Welcome to
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Unleashing the Power of Leadership; Breaking Barriers and Empowering Change
#Empower #Elevate #Excel
- Nine Kings Suite - The Royal Lancaster Hotel, W2 2TY
- Tue 18 Jun 2024 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM
Conference Timetable
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07:45 - 08:45
Registration & Welcome Refreshments
08:55 - 09:05
Opening Address
09:05 - 09:50
Perfectionism in Leadership - Panel Event
09:50 - 10:20
Break
10:20 - 11:05
Magnetic Confidence!
11:10 - 12:00
Men as Allies: Partnering for Inclusion
12:00 - 13:00
Lunch
13:00 - 13:10
Coming Soon to WED
13:10 - 13:50
Fostering Psychological Safety: Building Foundations for Change
13:55 - 14:40
Nailing Your Narrative
14:40 - 15:40
Break
15:10 - 15:50
Why Being a Conscious Leader Matters!
15:55 - 16:40
The Art of Leadership: Unleashing Superpowers
16:40 - 16:45
Closing Remarks
16:45 - 17:30
Networking & Expo
Session Descriptions
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09:05-09:50 – Perfectionism in Leadership
Effective leadership requires alternating between broad perspective and detailed execution, demanding mental flexibility. However, cognitive tendencies often hinder this agility. Overcoming distraction requires practicing transitions between concentration and awareness. Conquering ego challenges involves cultivating selflessness. While empathy can impede action, fostering constructive compassion empowers leaders to assist others beyond personal boundaries.
10:20-11:05 – Magnetic Confidence!
Whether you’re beginning or advancing in your leadership journey, this session will help you command space, exude confidence, and become the leader you aspire to be. It’s not just educational; it’s a journey to embrace your potential, lead other women, and establish a leadership legacy that shatters barriers and surpasses expectations.
11:10-12:00 – Men as Allies: Partnering for Inclusion
Men occupy about 70-80% of executive roles and over 60% of people manager positions, giving them significant influence in shaping an inclusive workplace culture. They can play a pivotal role in supporting women professionally. The panel will explore how men can become allies, collaborating with and backing women to foster an inclusive environment that maximises organisational performance.
13:10-13:50 – Fostering Psychological Safety: Building Foundations for Change
Exploring the crucial elements of psychological safety within team dynamics provides a comprehensive understanding of its significance and influence on team effectiveness. This session enables participants to acknowledge the essential role psychological safety plays in fostering creativity, innovation, and empowerment among team members.
13:55-14:40 – Nailing Your Narrative
This session explores the influence of storytelling and communication in leadership. Attendees will learn to create captivating narratives that connect, engage, and motivate action. Drawing from personal and industry experiences, the session provides actionable advice and techniques for crafting impactful, lasting stories.
15:10-15:50 – Why Being a Conscious Leader Matters!
Leadership shapes organisational culture and performance. Conscious leaders empower excellence and prioritise wellbeing, blending soft and hard skills. They lead with mindfulness, empathy, and integrity, aligning decisions with values and team wellbeing. These leaders foster growth, creating environments where individuals thrive, not just survive.
15:55-16:40 – The Art of Leadership: Unleashing Superpowers
This session will offer an insightful overview on the importance of identifying and unleashing your team’s superpowers to achieve high performance. Essential techniques will be discussed, along with an outline of the three key elements of optimising potential using the award- winning C.O.M model.
#WED24 Speakers
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Siobhan currently holds the position of Senior Vice President of the Customer Office for EMEA Applications and serves as the Country Leader for the UK at Oracle. With an unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction, she fosters a culture centred on prioritising the customer’s needs within Oracle.
Siobhan ensures the successful implementation and continuous utilisation of SaaS services while also leading initiatives to drive cloud revenue growth across the EMEA region.
In her capacity as UK Country Leader, she places emphasis on enhancing employee, client, and community experiences, in addition to spearheading initiatives related to wellbeing and inclusion.
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Helen, a Human Factors specialist and veterinary nurse, holds a keen focus on human skills. Recently completing an MSc in Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors in 2021, she is presently engaged in doctoral studies while pursuing chartered ergonomist status.
Helen finds fulfilment in applying her expertise to aid teams in their Human Factors endeavours.
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Adam holds the position of Chief People Officer and is recognised as a business-oriented HR executive with a proven history of guiding personnel and effecting change within intricate organisations.
His professional journey spans diverse sectors, commencing with military service, followed by roles within a distinctive public sector setting. Subsequently, he transitioned to a prominent consulting practice, collaborating with clients across various industries, before returning to an in-house role within an international media, publishing, and research enterprise.
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Claire attained qualification as a corporate lawyer in 2007 and has since been actively engaged in legal practice. Initially starting in private practice, she later transitioned to oversee the in-house legal operations of several rapidly expanding consumer brands in the UK.
As a Co-Founder of Being Human, an organisation dedicated to empowering individuals and teams with essential non-technical skills for success, Claire is committed to enhancing performance, mitigating risk, and promoting wellbeing.
