Chris Hirst

Chris is a change agent and author, widely recognised as an innovative and inspirational leader. After more than a decade in CEO positions, including Global CEO of Havas Creative Group and UK CEO of Grey (part of WPP), he has a proven track record of leading transformational change.

His first book, No Bullsh*t Leadership has been in the best-seller lists since publication in 2019 and was named UK Business Book of the Year in March 2020. Based on his hard-won experience, this smart, engaging book delivers a step-by-step working manual on how to lead – for anyone. Recommended as an essential read by the FT, it was described by Sir Clive Woodward as, ‘a brilliant set of leadership tools that will help you succeed, whatever your goals.’

Chris is a regular commentator in press and broadcast media including the BBC, Financial Times and Sky. Chris’s second book No Bullsh*t Change, is published in June 2023 through Profile Books.

Vonnie Alexander

Vonnie started her career in marketing and communications, eventually setting up her own agency, Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, with three partners. Together they grew the business before selling it to Publicis Groupe 10 years later. She describes the agency as her pride and joy, not only because of the list of illustrious clients with whom they shared so many achievements, but also because of the culture that they created. This experience helped her recognise the impact of a strong culture on individual and team performance. She saw the business grow, stumble through the financial crash and grow again, both in reputation and performance.

Vonnie now works as an executive and leadership coach in a wide range of sectors, as well as a consultant and NED. She has observed that we can be at our most creative and resourceful when challenged or under pressure if we are mentally prepared - and that it doesn’t take much to knock us off balance if we are not. She has also seen first-hand what it takes to lead and achieve ambitious business goals within organisations large and small.

Harpreet Kaur

Founder of Oh So Yum and winner of The Apprentice

Harpreet Kaur - winner of BBC Apprentice 2022, co-founder of Oh So Yum desserts and business partner to Lord Sugar. She gained investment for expansion & growth plans for her dessert business with millions of viewers watching.

Currently running from 3 stores, stocked in Selfridges & a nationwide delivery e-commerce platform, Harpreet aims to inspire other young entrepreneurs and give them that boost of confidence. She made the leap from the corporate world of banking to now running a six-figure business today.

Akua Agyemfra

Cultural Strategist & Brand Manager for Stormzy/MERKY

Akua Agyemfra has worked for over 15 years across both the entertainment and sports industries seamlessly turning her own creative ideas, relationships and expertise into some of the most iconic campaigns across the globe.

After getting her initial start at Adidas, Akua stayed with the brand for 10 years working as their global entertainment and influencer marketeer successfully delivering and working on some of their most influential entertainment collaborations to date including: Rita Ora, Pharrell and Kanye West’s Yeezy line.

With a real passion to cultivate critical culture shifting moments during her career, after leaving Adidas, Akua went on to be the founder of two successful creative companies in addition to running cultural strategy for Stormzy & #Merky Group.

Timothy Armoo

Co-Founder of Fanbytes

Timothy Armoo is a serial entrepreneur and marketing aficionado.

At 21, Timo founded Fanbytes, a Gen Z influencer agency, creating market-leading campaigns for the likes of Nike, Samsung and the UK Government before most brands had realised the true power of social media.

By 27, Timo had grown the business to a team of 75 people before it was acquired by global media agency Brainlabs in an 8 figure transaction.

He is also an acclaimed speaker having spoken on global stages in US, Asia and the Middle East about building brands and communities online.

Born in South London, he’s passionate about supporting the next generation of black entrepreneurs; giving back through talks, mentorship and the creation of the Fanbytes Fund, a £250k fund that develops influencer campaigns for high-growth black-owned businesses.

Nicola McQueen

CEO at NHS Professionals

Nicola McQueen was appointed as CEO of NHS Professionals (NHSP), the largest temporary staff supplier to the National Health Service, in September 2019. She initially joined NHS Professionals as interim COO in January 2019.

She is passionate about workforce business issues, having spent the past 20 years supporting and creating effective staffing strategies across both the private and public sectors. Her career in recruitment began as a consultant at Hays, before moving to Capita and ultimately serving as CEO of Affinity Workforce. McQueen is also CEO of Doctors Direct, the locum service from NHS Professionals.

Most recently, she has led NHS Professionals through the coronavirus pandemic, successfully attracting tens of thousands of healthcare professionals into the NHS.

