service.

Tuesday to Thursday: Practice

This is where community accounts belong. These sessions are about what organisations have actually done with SFIA and what came of it. The most valuable ones tend to be specific: what the organisation set out to achieve, what was put in place, what worked, what did not, and what they would do differently.

Formats that work well:

• A short account of your own SFIA implementation, on your own or with a co-presenter.
• A worked account of a single implementation, anonymised if necessary, with enough detail for others to apply it.
• A practical walkthrough of a problem or opportunity the audience is likely to recognise.
• A small panel of three or four practitioners talking through their experiences, guided by a moderator. This is a good option if you'd rather share a session than carry it alone.

An anonymised account is fine, provided it is a real one.

Friday 20 November: Commercial showcase

The final day is set aside for partners, vendors and service providers to showcase products, services and solutions. Presentations in these designated sessions may include demonstrations, commercial offerings and marketing content.

Why take part

• Your experience is useful to others facing the same decisions you once faced. Community sessions are consistently among the most valued parts of the week.
• You'll reach the international SFIA community, including corporate licence holders, government bodies and education providers.
• Sessions are promoted through SFIA Foundation channels before, during and after the week.

How to get involved

At this stage we are seeking expressions of interest by 21 August. A brief reply is genuinely helpful, even just to say you might be interested and want to talk it through. Session titles, descriptions and content can all be refined before the final programme is confirmed.

→ Complete the session form

Prefer to talk it through first? Contact [email protected].

Code of Conduct

We ask session organisers to follow our Code of Conduct [URL to be confirmed], which sets out the balance we aim for across the week: framework and practice content Monday to Thursday, with commercial content welcomed in the Friday showcase sessions.

A flavour of last year's event

SFIA Week 2026 builds on the success of last year's Australia and New Zealand SFIA Week, held alongside the SFIA 9 launch. For a sense of the range of sessions and content involved, you can revisit:

→ Australia and New Zealand SFIA Week 2025: all events → SFIA Launch Australia and New Zealand: resources

Sharing this invitation

If you know colleagues, clients or contacts who would have something valuable to share, we would be grateful if you could pass this on. Equally, if you would prefer that we approached someone directly, let us know and we will make contact ourselves.