Speakers

A laser focus on super-actionable, case study driven content, keeping industry leaders informed about emerging trends and innovative solutions

2000+ ATTENDEES

250+ PRESENTERS

6 TOPIC STAGES

MAIN STAGE

Ruby Wax

Ruby Wax OBE

From the Royal Shakespeare Company to primetime TV; from a master's degree in mindfulness based cognitive therapy from Oxford University to best-selling author; from a mental health campaigner to being awarded an OBE for services to mental health. This is Ruby.

Steve Clarke

Virgin Atlantic People Communications Lead

Steve leads a team of communications professionals responsible for people engagement and culture, content development and storytelling, and communication channels at Virgin Atlantic. Steve spearheaded Virgin Atlantic’s launch of Workplace by Meta, and has radically evolved the approach to people communications to focus on mobile first, audio-visual storytelling.

Christina Lewis

Bolt Head of Global Operations and Engagement

Chrissie leads Global Operations at Bolt and has a decade of experience leading teams in fast-growth start-ups, including as an early-stage team member at Deliveroo. Passionate about Gender Equity and people-orientated leadership, Chrissie previously led the Gender Equity ERG at Deliveroo, spearheading the first woman-focused mentoring scheme, as well as introducing Accelerate, Deliveroo's programme for high-potential women. Chrissie was recently featured as a 'Women to Watch' in Tourism, Hospitality and Lesuire by WIHTL.

Sarah Hood

Bupa Global Head of Engagement

Sarah has worked at Bupa for over 21 years, with a background in customer service and operations management in both healthcare provision and funding, before making the switch to HR in 2015. Sarah now leads Bupa’s engagement strategy and vision, and the delivery of a global listening program connecting all employees. Bupa employs 85,000 people in a mixture of healthcare provision and healthcare funding businesses around the world.

Emma Illingworth

OVO Head of People Transformation

A people centered, award winning, HR leader, with a track record of partnering Executive Leaders to design and deliver People Strategies. Led multiple large-scale acquisition, restructuring / efficiency, EVP and culture transformation programs.

Quick, creative thinker, calm under pressure, with a considered approach. Often described as an agitator and playmaker to achieve what can often feel like impossible change programmes. I thrive in bringing people together to co-create and deliver improved people's experiences.

Louisa McCabe

AXA Head of Internal Communications

I’d spent a number of years building a successful career in financial and technology marketing when I had what I can only describe as a career epiphany. I realised that two things really make me tick, people and their stories. So, I made the jump from marketing to internal communications.

With several senior communication roles and an MA under my belt, my only regret is I didn't make the move sooner. I now spend my days doing what I love, connecting people with our leaders, sharing stories, celebrating the good stuff, and supporting people through the tough stuff.

Core skills include developing high performing teams, building and maintaining trust with senior stakeholders, strategic thinking, content development, campaign creation, writing, events, and change management.

Dev Mistry

Dojo Internal Communications and Engagement Lead

For over a decade, Dev has been supporting a range of brands with his expertise in relationship management and stakeholder engagement. Currently Internal Communications Lead at Dojo, Dev has worked for the likes of Virgin Media O2, DICE, Honda and Subaru over his career – managing PR, CSR, Social Media and Internal Communications.

People-focused communications are at the heart of Dev’s approach, no matter the size of maturity of the business. This is coupled with Dev’s proactive stance on inclusivity and equity within business processes, culture and communications, both from a personal and professional point of view. Outside of work, Dev also has a keen interest in initiatives supporting LGBTQ+ and BIPOC people respectively, through volunteer projects, cabaret performances and mentoring schemes.

Anaïs Nebel

Lipsy London Group Culture & Communications Manager

Anaïs is a culture leader and brand strategy expert, passionate about people empowerment. She leads culture and communications for Lipsy, a fashion and beauty group made up of 7 brands including Victoria’s Secret UK and Gap UK. Anaïs is known for creating out-of-the box engagement campaigns that create vibrant connections and bring the soul of a company to life.

