Mariella Frostrup

Co-Founder, Journalist & Presenter

Mariella Frostrup is one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and columnists. Her contribution to arts and literature along with her advocacy on gender and social issues have placed her at the forefront of the cultural landscape. She made the ground-breaking BBC1 documentary The Truth about Menopause and she currently presents her own daily show on Times Radio covering issues of the day.

Greg Jackson

CEO, Octopus Energy

Greg Jackson is the founder of Octopus Energy Group, the global energy and technology company driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Launched in 2016, the Group now serves 7.2 million customers across 18 countries, and operates a £6bn portfolio of renewable energy assets across Europe.
Octopus drives the tech-enabled green energy transition, innovating relentlessly to make energy better for consumers and the planet. Kraken, Octopus’s proprietary green tech platform, is at the heart of the Group’s growth and is now contracted to serve over 40 million accounts across the globe, with further 10 million to follow soon.
Greg is a serial tech entrepreneur and has built and sold a number of successful businesses before starting Octopus. He is an angel investor in a wide range of start-ups, and is a key thought leader in the UK on issues related to energy transition, energy costs and innovation.

Pavita Cooper

CEO, 30% Club

Pavita is recognised as a leading culture and diversity expert; she has over 30 years’ experience as an executive culture leader across a range of global blue-chip organisations, including Shell, Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group. Pavita has acted as an advisor to Boards, CEOs and executive teams across sectors that include financial services, energy, consumer and luxury goods.
Pavita is a passionate advocate and relentless campaigner for greater equity across business and society. She is a regular speaker and media contributor on improving representation across business.
Pavita is Chair of the 30 Percent Club UK, the oldest gender campaign in the UK. She is also at trustee of the King’s Trust and the Old Vic Theatre.
Pavita is a previous recipient of Woman of the Year at the Asian Business Awards; in 2025 she was listed in the Powerlist of the 100 most influential Asians in the UK.

Joeli Brearley

Founder, Pregnant Then Screwed

Joeli Brearley is a prominent British activist, author, and public speaker, best known as the founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, a charity dedicated to addressing workplace discrimination and the motherhood penalty. Her work has inspired changes at both societal and legislative levels. She is credited with influencing the recent £5.2 billion investment in childcare, as well changing laws on flexible working, tribunal time limits, and redundancy protections. In 2021 she took the Government to court for indirect sex discrimination and won her claim. Joeli spearheaded the biggest protest of mothers the UK has ever seen - March of the Mummies saw 15,000 parents march across 10 UK cities garnering nationwide attention for demanding workplace equality and better policies for parents. Joeli has been recognised for her influence in activism and gender equality. She was listed among British Vogue’s “25 Most Influential Women,’’ was PR week’s 8th most prominent British communicator in 2023, and was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours. She frequently contributes to high-profile publications, raising awareness about the systemic challenges faced by working mothers. Her book, Pregnant Then Screwed: The Truth About the Motherhood Penalty, has been lauded for its candid exploration of these issues and for empowering women to fight back against discrimination. Joeli remains a tireless advocate for creating a fairer and more inclusive workplace for women everywhere.

Alex Mahon

CEO, Superstruct Entertainment

Alex Mahon: outgoing Chief Executive of Channel 4 and soon to be incoming CEO at Superstruct. Under Alex’s leadership, Channel 4 transformed into a digital-first public media company with the UK’s biggest free streaming service and one of the largest social media brands in the UK. During this period, Channel 4’s public ownership has been secured, its impact across the nations and regions has grown, and its investment in skills has opened up the sector to those aspiring to a career in television and film. Alex is a passionate supporter of equitable representation and is committed to championing women’s health at work and disability representation. Prior to Channel 4, she was CEO of software company Foundry and of the global TV producers Shine Group. Alex started her career as a PhD Physicist and is an enthusiast for the value of inter-disciplinary ideas having worked in science, technology and the arts. Alex is currently a member of the UK Creative Industries Council and an ambassador for London Tech Week. She is a Non-Executive Board Member of Chanel Inc.

Lord Mervyn Davies

Lord and advocate

Mervyn Davies, Lord Davies of Abersoch CBE Mervyn Davies, Lord Davies of Abersoch, CBE is a British former banker and was previously a Labour government minister. Prior to Government, he was a Director, Chief Executive and Chairman of Standard Chartered PLC for 12 years. Lord Davies is currently Chairman of LetterOne, a senior advisor to Teneo and Chair of the Advisory Board for Consello. He is Chairman of the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) and Chairman of Glyndebourne Opera House. Further to this, Lord Davies is Chairman of Artfarm (Hauser & Wirth) and chairs a variety of private high-growth companies. Lord Davies was awarded a CBE for his services to the financial sector and the community in Hong Kong in June 2002 where he served as a member of the HK Exchange fund for seven years. Lord Davies is a JP in Hong Kong, and he is an Honorary Distinguished Professor at Cardiff Business School. Lord Davies is married with two children and is a fluent Welsh speaker.

Dame Lesley Regan

Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Dame Lesley Regan is Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Imperial College London at St Mary's Hospital Campus where she continues her clinical practice in Reproductive Medicine. As Past President RCOG, she led the "Better for Women" report, published in December 2019, which shone a spotlight on taboo topics such as poor access to contraception, abortion, period problems, menopause and domestic violence and abuse. The key recommendation of this hard hitting report was the urgent need for an NHS-led Women's Health Strategy.
In 2020, Lesley was awarded a DBE for her services to Women’s health in the late Queen's New Years Honours list. In June 2022 she was appointed Women's health Ambassador for England to help implementation of the DHSC's Women's Health Strategy.

