ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
We are delighted to present a stellar lineup of speakers who will share their invaluable expertise to help business owners and managers drive their companies to new heights.
You'll hear from industry leaders who have navigated challenges and achieved remarkable success, offering lessons learned and inspiring success stories. Our speakers will also provide market insights, equipping you with the knowledge and strategies necessary to thrive in a competitive landscape.
Get ready to be inspired, informed, and empowered.
Patrick Campbell
Deputy Agent South East and East Anglia Agency
Bank of England
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Patrick will outline the Bank’s latest assessment for the UK economy, including forecasts for inflation and growth, at the networking breakfast.
BIO:
Before he became an agent in October 2018, Patrick mainly worked on the Bank of England's Foreign Exchange Desk (“the FX Desk”), which manages the UK’s reserves of foreign currency and gathers market intelligence. His work for the FX Desk included briefing senior Bank and Treasury staff on financial market reactions to major events, such as the 2010 and 2015 UK general elections and the EU and Scottish Independence referendums. And he was a member of the team that wrote the 2015 Review of Market Intelligence at the Bank of England.
In 2017-18, he was seconded to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to analyse developments in the US money and treasury markets.
Patrick has an MA (Hons) in Political Economy and an MSc in Economics from the University of Glasgow, and a BA (Hons) in English Literature from Birkbeck College, University of London.
Derek Murphy
Head of Economic Development
Kent County Council
SPEAKER TOPIC:
More info coming soon!
BIO:
Details on the way!
Zoe Cairns
Social Media Consultant
ZC Social Media
SPEAKER TOPIC:
From voice to vision: Your path to thought leadership on LinkedIn
Learn how to create content that connects with your audience and keeps them interested. Understand how to build a community of people and maintain an active, engaged audience. Explore the key tools and strategies that can help you become a recognised thought leader.
BIO:
Recently awarded LinkedIn's 'Blue Top Voice Badge', Zoe is a highly respected and proficient International Social Media Speaker, Trainer and Consultant. Specialising in many areas but focusing on one of the many areas people do not cover when they first set out in Social Media, their Social Media Strategy. Zoe works with many companies, brands and Fortune 500 companies to make sure that they have a strategy and know how to implement high-profile campaigns to get the maximum from their Social Media activities.
Sam Stageman
Director & Co-Owner
Pentalec
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Sam will be joining us for the Meet the Entrepreneurs panel session.
BIO:
Sam began his career in 2002 as an Electrical Apprentice, which then led to Estimating and Business Development roles for various M&E contractors and Facilities Management organisations. Sam’s aptitude for customer relationship management and technical expertise across two decades has enabled him to effectively lead his teams and influence stable business growth. Since joining Pentalec in 2021 as Co-Owner, his focus is on cultivating trusted relationships with our customers, and leading our people by maintaining a positive workplace culture.
Pentalec was formed in 2017 with the purpose of offering a fresh approach to Building Services Contracting, founded on the principles of partnership and innovative thinking. We have since grown the buisness to over 50 full-time staff, all working towards the goal of providing exceptional service within the construction, engineering, and energy service sectors.
On the 1st of July, Pentalec was named 6th in the Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies in 2024!
James Gardner
Business Mentor, CEO Coach, Acquisition Expert, Entrepreneur
SPEAKER TOPIC:
James will be joining us for the Meet the Entrepreneurs panel session.
BIO:
I’m often asked, ‘James, how on earth did you go from running a manufacturing firm to a services business?’, but any business revolves largely around caring for its customers and team. It doesn’t matter whether you run a manufacturing company, an estate agent, or a restaurant, investing in people will always reap the greatest returns.
In my 25+ years as a business leader, I’ve never lost sight of the importance of people. As business magnate Warren Buffet said: ‘you should focus on your customers and lead people as though their lives depend on your success.’ This mindset helped me develop my first start-up to a multi-million-pound business. I later helped take it through its sale, proudly protecting our employees’ jobs and rights
Paul Andrews
CEO of Fruitbowlmedia Ltd and Presenter of Business Bunker Radio
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Alongside Gill Monk, Paul will facilitate our live 'podcasts' with leading Kent entrepreneurs.
BIO:
Paul is a serial entrepreneur, businessman and mentor who is passionate about SME businesses and the business community.
Gill Monk
Founder & MD of All Health Matters
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Alongside Paul Andrews, Gill will facilitate our live 'podcasts' with leading Kent entrepreneurs.
BIO:
Gill founded All Health Matters in 2010 after a number of years working in the OH world. She gained her occupational health qualification at the University of Glamorgan shortly after and was a practising OH Technician.
Peter Searle
Director of Searle Management Consulting Ltd
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Peter is facilitating our interactive panel discussion covering the topic of solving property issues for growing businesses.
BIO:
I am a non-executive director for a property investment company and a fractional project manager, dealing with new build and refurbishment of residential and commercial properties.