She started her career in consulting before working for global retailers such as Estée Lauder Companies and The Body Shop. She has a unique understanding of internal and external brand experience - and how to make it resonate - having worked in marketing and customer experience before going into leadership development and people experience. In her current role, she looks after Wellbeing, Charity, Internal Comms, Employee Listening and Employer Branding.

Carlo Beschi

Treatwell Lead Agile Coach

I help value flow.

An accomplished professional, with a very broad skill set and 15+ years of experience in digital product delivery, cultural change and organizational transformation.

I leverage on agile-lean practices to partner with leaders and teams, and help them improve their time to market, customer engagement, product quality and operational efficiency.
I love envisioning, strategizing, and executing - both individually and together with others.

I relentlessly cultivate a safe, vibrant, collaborative working environment, focussed on learning, engagement and innovation. A place where people grow, projects succeed, and business KPIs flourish - all at the same time.

Beth Perry

First Central Head of Internal Communications and Culture

Hey, I’m Beth, Head of Internal Communications and Culture at First Central Group. With over a decade’s experience in creative and strategic positions, I’m a firm believer that comms and culture go hand-in-hand to deliver an awesome colleague experience. In a nutshell, it’s about listening, seeing people as people, and combining this with data to inform a truly authentic and kick-ass plan…that everyone wants to be part of.

Since joining First Central Group, we’ve been making a name for ourselves culturally by ranking #22 in Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work UK 2024 list, #7 for 2023’s Best Places to Work Wellbeing list and #7 in Best Places for Women (Super Large) …just to name a few.

When I’m not at work, I’m normally planning my next adventure (or living one). From Rio Carnival to the Trans-Siberian Railway, I’m never a few months away from a plane or immersing myself into something new.

Wendy Murphy

Exinity VP Corporate Communications

Wendy Murphy is VP of Corporate Communications at Exinity, a global fintech with offices in multiple locations around the world. Passionate about engagement and creating holistic experiences for colleagues, she was part of the core team that helped roll out a new wellbeing strategy across the company.

Melanie Page

Balfour Beatty Head of Group Innovation Programmes

Melanie has over two decades of change and transformation experience and has been at Balfour Beatty, the leading international infrastructure group, for over 16 years, spanning roles in IT, Digital and Communications.

Melanie heads up 'My Contribution': Balfour Beatty's award-winning engagement programme that harnesses the enthusiasm, knowledge, and expertise of the workforce to crowd-source ideas, innovate and problem solve. My Contribution gives employees a voice and empowers them to make positive change through the creation of powerful solutions that drive strategic growth and help make Balfour Beatty a great place to work.

Jeremy Gautrey-Jones

RSPCA Assistant Director Employee Experience

An highly experienced, Chartered FCIPD strategic HR and employee/industrial Relations professional that is results focused with a proven track record in a variety of sectors including the public, transport, higher education and charity sectors and who has worked at a UK, European and International level. Highly successful in negotiating and implementing change with trade unions and staff groups on key policy issues including pay and reward systems, organisational change programmes, TUPE transfers and terms & conditions of employment. Extensive experience in developing people strategies, structures and processes, leading negotiations, employee engagement, change management programmes, organisational change and project managing at the most senior levels. Proven track record in improving ER behaviours and cultures in difficult unionised climates. A resilient, effective and persuasive communicator who can influence key stakeholders in complex political landscapes. Highly effective in building relationships. A knowledgeable employment law specialist and experience Judicial Member of the Employment Tribunal. Key Speaker and contributor at a variety of conferences, webinars, podcasts and publications on industrial relations, managing change, hybrid working and wellbeing including HR Retail Bulletin, Personnel Today, CIPD.

Victoria Wilson

Royal Air Force (Ministry of Defence) Employee Engagement Team Manager

Victoria is an Employee Engagement Manager within the Ministry of Defence. She has worked in various civil service roles across the MOD for 18 years. Working in the HR profession, with a background in learning and development, she is passionate about facilitating a culture which allows people to flourish in their job roles.

Michelle Sage

Royal Air Force (Ministry of Defence) Employee Engagement Advisor

Michelle (Shell) Sage is an Employee Engagement Advisor within the Civil Service, working with the Royal Air Force since 2019. Prior to that she spent 11 years as a photographer working along side the Royal Air Force. People have always been at the heart of everything she works towards, and in her current role, with her team, in trying to make the workplace a better place for everyone.