Elliott Rae

Founder, Parenting Out Loud

Elliott Rae is the founder of the parenting platform MusicFootballFatherhood , called the ‘Mumsnet for Dads’ by the BBC.
Elliott’s bookDA D is an Amazon Top 10 bestseller. DAD is a deeply moving collection of 20 stories that represent the diversity of modern fatherhood and challenges the traditional ideas of masculinity.
Elliott has been recognised by the United Nations for his work on gender equality and was awarded the #HeForShe award by UN Women UK.
Elliott presented the BBC One documentary ‘Becoming Dad’ in January 2022 which is the first show of its kind to bring issues around dad’s mental health and masculinity to the mainstream. Becoming Dad was one of the most watched documentaries across the BBC network in 2022.
Elliott is a media commentator on issues around fatherhood and mental health, having written for The Independent and The Telegraph and featured live on Loose Women, BBC News, Channel 4 and Radio 5 Live.
Elliott is also the co-founder of the Working Dads Employer Awards which launched in Parliament in May and celebrates employers who are supporting working dads.
Elliott is one of the UK’s most prominent speakers and writers on topics around fatherhood, masculinity, mental health, equal parenting and gender equality. He regularly host webinars and workshops with organisations about how they can support working dads, redefine masculinity, support men’s mental health and create a family friendly workplace.

Martha Lane Fox

Internet Pioneer

Martha Lane Fox is President of the British Chambers of Commerce. She is a cross bench peer in the UK House of Lords and sits on multiple boards. She is a Non executive director of British Airways PLC and Chancellor of the Open University. She co-founded and chairs Lucky Voice. Martha was UK digital champion from 2009 to 2013 and helped create gov.uk. She co-founded lastminute.com in 1998.

Tamara & James Lohan

Mr & Mrs Smith

Tamara Heber-Percy and James Lohan are the co-founders of Mr & Mrs Smith, a boutique travel company renowned for its curated collection of luxury hotels. Their journey began in 2003 after a disappointing stay at a supposed boutique spa hotel in the Lake District, which turned out to be a health clinic. This experience inspired them to create a guidebook featuring handpicked romantic hotels, emphasizing genuine experiences over glossy marketing.
Initially, they self-published their guidebook, which sold 20,000 copies within two months, surpassing expectations. By 2005, recognizing the potential of the internet, they transitioned Mr & Mrs Smith into an online booking platform, maintaining their commitment to quality and personal recommendations.
Tamara, with a background in marketing, took on the role of Chief Technology Officer, while James, experienced in events and nightlife, focused on brand and marketing. Their combined expertise and shared passion for travel have been instrumental in building a trusted brand that resonates with discerning travelers worldwide.

Lucy Perez

McKinsey & Company

Lucy is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Boston office. Lucy has 15+ years of experience advising CEOs and top teams at leading pharma, biotech and life sciences companies globally on growth strategy, innovation, sustainability, and organizational transformation. Lucy is the Global Leader of the McKinsey Health Institute and a leader in our Life Sciences and Healthcare practices. Lucy is a Board member of MassBio, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and the Aspen Institute Latinos in Society program.

Robyn Grew

CEO, Man Group

Robyn Grew is CEO of Man Group, a global alternative investment management firm with USD 168.6 billion* assets under management that is listed on the London Stock Exchange. As CEO, she leads the firm’s Executive Committee and is an executive director on the Man Group Board.
Since joining Man Group in 2010 through its acquisition of GLG, Robyn has served as Group COO, Head of ESG, General Counsel and, prior to becoming CEO in 2023, President. Robyn led Man Group’s corporate reorganisation in 2019 and has also spearheaded the firm’s diversity programme to ensure the firm attracts the best talent.
Robyn has worked in the investment industry since 1994. Previously, she held senior global positions at investment banks in London, New York and Tokyo, including Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers, as well as what is now the ICE Futures Europe exchange. She is a qualified barrister and member of the Standards Board for Alternative Investment (SBAI) Board of Trustees.

Karen Blackett, CBE

Former WPP UK President

Karen is a proven turnaround CEO with a 30-year track record in value creation, energising teams, creating vibrant cultures and consistently delivering business growth and success. She is the former UK President for WPP, the world’s largest marketing services group, where she was directly responsible for driving growth in WPP’s second largest market of 13,000 people, and managing revenue of $2 billion. Karen has extensive multinational experience having previously served as EMEA Chief Operating Officer, with key priority markets being Russia, Turkey, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, South Africa and Israel.
In 2014, Karen topped The Power List, being the first businesswoman to come in at number 1.
As a long-term champion of the Creative Industry sector, Karen has been a Non-Executive Director for Creative UK since 2016. Karen was appointed Chancellor of The University of Portsmouth in 2017, the first Alumna to become Chancellor, and was a former Non-Executive Director of The UK Government Cabinet Office.
Karen founded The Black Equity Organisation in 2021, alongside David Lammy MP, David Olusoga OBE, Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, Ric Lewis and Dame Vivian Hunt. BEO is an independent, national Black civil rights organisation created to dismantle systemic racism in Britain, drive generational change and deliver better lived experiences for Black people across the country
In June 2022, Karen was appointed a Non-Executive Director forDiageo (a FTSE Top 10 company)
Karen has been awarded honorary doctorates from The University of Portsmouth, Southbank University, Reading University, Ravensbourne University and is a Fellow ofKings College London.
In April 2024, Karen was awarded Freedom of the City of London and received a CBE for Services to Advertising and The Creative Industries in the January 2025 King’s New Years honours. In May 2025, Karen joins The Board of The British Fashion Council.

