Conference - 15th October 2024, London
Balance the board:
Accelerating change
The ‘Balance The Board: Accelerating Change Conference’ is back for it's third year running and this year it promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Join us for a dynamic, thought-provoking conference dedicated to helping organisations develop inclusive cultures where diversity thrives.
Each ticket includes entry to the Conference and the Drinks Reception for you and a guest.
The venue is accessible - please let us know your specific accessibility requirements via info@balancetheboard.co.uk
Designed for Board and C-level professionals, founders and advocates from the hospitality, travel, leisure, retail and consumer sectors.
The conference brings together subject matter experts and industry leaders seeking to learn how to drive positive change in their organisations.
We have curated an exciting agenda with an incredible line-up of speakers, find the agenda below.
agenda & speakers
Subject to change.
The Evolution of Leadership - Paul Holbrook, Speaker and Author
HR Leaders Panel: Tackling Toxicity in the Workplace
- Kevin Poulter, Partner at Freeth’s (Chair)
- Juliett Cattermole – Chief People Officer at David Lloyd Leisure
- Vickie Elsey – People & Culture Director at Greene King
- Ann-Marie Murphy – Group Chief People Officer at SSP Group
How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant – Jeannette Linfoot, Entrepreneur, Board Advisor, Mentor
Courageous Conversations: The Role of Women Veterans in Leadership and Entrepreneurship
- Ria Jackson, Founder of The V Word and Inclusive Minds UK (Chair)
- Louisa Clarke, Executive Coach, Government Advisor and board member
- Charlotte Hayes, Senior Project Manager at Jacobs and Founder of STEMinistsUK
- Jennifer Lothian, Co-founder and CEO at MyArk
- Clare Palmer, Founder of Clarity Coaching
Getting Back to your Magic – Mariana Saraceni, Founder of The Happiness Consultancy
The Power of Mentoring
- Brandie Deignan, CEO in NHS Primary Care (Chair)
- Holly Hewett, Group Director of Marketing at Apex Hospitality Group
- Melisa Kati, First Year Medical Student at University of Exeter
Access all Areas: The Importance of Disability Inclusion
- Diane Lightfoot, CEO at Business Disability Forum (Chair)
- Rt Hon Chloe Smith, Advisor, Trustee, Speaker
- James Taylor, Co-founder of Motionspot
- Ollie Thorn, Motivational Speaker
- Jason Diederich, Clinical Operations Director at Ingeus
Relationships 2.0 - Katy Moses, Founder and Managing Director at KAM Research and Insights
How to be a Change Maker – The Interview
Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO at UKHospitality with Fiona Dawson CBE, NED, Chair and Trustee
Women on Boards: Are We There Yet?
- Joy Burnford, Founder and CEO of Encompass Equality (Chair)
- Vivienne Artz OBE, CEO of FTSE Women Leaders Review
- Mahbobeh Sabetnia, Technology Executive
- Sara Weller CBE, Chair & NED
- Beatrice Lafon, Chair & NED
The Art of the Possible: Breaking boundaries and class ceilings
- Sasha Covington, COO and Head of Diversity & Inclusion for JLL’s UK Value and Risk Advisory (Chair)
- Kameel Khan, Founder of Project ReMake
- Linda Riley, Founder of Diversity Umbrella, LGBTQIA and equality campaigner
Socio-Economic Diversity in the Boardroom
Krishna Grenville-Goble, Director, KPMG
Changing Mindsets and the importance of Psychological Safety
Kathy Weeks, Founder of Matthew Syed Consulting with Nicola Grant, Founder of SHe2 Leadership
15th October | London
The 'Accelerating Change' Conference
£180
Each ticket includes entry to the Conference and the Drinks Reception for you and a guest.
why attend?
- We will address many of the challenges the hospitality and leisure industry faces in retaining and advancing diverse talent.
- The programme is designed to explore real world strategies from both business leaders and diversity, equity and inclusion experts - from within and beyond the sector - to share fresh thinking and spur innovation.
- Brilliant chairs and panellists will highlight the progress that has been made within the industry, as well as introducing new perspectives and sharing learnings from other sectors.
- Our objective is to ignite your imagination and showcase the art of the possible in your organisation
- You will walk away armed with practical tips and inspired by true change makers
Conference partners
Each ticket includes entry to the Conference and the Drinks Reception for you and a guest. Please use this opportunity to bring a colleague or contact who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend.
What can you expect?
Mentoring has already proven to be successful as a means of breaking down barriers and supporting progression.
Balance the Board's founders wanted to take a different approach to mentoring; to make it easy, flexible, and informal, while making a significant difference to people’s careers. They wanted to create more impact, increase the reach, and build a scalable platform that could evolve and endure.
Today, Balance the Board runs a number of mentoring programmes, hosts conferences, webinars and networking events, bringing together like-minded people and creating a network that will mentor and support the next generation of inclusive leaders.
We are back on Tuesday October 15th 2024 and at a fabulous new venue - the Odeon Luxe Cinema, Leicester Square.
Last year was a sell out, don't miss out!
Each ticket includes entry for you and a guest.
Conference Feedback
What a brilliant conference you organised yesterday. The speakers and sessions were inspiring and thought provoking - I think you pitched it just right.
— Andrea Wareham
Former Chief People Officer, Pret a Manger
I am completely inspired and “zapped” after today's conference. Myself and my Inclusion Manager had the most wonderful day, listening and learning from so many incredible people. Loved, loved, loved it.
— Jacqui McManus
People Director, TRG PLC
I attended the Balance the Board Conference, it was wonderful to be in a room of inspirational women (and men), created by 3 amazing women.
— Emma Brooks
MD, Quintex Systems
Such an inspirational day!
— Resh Sonchatla
Founder, Chapati Club
If you are interesting in supporting the conference this year, please get in touch.
Lunch & Registration: from 12noon Conference agenda: 1pm-6pm, followed by a lively networking drinks reception from 6-8pm
Each ticket includes entry for you and a guest.