Alix Ainsley

Virgin Group People Experience Director

Alix and Charlotte have worked as practitioners in HR for 25+ years, and whilst they describe themselves as commercial HR partners to the business, they also hold a great deal of experience in organisation and talent development field. They have worked together in a job share for over 11 years, and their passion for developing and coaching leaders has led them to a powerful belief in the positive impact that outstanding leaders can have on the performance of an organisation.

Alix and Charlotte bring their experience and leadership to their current role, leading the people partnering and proposition teams. The ‘north star’ for the team is alignment to Virgin’s organisational purpose, this means investing in, developing, and inspiring the teams that are Changing Business for Good.

Charlotte Cherry

Virgin Group People Experience Director

Emma Hughes

Phoenix Group Communication and Engagement of Colleague Representation Forum

Emma Hughes leads Communication and Engagement for the Phoenix Colleague Representation Forum, part of the Phoenix Group.
With over 20 years’ experience of internal communication, specialising in bringing the colleague experience to life and integrating the colleague voice into people initiatives.
Emma and the PCRF team won the engage award for best use of Innovation in employee engagement in 2023.

Susan Reilly

Phoenix Group Head of Colleague Representation

Susan Reilly is the Head of Phoenix Colleague Representation Forum, part of the Phoenix Group.

With over 15 years’ experience and a qualification in Employment Law, she is passionate about colleague engagement, building effective partnerships and the power of the colleague voice.

Susan specialises in colleague representation and progressive partnership working and loves utilising her skills and experience to create and promote industry leading representation propositions and it’s benefits in the modern workplace.

Susan created the PCRF in 2021 and they successfully won the engage award for best use of Innovation in employee engagement in 2023.

She lives near Edinburgh and loves spending time with her friends and family, particularly the latest addition to the family, her first grandchild.

Neil Morrison

Severn Trent Group Human Resources Director

Experienced FTSE100 executive with broad international experience. Neil has led fast moving, high growth organisations as well as those undergoing significant transformation and change, including both mergers and acquisitions. His career has included time working in media, retail, B2B services and utilities - all in times of significant change.

Technically, he has expertise in change management (especially digital transformation), compensation and benefits (including remuneration committees), organisational development, talent management, strategic resourcing, employee relations and communications. He's partnered with a range of CEOs and board members and contribute to the broader business leadership and strategy.

He prides himself on his communication skills and broad business knowledge. Down to earth, calm and measured whilst still working at pace and focused on delivery. The range of his experience means he's learnt to adapt and flex to different industries and cultures. he's also a qualified coach.

When he's not working, he is passionate about education, skills and the world of work in general. He's a regular commentator on leadership and management and has written for publications in the UK and US and spoken at conferences across the globe.

Tanai Vadera

Nando's Senior Product Manager

I describe myself as a young, confident and determined individual who has the drive and enthusiasm to work in all environments. I am always willing to learn to new things and obtain new learnings that will enhance my current skill set and benefit my employer in the best way possible.

Helen Card

Homes England Head of Internal and Digital Communications

Helen is a public sector communications leader and works as part of the Government Communication Service. Currently Helen is Head of Internal and Digital Communications at Homes England, the Governments Housing and Regeneration Agency. Previous to this Helen worked at the Cabinet Office as Head of Civil Service Communications and Cabinet Office Internal Communications. Helen is passionate about employee engagement and internal communications and how this makes a difference to organisations and people’s experience in the workplace. Helen is currently studying a MSc at the University of Huddersfield, in Strategic Communications Leadership.

Parysa Hosseini-Sech

Onecom People & Culture Director

Parysa Hosseini-Sech is the dynamic People & Culture Director at Onecom Group, known for her expertise in transformational change and a deep passion for talent development. With more than a decade at Onecom Group, she has been pivotal in growing the company to over 600 employees, skillfully navigating organic growth and acquisitions. Parysa's innovative approach places engagement at the core of people management, resulting in tangible commercial successes. She spearheaded an award-winning leadership development program, emphasising diverse talent nurturing strategies, from upskilling to mentoring. Under her leadership, Onecom embraced agile working and comprehensive health and wellbeing schemes, foundational during the pandemic and beyond.