Mary Bekhait

CEO, YMU

Mary Bekhait is considered one of the most powerful figureheads in the global entertainment industry in her role as CEO of leading global talent agency YMU. Since taking over the helm in 2021, she has overseen a radical rebrand of the company, transforming the agency into a progressive business spearheaded by women, representing some of the most elite names in the entertainment industry. She has delivered international growth across YMU's core sectors of Sport, Music and Entertainment with the acquisition of renowned sport talent and gaming agency, DSM, the launch of COAL music led by industry heavyweight J Erving, the launch of YMU Social (the undisputed market leader in the U.K.) and YMU Literary whose MD has been nominated for Literary Agent of the Year three years running. One of Mary’s proudest achievements at YMU has been closing the gender pay gap dramatically from 29 to 2.5% and as a result YMU has become a rarity for a scaled talent agency in that it has a female Chair (CEO of X, Linda Yaccarino, who Mary appointed in 2023), a female CEO in Mary, and multiple female MDs and directors. As CEO she has transformed YMU Group into a more social first business with a global outlook and perspective – she oversees the company’s operations across their London, New York, Washington and LA offices, enhancing the talent roster to focus on what she calls “truly global elites”. She is also cognizant of the power of a diverse workforce and is determined to use her influence to inspire a new generation women and girls to reach the top. Establishing YMU as a leader in talent management has enabled Mary to attract entertainment heavyweights Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, Paris Hilton, Emily Ratajkowski amongst other high-profile figures in entertainment, sports and music.

Debbie Wosskow OBE

Entrepreneur

Debbie is a prolific angel investor and the co Chair of the U.K. government backed ‘Invest in Women Taskforce’. Appointed by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, she has raised an initial funding point of £250m to support female powered businesses, the largest in the world. She is the co-founder of WJV, the boutique investment and strategic innovation firm, championing diversity, wellness and economic empowerment and a Founding Advisor to Smart Society Ventures. Debbie is Executive Chair of The Better Menopause, empowering women's performance at midlife through science-backed products. She is a Non Executive Director of Channel 4 and a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company. She is the co- Author of the business bestseller ‘Believe, Build, Become - How to Supercharge your Career’ (Penguin 2019). Debbie is a Board Member of The Mayor of London’s Business Advisory Board and The Women’s Prize for Fiction, where she Chairs the Development Board. She is a Former Evening Standard 'Entrepreneur of the Year’ and Author of the 'Wosskow Review on the Sharing Economy' for the UK government (2015) and former Chair of Sharing Economy UK. Debbie was awarded an OBE in June 2016 & received Freedom of the City of London 2019. She graduated with an MA in Philosophy and Theology from New College, Oxford

Janine Chamberlin

UK Country Manager, LinkedIn

Janine Chamberlin is UK Country Manager at LinkedIn and Vice President, Talent Solutions. In her role, she is responsible for driving member growth, strategic partnerships and revenue across the UK, as well as leading sales teams around the world as they help companies to attract and develop the talent they need to succeed. With 41+ million members in the UK and over 1.1 billion members globally, LinkedIn’s vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.
Janine has 16 years of experience building and leading teams at LinkedIn having joined the company in its infancy in 2008. She has advised customers and clients on their marketing and workforce strategies, and helped to grow LinkedIn’s Marketing Solutions and Talent Solutions businesses. Prior to LinkedIn, Janine held positions at Wanadoo and Orange UK, where she led online advertising teams.
Janine is passionate about technology, diversity and talent, and helping companies to develop strategies to scale and grow. In 2017, she completed a master’s degree in Consulting and Coaching for Change at INSEAD.

Lee Chambers

CEO, Male Allies UK

Lee Chambers is the Founder and CEO of Male Allies UK. After a diverse career, from corporate finance to building and exiting tech company, he is now focused on supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion and promote effective allyship. He has been featured on the Startups 100 Index, has received a Great British Entrepreneur Award, and sits on the board of CMI Women, Regenerage UK and the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. In 2024, he received the Freedom of the City of London for services to equality in business. He is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in the USA, the first Black British scientist to be awarded in its 33-year history, received for his work on health inequalities. He is the 2023 UN Women Changemaker of the Year, and is an ambassador for the UK Governments Lilac Review for Disabled Entrepreneurship. He speaks globally on allyship and intersectionality, having taken the stage at One Young World, ChangeNOW and the Bloomberg Global Equality Summit, and is the author of the bestselling book, Momentum: 13 Ways To Unlock Your Potential.