Victoria Fox

CEO at AAR Group

Victoria joined AAR as CEO in April 2019, having had a successful 20-year career agency side. She was excited by the opportunity to lead AAR into its next chapter. Marketing has fundamentally shifted to reflect changing customer needs and to capitalise on the opportunities that data and marketing technology offers. This requires a demolishing of marketing discipline siloes. Victoria’s ambition for AAR is to be a trusted and neutral partner for marketers as they navigate this change and make decisions about how to structure their internal and external capabilities. She can draw on the breadth of experience she gathered running agencies across several disciplines including customer experience, advertising and digital.

Over the last three years, Victoria has steered AAR through a transformation journey including a rebrand, repositioning and significant diversification of service offering which has seen the company return its best-ever financial performance to date in 2021. Her drive and determination, along with her commitment to uphold the values of fairness and integrity on which AAR has built its reputation, continue to strengthen the company’s position as trusted partner to CMOs and Agencies alike.

Victoria is a proud ambassador for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, having held the role of global sponsor for Diversity and Inclusion across the M&C Saatchi network. She sits on the WACL (Women in Advertising and Communications London) Executive committee and has previously chaired the WACL Future Leaders Award. Victoria was also honoured to have been named a Global Champion of Women in Business by the Financial Times two years in a row, in both 2017 & 2018. Most recently she has taken an advisory role on the steering board for The Women’s Association, who exist to reveal and remove barriers that prevent women and girls from having the freedom to dream or the tools to create.

Daryl Fielding

Portfolio Board Director and Advisor

Best known as the architect of Dove’s “Campaign for Real Beauty, Daryl’s career includes leadership roles in brand owners, media and advertising agencies. Workwise, she now combines board roles with a part time role as a charity CEO. She is a Trustee of The British Heart Foundation, The Academy of Ancient Music and Pelican Cancer Foundation and a Non Executive Director at the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants.

She is part-time CEO of The Marketing Academy Foundation, which she co-founded, a Registered Charity enabling career starts for young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. She has held executive director roles at Vodafone, Mondelez, Independent Newspapers and Ogilvy Advertising. She has just published “The Brand Book” a practical, no-nonsense guide to brands drawing on her personal experience and other world class examples and enjoys delivering keynote speeches on brands, marketing and diversity and inclusion.

Paul Tisdale

Professional Football League Manager

Paul is a vastly experienced Football League manager, becoming the longest serving EFL manager in 2017. He managed Exeter City to their highest ever league finish. Guiding the club to four play off finals and achieving two promotions.

Over 12 years, he led the club through a comprehensive rebuilding process on and off the pitch. Paul was instrumental in building an enduring legacy as a healthy and sustainable football business. Exeter City FC is fast emerging as one of the English Football League’s most respected and credible clubs, that is seen as a template for other clubs.

Outside football Tis is a successful business owner. Launching his Leadership development business, Tis Talks TEAM, in 2020, Paul has worked with several high profile professional services companies, helping them to improve performance and develop their culture.

Paul was an ambassador for clothing brand Ted Baker for 10 years, both representing the brand on the touchline and contributing to the development of the business by sharing his leadership and team building philosophies.

Claire Hilton

Managing Director, Virgin Management Ltd

Claire is Managing Director, Virgin Brand, responsible for the overall Virgin masterbrand strategy & direction. Claire & her team work closely with the 40+ Virgin companies globally, providing direction on how to best leverage the brand to drive business results, including areas such as marketing, branding, culture, people & customer experience, purpose & sustainability. Virgin branded businesses engage with 50m+ customers across multiple sectors including financial services, travel and leisure, health & fitness, media and entertainment, telecommunications and space.

Claire previously worked at BT and Barclays in various roles including Chief of Staff, UK Marketing Director and Managing Director, Global Brand & Insight.

Claire is a Non-Exec Director at Virgin Start-Up, a not-for-profit business which focuses upon helping start-up business founders flourish, Virgin Enterprises Limited which manages the Virgin branded business, and the Advertising Standards Authority, whose aim is to create most trust in advertising through ensuring responsible advertisements. Claire is also an active member of Women in Advertising & Communications London (WACL) and a member of the Marketing Group of Great Britain. In her spare time, she mentors a number of young female talent within the industry. Claire is married and has one daughter, a lively labradoodle and two cats.