John Townsend

Unicef UK Head of Internal Communications

John has a host of internal communications experience leading teams in the not-for-profit sector. He has been Head of Internal Communications at UNICEF UK for the last seven years, working to keep his colleagues informed, connected and inspired. Previously he led the internal communications function at the NSPCC, The Children’s Society and the Hilton Foundation.

John believes passionately in the power of internal communications to set the tone for an organisation’s culture, leading to better places to work and ultimately better organisational results.

Neil Bestford

Byggfakta Group Group Director of Brand and People Experience

Neil is Group Director of Brand and People Experience at Byggfakta Group. With over 20-years' experience, he specialises in fostering productivity, cultivating positive workplace culture, and harnessing the power and connectivity of brand, people experience, and health and wellbeing. Neil joined global commercial construction data organisation, ByggfaktaGroup, in late 2022, having previously spent 5-years as an employer brand and workplace culture consultant. His holistic approach ensures sustainable success and thriving teams within a diverse group of market-leading businesses across five global territories. Neil's insights, honed through a career dedicated to enhancing organisational culture and employee experience, are invaluable assets that empowers Byggfakta Group and its 30+ businesses to thrive in today's competitive commercial and talent marketplaces.

Henry Elworthy

John Lewis Partnership Partner Communications & Engagement Lead

Originally trained as a journalist, Henry has a decade of experience in corporate communications from crisis management to strategy launches. As an employee engagement expert, he’s rolled out employer brands, developed employee value propositions and created innovative routes to hear and measure employees’ opinions and feedback at scale.

At the John Lewis Partnership, he leads the team accountable for internal and external channels, events, planning, and leadership communications, as well as running a team of communicators charged with delivering fast-paced change communications. With 25 million hits to their intranet each year, over 70 sites and 550 communities to manage, there’s rarely a dull moment in his team.

Victoria Black

The Travel Chapter Head of Internal Communications

Victoria is a communications specialist with over 15 years of experience in customer and employee communications. Having started her career as a legal secretary specialising in employment law, she quickly transitioned into a marketing communications role and soon realised her passion for engaging audiences through communications and events. After years of specialising in email marketing, Victoria followed her passion for employee engagement and is now Head of Internal Communications at Travel Chapter, a leading holiday property company that operates multiple brands across the UK.

Laura Jamieson

Alshaya Group Head of Internal Communications

A seasoned expert in strategic internal communications and employee engagement having worked across multiple industries and regions. With a proven track record of understanding business needs to develop and deliver bespoke communications strategies and drive employee engagement. An advocate for the power internal communications and employee experience.

Duaa Almousawi

Alshaya Group Internal Communications Executive

Duaa brings a distinctive perspective and vision to the field of marketing and communications through her diverse experiences and forward-thinking approaches. Her ability to blend creativity with strategic thinking allows her to see opportunities where others might not, while her dedication to authentic connection-building ensures that her message resonates deeply with audiences, both in-person and online. This unique combination enables Duaa to inspire change and make a lasting, positive impact in her region and beyond.

Daniela Hoyos

Swissport Communications Manager

Global communications manager with over 10 years of experience leading communication programs in global Fortune 500 companies such as: Qatar Airways, Booking.com and Amazon. Now leading the employee experience transformation at Swissport.

Ross Parker

Allianz Employee Engagement Manager

An influential leader with over 10 years’ experience in the field of Employee Engagement, Wellbeing and Recognition.

Ross inspires and leads a network of Engagement Reps, Wellbeing Reps and Mental Health First Aiders to champion a culture where people matter, and voices are heard.

Following Allianz acquisition of LV= General Insurance, Ross is now using his expertise to roll out people strategies across Allianz Holdings.

Ross has led his past organisation to receive industry recognition as well leading project teams to scoop-up a number of internal awards too.