Heather Blundell

CEO, Grayling

Heather is the UK CEO of Grayling and has spent more than 15 years advising some of the world's largest companies and brands in the UK and internationally. She is a trusted adviser to business leaders navigating periods of significant change, and a leading UK media expert and commentator. Heather is recognised as one of the industry's most established experts in leading integrated campaigns that help drive trust, reputation, and business growth. She has won seven Cannes Lions, including a Gold Lion for 'Creative Commerce'. In her role as UK CEO, she oversees Grayling's 200 employees in the UK, across nine different offices. Heather is passionate about increasing diversity and inclusivity in the workplace and has placed this front and centre of Grayling's business strategy, delivering work that inspires and motivates, bridges the diversity gap, removes barriers, and empowers individuals.  Her desire to create an equitable agency has forged several pioneering partnerships, including Global Purpose Enterprise, PR Mums, Creative Access, Lexxic Neurodiversity Experts, Tommy’s and MeVitae. Heather has also launched six new Employee Resource Groups from diverse backgrounds, experiences, races, sexualities and neurodivergent traits. These groups cover LGBT+, Parenting, Wellbeing and Mental Health, People of Colour, Faith and The Women’s Network.

Liz Claydon

Partner, KPMG

Liz is the Global Head of Deal Advisory and a Vice Chair of the UK firm. She also leads the KPMG Global Life Sciences sector. Liz has spent the majority of her 18 year partner career advising clients across the Consumer, Retail and Life Sciences sectors on large, complex carve out transactions & transformations.
Liz is a dedicated leader, mentor and advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality and co-chair of the KPMG Senior Business Women’s Network.

Jill Henderson

Head of Workplace Strategic Relationships, Scottish Widows

Jill celebrates 26yrs at Scottish Widows this year, having spent most of this time in and around Workplace Pensions. Most recently Jill took on the role as Head of Workplace Strategic Relationships, building relationships with financial advisers, consultancies, and workplace clients. Previous roles include interim Head of Workplace Relationships, and Partnership Director.
Jill has a long-standing passion for financial equality, and is Co-Chair of the Sottish Widows Women in Retirement workstream.

Jo Farmer

Joint Managing Partner, Lewis Silkin

Jo Farmer is Joint Managing Partner at Lewis Silkin, a law firm focused on what really matters to business – its ideas and its people. Lewis Silkin is a firm that has always followed its own path, purposefully challenging the norm, and seeking to help shape the future by working with individuals and businesses who are forging the way forward across innovation, tech, and creativity.

Jo plays a pivotal role in steering the firm's strategic direction and fostering a culture of inclusivity and innovation. With a deep commitment to social mobility, Jo has been a vocal advocate for creating opportunities within the legal profession for individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Her personal journey and professional achievements have inspired many, as she actively campaigns for greater social mobility in the legal sector, ensuring that talent and potential are recognised regardless of socio-economic background.

She has also been instrumental in implementing a ground-breaking parental leave policy at Lewis Silkin, which allows all new parents to take up to 52 weeks of leave, with 26 weeks at full pay, regardless of gender or sex. This policy is designed to support both parents in balancing their professional and personal lives, and to challenge outdated gender stereotypes in the workplace. Rather uniquely, Jo didn’t want this policy to be a USP for Lewis Silkin, but rather set the industry norm and has therefore challenged other law firms to follow suit and has proactively offered to share the policy so that other can understand, learn and implement themselves. Jo's efforts in this area have not only benefited the Lewis Silkin's employees but have also set a benchmark for the legal industry, promoting a more equitable and supportive environment for all.

In addition to her leadership roles, Jo is a leading lawyer in the field of advertising and brand reputation and is recognised as an Eminent Practitioner by Chambers UK. She advises a range of high-profile clients, from brand owners and content creators, to communications agencies and media platforms.

Nishma Patel Robb

Founder, Glittersphere and HERA

Nishma Patel Robb is the founder of Glittersphere and HERA—two platforms helping women step into the spotlight and turn their stories into power, pay, and purpose. With a 30-year career from Google to glitter, she’s leading the charge for The Other AI™: Authentic Intelligence™ in a world obsessed with AI.

Dr Nicola Hodson

Chair, IBM UK and Ireland

Dr Nicola Hodson was appointed Chair, IBM UK and Ireland, in January 2025. Prior to taking on this role, Dr Hodson served as Chief Executive IBM UK and Ireland, a position she held for two years.
Dr Hodson is an accomplished technology industry leader with a deep understanding of the challenges facing the tech industry, as well as extensive experience in business and digital transformation. In 2023 and again in 2024, Dr Hodson ranked highly in Computer Weekly’s list of the 50 most influential people in UK technology, and in CRN’s 2024 A-List.
Dr Hodson held senior positions at Microsoft for 15 years, including as a global leader of the transformation of the Microsoft commercial sales, marketing and operations business and UK Chief Operating Officer covering its UK commercial and consumer business.
As Deputy President of techUK, the trade association for the IT industry, Dr Hodson has a wide breadth of experience and understanding of the tech sector, from large companies to start-ups, coupled with significant experience in the energy sector. She has extensive Board experience across multiple sectors, including Beazley plc, Drax Group plc, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). She has formerly served as a non-executive at Ofgem, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) group, as a governor of Bradfield College, and as a director of start-up Bramble Energy.
Dr Hodson previously worked in the IT and business services division of Siemens, at CSC (now DXC), as a management consultant for EY and in the nuclear industry at BNFL.
Dr Hodson holds an MBA and a PhD in Engineering. She is married with three sons and two stepsons, loves outdoor pursuits and is a keen motorbike enthusiast.