I provide bespoke business advice and mentoring for the owners of organisations in the construction sector and those wanting to carry out a project but are not sure of the next steps. I can also provide a detailed overview for those who would like to understand the sector, so they can market to it effectively.
Sarah Bittorf
Marketing Manager at Locate in Kent
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Sarah will take part in our interactive panel discussion covering the topic of solving property issues for growing businesses.
BIO:
With agency experience in all aspects of digital marketing, Sarah co-ordinates marketing for Locate in Kent including our website, social media and digital advertising.
Nick Baster
Director of Logic PM
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Nick will take part in our interactive panel discussion covering the topic of solving property issues for growing businesses.
BIO:
Logic PM was founded by Nick Baster, a chartered project manager and builder, with the vision of bringing together his previous experience as a construction project manager and fit out contractor. Understanding the client brief and being able to share that with the project team, in clear, jargon free communication is a key strength Nick feels Logic PM can deliver on.
Heather Kennett
Founder of Curly Girl Method Club
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Heather will participate in the panel discussion at our pre-conference networking breakfast - Innovative marketing strategies for growing businesses. She'll also feature in the live 'podcasts' with leading entrepreneurs at the Conference.
BIO:
Curly Girl Method Club was born from my own hair struggles during maternity leave. I formulated my own products, developed signature techniques and created tutorials to help people achieve beautiful curls with ease. My goal? Every wavy and curly person to feel confident without needing to conform to straight hair standards, seeing the beauty of their authentic selves.
Steven Cox
Founder of SamurAi Solutions
SPEAKER TOPIC:
AI won’t take your jobs, but people who use AI will.
BIO:
Founder of SamurAi Solutions, offering AI consultancy and automation services to businesses across the UK. I’ve put in the time to learn about AI so that you don’t have to. Let’s explore how much more efficient you and your team could be when combining your human and artificial intelligence.
Mike Hacker (Hax)
CEO of Prisma Broadcast
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Mike will participate in the panel discussion at our pre-conference networking breakfast - Innovative marketing strategies for growing businesses - on the topic of standing out within an attention economy.
BIO:
Mike Hacker (called Hax by many) is an experienced filmmaker by profession. He believes that videos should be made to work hard for their living. The team at Prisma Broadcast produce and broadcast video content, to help their clients communicate profitably with their audience.
Laura Bounds MBE
Owner of Kent Crisps, Kentish Oils, Kentish Condiments and A Little Bit Food Co
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Laura will be joining us for the Meet the Entrepreneurs panel session.
BIO:
Kent born & raised, I am passionate about promoting all our county has to offer when it comes to food & drink and our beautiful landmarks & landscapes. Through Kent Crisps, Kentish Oils & Kentish Condiments I am extremely proud to supply to stockists throughout the South East and the rest of the UK as well as exporting to over 12 countries around the world.
The most recent addition to my portfolio is A Little Bit Food Co, an ambient, top quality range of dips, dressings, ketchups & sauces all made with fresh herbs which I am looking forward to pushing to the next level over the coming year.
Along with growing my own businesses, I enjoy helping and mentoring others and am an Ambassador for the Department of International Trade, a Kent Ambassador and also work with the University of Kent Business School as a mentor. Together with a number of awards for my businesses over recent years, I was awarded Kent Business Woman of the Year 2019 as well as winning the UK Micro Business of the Year 2019 from the Federation of Small Businesses and Kent Business of the Year 2020/21 at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
![Laura Bounds ]founder of Kent Crisps (1).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/880bb8_69102e8b224d41cd89ca8a75e03bd1f3~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_300,h_300,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/880bb8_69102e8b224d41cd89ca8a75e03bd1f3~mv2.png)
Cllr Harinder Mahil
Economic and Social Regeneration
and Inward Investment, Medway Council
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Cllr Harinder will be speaking at the networking breakfast
BIO:
Details on the way!
Tim Aker
Development Manager
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Tim will be chairing the networking breakfast.
BIO:
Development Manager with the Federation of Small Businesses in Kent. Campaigns for our small business members, putting their interests to stakeholders and policymakers.
Previously a Member of the European Parliament and a borough councillor.
Dan Maudhub
Founder & CEO Wonderful | Certified B Corp ™
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Dan will be speaking at the Meet the Entrepreneurs panel session.
BIO:
Dan is a multi-award winning entrepreneur who has worked with some of the world’s largest brands in delivering game changing campaigns and content through his agency, Wonderful. Dan has spearheaded Wonderful into being a leading digital creative agency, recently recognised as #11 in the UK for client satisfaction in the 2015 Drum Design agency census.
Amy Walters
Founder, designer, public speaker on AI and design, Bloom Creative
SPEAKER TOPIC:
Transform your designs - Amy Walters shares top AI tips
BIO:
Amy is multi-award-winning founder and lead designer of Bloom Creative, a renowned design and branding agency based in Kent.
You will learn…..
The top AI tools available in Canva that can transform your designs
How to choose the right AI tools for the best impact
An introduction to other AI tools that can streamline your design process