Dr Sarah Pass

Engage for Success

Sarah is a practitioner-focused academic concentrating on employee experience and engagement. Sarah is a member of the Engage for Success (EFS) Advisory Board. She also sits on the EFS steering group, chairs the East Midlands Area Network, the Line Managers TAG, the Engagement Champion TAG, and is the co-project lead for the EFS annual survey. In 2023, Sarah was ranked by HR Magazine as an Influential Thinker in HR. She is a Fellow of the RSA, an Academic Associate of the CIPD, and a member of the British Academy of Management. Sarah also sits on the Advisory Board for the EX-Space and is a member of the Involvement and Participation Association (IPA) Working Insights Group. Sarah currently works as a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Business School (NTU).

Jo Moffatt

Engage for Success Strategy Director

Jo has been a volunteer with the Engage for Success movement since its launch. As Strategy Director she sits on the Core Team and co-hosts the weekly Engage for Success radio show. EFS radio draws guests from across the engagement world with interesting stories to share. The Engage for Success agenda is absolutely aligned with Jo’s vision ‘to make workplaces better places to be’. Jo’s ‘day job’ is MD and founder of Woodreed, a specialist ad agency who use the tools, techniques, creativity and insight of the advertising world to engage employees inside organisations. Jo is passionate about brands and their power to move people. She is equally passionate about employee engagement and its vital role in delivering a high performing organisation. Put the two together and she becomes almost evangelical about the power a well-positioned and consistently delivered brand has as a catalyst for employee engagement and business success.

Charlotte Dahl

Woodreed Creative Planning Director

Charlotte is a director at specialist advertising agency Woodreed. She's an accomplished speaker, writer and facilitator, with a unique view on employee engagement and internal communications, having spent equal parts of her career in consumer, then employee communications. Having worked for clients spanning every industry sector, including Marks & Spencer, The National Lottery, Volkswagen Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Guinness World Records and the NHS, she brings the rigour of consumer marketing into internal communications. She is passionate about raising the profile, standards and effectiveness of internal communication, believing employees AND customers deserve the same reverence, effort and creativity in communication. Appearing on stages at home and abroad, she's talked for senior leadership summits and in-house teams as well as for the CIPD, Institute of Internal Communications, Engage for Success and at ABTA's travel convention in Malta. She's a regular chair for Engage Business Media's events and delivers training for the IoIC.

Cathy Brown

Handley Studios Ltd. Co-Founder

Cathy (she/her) works with people and organisations to create inclusive, healthy and more productive workplaces that work for everyone.

A renowned leader, speaker and communicator, Cathy blends curiosity and empathy with deep cross-sector experience. She prides herself on helping people move out of stressful situations to create human-focused workplace cultures where compassion and connectedness – and people – are encouraged and valued.
Cathy has led organisations across a range of industries including Engage for Success (the UK’s movement for Employee Engagement), and has helped to transform many more through her work as Capability Brown, and most recently at Management Geek.
Cathy carries her personal experience of neurodivergence into the solutions she co-creates with her clients, through conversations, commitment and curiosity - helping them to manage themselves and their teams in ways that work for everyone.

Jo Dodds

Engage for Success Co-Strategy Director

As co-Strategy Director of Engage for Success, Jo is focused on spreading the word about employee engagement and shining a light on good practise, inspiring people and workplaces to thrive. She also co-hosts the long running weekly Engage for Success radio podcast talking all things employee engagement with a wide range of guests from all over the world. Her corporate background is in regional and national HR and training roles within large retail and leisure organisations. She started her own business in 2005 and has since worked with people and organisations to take advantage of the digital and social media opportunities to create engagement with customers, employees and other stakeholders.

Nicholas Brice

Soul Corporations CEO

Nicholas Brice is our Guest Editor and CEO of Soul Corporations®. He is seasoned managing consultant, speaker coach and masterclass facilitator. He has helped deliver human-centred development and culture change programmes to achieve customer and employee experience KPI outcomes for major brands including British Airways, American Express, Unipart, Toyota, Wickes, Brighton and Hove Albion FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Progress IT, Servier Pharmaceuticals. He is a triple winner of National Training Journal Gold Awards, a winner of Engage Media Award for Best Customer and Employee Engagement Programme and four times finalist.