Anna Whitehouse

Journalist, Author & Broadcaster

In 2015, Anna founded Mother Pukka - a platform that became a rallying point for parents navigating the highs and lows of modern-day life. Drawing on her own experiences as a working mother, Anna launched the Flex Appeal campaign to challenge the outdated and inflexible working practices that disproportionately affect women, particularly those with young children. Her call was simple but powerful: flexible working should be the norm, not the exception.
Over the years, Anna’s campaign has evolved into a nationwide movement, culminating in a historic victory in 2024 when the Flexible Working Bill was passed into law. This groundbreaking legislation gives all workers the right to request flexible working from day one and ensures that employers provide greater transparency and fairness for workers across the UK. The new law also allows employees to submit up to two requests per year, making it easier for individuals to manage work-life balance without fear of discrimination.
For Anna, the passing of the Flexible Working Bill was the culmination of years of tireless campaigning, but she remains resolute in her belief that there is still much work to be done. Her advocacy continues to focus on normalising flexible working across industries and ensuring that workplace policies promote inclusivity, equality, and well-being for all.

Dr Petra Simić

Medical Director of Health Clinics, Bupa UK

Dr Petra Simic is the Medical Director for Bupa Health Clinics, responsible for the safety and effectiveness of services delivered in Bupa Health Clinics. Bupa Health Clinics deliver private GP, Health Screening, Mental Health, Physio, MSK Medicine, Dermatology, Nursing and Health coaching in face to face, virtual and corporate onsite locations across the UK.
Petra remains practising as an NHS GP, and prior to joining Bupa in 2016 was a GP partner in Hertfordshire. She is passionate about delivering high quality Primary Care, developing strong and stable communities of excellent clinicians and creating innovative, customer centred and cost-effective ways to deliver health care.

Ann O’Neill

CEO and Founder, Adora Digital Health

Ann O'Neill is the founder and CEO of Adora Digital Health, a company dedicated to transforming how women manage their health and wellbeing as they age.
With a career spanning over two decades, O'Neill has a strong background in business development, marketing, and brand partnerships. Her extensive experience includes working with some of the world's leading media businesses. At Viacom she was European Head of Sponsorship managing regional MTV teams in the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, and Italy. She was part of the MTV team that regionalized the business and set up MTV UK, where she led the Commercial Partnership team until leaving to join Capital Radio Leadership team (now Global Media).
At Capital Radio, she was Commercial Partnership Director and managed large-scale multi-million pound projects, including "Party in the Park," working with Charles Dunstone, Chair of The Prince's Trust. Another highlight came when she and Bob Geldof worked together to secure a stage for the iconic Live 8 concert. During an intense three-month period, she was instrumental in securing the Hyde Park venue, which enabled the event to go ahead, and also negotiated the first-ever UK Commercial/BBC broadcasting rights for the historic event.
O'Neill established Adora Digital Health after her poor personal experience with perimenopause. She identified a significant gap in using AI to personalise healthcare for women going through perimenopause and wanting to age well. Adora launched to the market in 2024.
Her work in the FemTech sector has gained significant recognition.

In 2025, she won the Pitch in Parliament Award for AI in Public Services and was named an NHS AI Visionary. She was also listed as one of the Women of Wearables' Top 50 in Menopause. Since its launch in 2024, Adora has been implemented in over 35 companies, including Cargill, Hearst Media and Allianz, and is partnering with the NHS on pilot programs in Scotland and England.

Daria Preston

Change and Transition Lead for the Bank-wide Skills and Talent, Bank of England

Daria Preston
As the co-founder of an employee resource group focused on fertility, pregnancy, and baby loss, I have championed policies such as paid miscarriage leave and driven cultural change in the workplace. I have practical insights into what it takes to guage attention on sensitive issues, data driven approaches, and some meaningful insights into what workplaces can do to support some of the most uncomfortable and sensitive issues. I implemented the policy for baby loss in the hope that one day a statutory policy that would be coming to the UK and thankfully this is currently going through parliament.

Johanna Noble

Money Editor, The Times

Johanna Noble is the money editor at The Times and The Sunday Times. Before arriving at The Times and The Sunday Times in 2021, Johanna was the associate editor at MoneySavingExpert.com for nearly eight years where she worked closely with Martin Lewis on topics such as pensions, mortgages and banking. She was the editor of Moneywise magazine from 2008-2013 and has also worked as personal finance correspondent for the Mail on Sunday.

Laura Pullman

Arts & Entertainment Editor, The Sunday Times

Laura Pullman is the Arts and Entertainment editor for The Sunday Times, which she joined in 2017. Her present role includes writing major features and magazine interviews. She was the paper’s New York correspondent (2018-2021) before becoming comment editor in London. Over the past eight years, she has reported from the US-Mexico border, covered the killing of George Floyd from the ground in Minneapolis and has interviewed a wide range of people from Paris Hilton to Melinda French Gates. She lives in London with her husband and two-year-old son.

Claire McCartney

Policy & Practice Manager, CIPD

Claire McCartney is the Policy and Practice Manager at the CIPD.
She leads on several high-profile areas to support better work and working lives, including flexible working, resourcing and talent management, workplace inclusion and women’s health.
Claire has worked on several international projects and is the author of a range of reports. She has responded to Government consultations and given evidence to different parliamentary committees. She is also a CIPD spokesperson across broadcasting and media.

Roshni Hainsworth

Fair Play & DEI Consultant, Mercer

Roshni Hainsworth is a Fair Pay and DEI Consultant at Mercer in their HR Transformation team. Roshni has over 18 years of consulting experience working with clients on benefit strategy and transformation projects. Before working as a Fair Pay and DEI consulting specialist, Roshni held several strategy adviser roles to senior executives, supporting on operating model changes and strategic initiatives.

Lutfur Ali

Senior Policy & Practice Advisor, CIPD / Non-Executive Director, BCI

Lutfur is Senior Policy & Practice Advisor at the CIPD and a Non-Executive Director at the Business Continuity Institute (BCI).
With over 35 years at the forefront of equality, diversity, inclusion and ethical leadership, he has been a powerful force for workplace transformation - helping organisations unlock potential, embed lasting culture change, and deliver better business and social outcomes.
From advising governments to shaping regulatory reform through landmark inquiries like the Zahid Mubarak Inquiry and the Prime Minister’s Prevent Task Force, Lutfur’s influence reaches across public and private sectors. A compelling advocate for fairness, his work champions people, purpose and the kind of leadership that leaves a legacy.

Dr Nighat Arif

Host for the Inspiration Stage

Dr Nighat is a GP specialising in women's health, family planning and menopause care with over 18 years of experience in the NHS and she runs her own private practice. She is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is a medical broadcaster on TV and Radio. She is a health content creator working with YouTube Health and the WHO Fides programme as well as co-host on a Podcast called “That Time of The Month”.
Dr Nighat is the Ambassador for Wellbeing of Women and co-founder of The Health Collective.
Dr Nighat is the recipient of the 2023 Prime Ministers 'Point of Light' Award in recognition of her work of raising awareness of Women's Health issues in the UK and the 2024 Woman of the Year at the Asian Achievers Awards as well as recognised with having her portrait in the National Portrait Gallery as one of the “LEGENDS” making waves in healthcare in the UK.
Dr Nighat is the author of the bestselling The Knowledge: Your guide to female health from Menstruation to the Menopause, a fully inclusive and illustrated book on all things women’s health. Her work has been published in British Vogue, The Times and Good Housekeeping.

Lucy Thomas

Chief Financial Officer, Channel 4

Lucy Thomas has worked for over 25 years in media, she is the Chief Financial Officer at Channel 4, a role she has held since April 2024. Channel 4 is a publicly owned and commercially funded public service media organisation that exist to represent, challenge and entertain with purpose
Lucy spent over 20 years at Sky where she held senior positions in Finance, Commercial, before joining the C-Suite as Group Chief Data Officer. She continued her career at Bauer Media Audio as CFO/COO before joining Channel 4.
She has experience of leading a broad range of large teams and is passionate about championing and supporting women to progress to leadership positions.

Jessica Heagren

CEO and Founder, Careers After Babies

Jess Heagren is a former Financial Services Director, mother of four, award-winning entrepreneur and the founder of Careers After Babies. She is the author of the landmark Careers After Babies report — a pivotal piece of work that reshaped the conversation on how to support working parents.
Today, Jess leads Careers After Babies, working with employers across the UK to transform them into world-class organisations for working parents through the company’s powerful accreditation framework. Her mission is simple but urgent: to create a world where starting a family doesn’t mean compromising your career.
Jess is a recognised thought leader on the intersection of work, parenthood and gender equality — championing change, shifting mindsets, and raising the bar for what excellence looks like in modern workplaces.

Kristin Anderson

Chief People Officer, Economist

Kristin Anderson is Chief People Officer at The Economist Group, the global media and insights company best known for publishing The Economist.
Since joining in 2023, she has led the Group’s global People strategy—spanning talent, leadership, learning, culture, and the embedding of company values into everyday ways of working.
Kristin is passionate about building high-impact leadership at all levels. She has a strong track record of designing scalable leadership frameworks that drive performance and cultural transformation, particularly during times of change. Her work has helped executive teams navigate complex transformations, develop inclusive and resilient leaders, and embed leadership behaviours that foster innovation, accountability, and purpose.
Prior to The Economist Group, Kristin was Chief People and Culture Officer at World Vision International and held senior roles at Citrix and Microsoft, where she shaped people strategies that enabled growth and sustained leadership excellence.

Claire Reindorp

CEO, Young Women’s Trust

Claire Reindorp is the CEO of Young Women’s Trust, a charity championing young women aged 18 to 30 on low or no pay. Claire became CEO in January 2022, continuing a 30 year career in the third sector focused on tackling inequalities, both through practical support and building longer term coalitions for change. As well as offering direct support to thousands of young women each year to help them unlock their potential, Young Women’s Trust carries out cutting edge research, partners with employers and campaigns to bring about a more equal world of work.

Dr Emma Sharland

Head of the Health Research Group, Office for National Statistics

Dr Emma Sharland is the Head of the Health Research Group at the Office for National Statistics. The group uses large population-level administrative datasets on health and the labour market linked to the Census for England and Wales to produce analyses to inform government policy and spending decisions. The groups' main areas of focus are currently on Health and the Economy, looking at the impact of different health conditions and interventions on outcomes such as employment, earnings and benefits use, and health inequalities. Recent publications from the group have looked at the impact of pregnancy loss, endometriosis and hospitalisation for major conditions on labour market outcomes, and drivers of geographic inequalities in premature mortality rates.

Sarah Atkins

Commercial & Marketing Director, CIPD

Sarah is the Commercial and Marketing Director at the CIPD,
Championing its mission of better work and working lives. She leads a cross-functional team delivering insights, campaigns and support to engage over 165,000 members in the UK and internationally.
With deep expertise in customer-led transformation, strategic marketing and data-driven innovation, Sarah has held senior roles across a wide range of industries.
A respected thought leader and frequent speaker, she is passionate about developing talent, marketing innovation, supporting small businesses, and advancing diversity in the workplace. Along side her role at the CIPD she applies her skills and expertise as a mentor on the Government-backed Help to Grow programme and holds a variety of NED and advisory roles.

Diana Markaki-Bartholdi

Founder & Group CEO, the Boardroom

Diana Markaki-Bartholdi is the Founder and Group CEO of the Boardroom, the first private club for women executives aspiring to board service, with exclusive Clubhouses already established in Zurich, Athens, London, and Paris. What began in 2021 as a leadership case at Harvard Business School has evolved into a rapidly growing international platform with a clear mission: to increase the number of qualified women on corporate boards around the world.
A seasoned board director and international M&A lawyer, Diana brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in regulated sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications. Over the course of her career, Diana has advised on equity offerings and cross-border M&A transactions exceeding €50 billion in value. She has lived and worked in New York, Milan, London, Athens, and Zurich—leading high-stakes negotiations and managing globally dispersed teams across 60 countries and five continents. She has also held executive roles in Europe’s largest energy infrastructure project.
Diana is also Executive-in-Residence at IMD Business School in Lausanne, where she teaches on the Women on Boards program and Partner at international investment firm Venero Capital, advising on Impact Investing.
In 2023, Diana was honored in Monaco with the Maria Callas Award for Social Entrepreneur and Businesswoman of the Year, in recognition of her work to advance gender equity in business leadership.
Diana holds a Law degree and LL.M. in International and European Law from the University of Athens and is a Harvard Business School Alumna, where she earned her EMBA.

Francisca Beloso

EMEA Inclusive Diversity, Associate Director, Alvarez & Marsal

Francisca Beloso is an experienced EMEA Diversity and Inclusion Professional with more than 20 years of international HR experience across organisations like GE, Vodafone, Siemens, 3 Mobile, ICON (Health Sciences) and CBRE. Francisca is recognised for shaping inclusive cultures, improving career retentions and leading transformation for major global companies. Francisca is a board member, EMEA Women Network Co-Chair and was a finalist in this year European and UK Diversity Awards. As a passionate advocate for practical , people-first progress, Francisca helps organisations embed sustainable talent management approaches and is committed to supporting women's career journeys after having children. Originally from Spain, Francisca has called UK home for 25+ years.

Stef Goodwin

Senior Education Consultant, Mercer

Stef brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the Financial Services sector. Prior to joining Mercer, she spent more than a decade practising as a Financial Advisor for high-net-worth clients with two leading UK firms. Her broad banking background includes managing client relationships and leading teams within the retail banking sector. Currently, as a Senior Education Consultant at Mercer, Stef partners with corporate clients to design customised financial education programmes and support their employees’ financial wellbeing strategies. Her expertise helps organisations cultivate financially resilient workforces and promote sustainable financial health. Outside of her professional role, Stef is a dedicated mum of three boys and is passionate about women’s finances, advocating for greater awareness of the unique challenges faced by women balancing parenthood, work, and personal growth in today’s world.

Prerana Issar

Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer, Sainsbury’s

Prerana joined the Operating Board in May 2023. Prior to joining Sainsbury’s, Prerana was the NHS’s first Chief People Officer and supported the 1.2 million people who work for the NHS to deliver critical care for patients, including through the COVID-19 pandemic, the most challenging period of the NHS’s history. Before that, Prerana worked at the United Nations World Food Programme as Director of Public-Private Partnerships and Chief HR Officer. She is focused on HR delivering commercial impact, having started her career at Unilever plc, where she spent 15 years and finishing her time there as Vice President of HR for Global Food. Prerana is a trustee on the Marie Curie Board of Trustees.

Georgie Holt

CEO and Co-Founder, FlightStory

Georgie Holt is reshaping the economics and infrastructure of media. As CEO and Co-Founder of FlightStory, the media and investment company founded with Steven Bartlett, she’s building the infrastructure to turn creator IP into global companies.
FlightStory is home to The Diary of a CEO, the second biggest podcast in the world, and a blueprint for scaling human-led media ventures. Under Holt’s leadership, FlightStory launched We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson, and Begin Again with Davina McCall both are now reaching a global weekly audience of over 1M in just six months, and have expanded across the US with an operating model that merges content, commerce, and capital.
Previously, Holt was Managing Director at Acast (UK & US), where she helped lead the company through IPO. With 20+ years of experience in media and publishing, she’s now building a future where creators are founders, owned audiences are high leverage assets, and human-led IP becomes the engine behind billion-dollar companies.

Orianna Royle

Success Associate Editor, Fortune

As Success Associate Editor, Orianna Rosa Royle leads Fortune's vertical for aspirational people. The award-winning London-based journalist has been writing about careers, leadership and company culture for the best part of a decade.
Since joining Fortune in 2023, Orianna has quickly become one of its most-read writers, scoring exclusive CEO interviews and building a reputation for her rags-to-riches coverage.
Orianna was inspired to start writing about success—and how those with it, attained it—after her own experience escaping poverty and working 7 days a week to break into the notoriously competitive world of journalism.
She started out as a video journalist and presenter, before joining the business magazine world in 2017. In her last role, Orianna was the senior reporter at Management Today, Britain's longest-running title for CEOs. Her commitment to uncovering inequality at work and profiling minority leaders, won her a 30 Under 30 award by the prestigious Professional Publishers Association.

Anna Purchas

Vice Chair & London Office Senior Partner, KPMG

Anna is the London Office Senior Partner for KPMG, Chair for the London Region and a Vice Chair of the UK firm. She leads our work with Private Enterprise clients out of London, and our Professional Services client base across the UK. In addition to chairing the ‘London Leaders’ Circles’ Anna is responsible for building strong relationships with a broad range of organisations across London
Prior to this role, Anna held COO roles and from 2017 – 2020, was Head of People for KPMG in the UK and Executive Board member. She was responsible for the strategic and operational aspects of HR, Learning and Culture with in the UK, enabling KPMG’s ambition to be a Magnet for Talent through attraction, development and retention of talented people at all levels of the organisation.

Tom McEvoy

Senior Associate, Lewis Silkin

With expertise spanning both employment and immigration law, Tom specialises in advising clients where these two complex areas intersect. His practice is built on a keen understanding of the risks and opportunities that arise when employment and immigration issues overlap, enabling him to provide strategic, pragmatic advice to both employers and employees.

Tina Backhouse

Vice President (Government Affairs & Policy), Theramex

Tina Backhouse is currently the Vice President for Theramex Global for Policy and Govt, having spent over 5 years as the UK GM. Theramex is a dedicated Women’s Health Company, based in London. With over 30 years in pharmaceuticals, her passion is in Women’s Health and the equity of care for all women within this space. In the UK, women live longer than men but they live longer in poorer health. As an advocate for WH, she believes that women cannot achieve true equality in their lives or work without equality in how their health is managed.

Dr Ade Adeniyi

Lead Physician & Associate Clinical Director, Bupa Healthcare

Dr Ade Adeniyi is a Lead Physician and Associate Clinical Director at Bupa Healthcare, specialising in corporate onsite clinical services. With over 15 years of experience across NHS, private and corporate healthcare, Dr Adeniyi has held leadership roles in NHS general practice, NHS 111, urgent care services and currently leads clinical operations and governance at a London-based corporate onsite health clinic. She holds diplomas in Women’s Health, Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, Occupational Medicine (DOccMed) and Strategic Management & Leadership Practice. She is passionate about health innovation, personalised healthcare and is committed to advancing inclusive evidence-based care, driving improvements in patient health and wellbeing.

Matthew Baird

Senior Staff Economist, LinkedIn Economic Graph Research Institute

Matthew Baird is a Senior Staff Economist and leads the Economic Opportunity research program at LinkedIn’s research institute. He brings over 15 years of research and leadership experience across academia, tech, and policy research. Dr. Baird’s work focuses on labor market policy, with particular attention to identifying and addressing gaps in workplace outcomes by gender, race, educational attainment, and socioeconomic status. His research has been published in leading journals, widely cited, and presented to audiences ranging from business leaders to academic and policy communities. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dr Tracey Leghorn

Chief Business Services Officer, SUEZ UK

Dr Tracey Leghorn joined SUEZ recycling and recovery UK in August 2018. Tracey is the Chief Business Services Officer with a c-suite portfolio that encompasses HR, Health & Safety, Environmental Service & Industrial Risk, and, Facilities.
As a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Tracey’s HR career has spanned both the public and private sectors in industries such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, foodservices, banking services and environmental services as well as several years in business consultancy with PwC.
Tracey is an advocate for gender equity and all aspects of inclusion, and, currently Chairs the CIWM Sector Inclusion Forum. Her commitment to improve the lives, position and opportunities of women, in and outside of the workplace, is informed by research into ‘women and work’ which has earned her a doctorate from the University of Leicester.
Tracey is an award-winning professional leading world-class business service functions. In the HR field, Tracey’s teams have been nationally recognised for their work in areas such as employee experience, wellbeing, inclusion, sustainable development and social value. Tracey has appeared on the Waste and Resources Sector’s Hot 100 Key Influencers List as well as being placed in the HR Magazine’s most influential HR Practitioners list for several years.

Susan Hope

Business Development Director, Scottish Widows

Susan Hope is a Chartered Financial Planner and Business Development Director at Scottish Widows, where she leads a business development team focused on workplace pensions and employee engagement.
With over three decades of experience in the financial services industry, Susan is a passionate champion for closing the gender pension gap and empowering women to build financial resilience. Her advocacy recently took her to the House of Lords, where she spoke on the critical importance of financial wellbeing for women across the UK.
Combining personal insight with deep professional expertise, Susan is a regular contributor to both trade and consumer media. She frequently speaks on the intersection of money, motherhood, and the financial lessons often missed.
Susan currently holds the title of Women in Financial Advice Role Model of the Year (2023 & 2024) and was recently honoured as Diversity and Inclusion Advocate for Women in Finance by Business Women Scotland

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