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Libby, a distinguished graduate of St. Andrews, Aberdeen, and Cambridge Universities, boasts a prestigious career spanning three decades. Initially serving with the MOD’s Army Royal Signals during the Bosnian Conflict, she transitioned into geophysics, working globally in major oil capitals.
As a digital transformation strategist, Libby has tackled complex exploration challenges for multinational Oil and Gas giants, before lending her expertise to Defense and National Security.
A Fellow of the Geological Society and Honorary Fellow at the University of Exeter, her contributions include advising Defense Primes and MOD on AI and machine intelligence, enhancing national security.
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Glenda, a coach, master resilience practitioner, bestselling author, and the founder of We Talk Wellbeing, fervently believes that success and happiness can coexist harmoniously for leaders.
As a serial entrepreneur, Glenda has adeptly sold businesses and embarked on a personal journey of self-discovery to achieve a fulfilling life. Building upon the triumph of her book ‘Be Resilient As Fudge,’ she has skilfully crafted the ‘Resilient As Fudge’ method, which is effectively implemented in blue-chip organisations, schools, and retail settings.
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Experienced IT Leader delivering outstanding results across manufacturing, engineering, public and private sectors at large multi-national organisations. Has taken core technical, project management and process skills and combined them with in depth experience of core business functions to ensure a rounded and clear approach to the enterprise business systems function.
Currently enjoying the challenge of bringing core business and IT principles to an innovative, exciting and appreciative environment. Specialties: E-commerce, ERP, EDI, Enterprise Architecture, Development, IT Strategy, Warehouse systems, Team Leadership, Pre-sales, consulting. Deans’ current role is as Head of Digital Enablement for UK, Europe and Ireland.
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Chris Larsen is a distinguished entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and leading mindset coach. Rising from modest origins, he now inspires individuals to achieve their highest potential.
Chris has a proven track record of collaborating with successful professionals and athletes, aiding them in excelling while having positively impacted thousands of lives. Committed to giving back, Chris actively supports various charities and communities as an ambassador.
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Bringing over 18 years of varied experience to his role as Diversity and Wellbeing Manager at the Forestry Commission, Wali has traversed sectors including Further and Higher Education, Local Government, and the Civil Service, consistently advocating for diversity and inclusion.
Wali’s expertise also extends to HR and Organisational Development. As Co-Chair of the Wiltshire Council BME staff network and a key figure in establishing staff networks at both Wiltshire Council and the Forestry Commission, he actively fosters inclusive workplaces. Recognised for his contributions, he received the Rising Star Award in 2023 and was listed among the Top 50 most influential Muslims in Europe.
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Emma, an executive coach and master resilience practitioner, possesses vast expertise in crafting and spearheading wellbeing programs for renowned global organisations.
Having personally encountered burnout during her leadership journey, she is dedicated
to promoting healthy, high performance by empowering leaders to cultivate the mindset, acquire the skillset, and implement the toolset necessary for thriving. Leveraging her leadership background and coaching proficiency, Emma assists her clients in unlocking their maximum potential.
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With over 27 years of experience in the IT industry, Jacqueline is a Director Consulting at CGI, a global leader in IT and business consulting services. Jacqueling has particular expertise in business development and delivering enterprise business systems, especially in the defence sector.
Jacqueline builds and leads successful teams that put the customer at the centre of everything they do. Together, they solve complex challenges, deliver excellent customer value, and drive transformation and innovation.
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Anthony brings over 15 years of extensive experience in security and compliance across both the Public and Private sectors worldwide. Before joining AWS, he held prominent cloud security leadership positions at Symantec and Check Point, a significant departure from his early career aboard Royal Navy Submarines.
At AWS, Anthony serves as the Partner Security Strategist for the EMEA Public Sector within the WWPS Security team. Furthermore, he holds the esteemed title of Fellow at The British Computer Society.
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Tarah has navigated a dynamic career trajectory within the public sector sales arena. Beginning her journey in 2003 on the technical helpdesk, she progressed through procurement roles before excelling in sales across diverse sectors, including central government and law enforcement.
In 2020, she made a strategic pivot to the defence industry, swiftly establishing herself as a leading female sales representative. Her achievements have garnered industry recognition, earning numerous awards for top sales performance.
Driven by a passion for positive change, Tarah actively contributes to Women Empowering Defence, championing gender equality and diversity within the sector.
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Dave, previously a serviceman in the British Army and an alumnus of Amazon, Standard Life Investments, and Abrdn, currently heads Simplicity in Mind, a coaching practice dedicated to a noble cause: eliminating veteran suicide.
Through a fusion of leadership, wellness, and coaching, Dave equips individuals and organisations with tools for growth while extending support to veterans and their families. Employing compassion and a light-hearted approach, he tackles weighty subjects with the aim of revitalising hope in those who may feel adrift. As the host of the Simple Reflections Podcast, Dave fosters insight through engaging and uplifting conversations.
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Yvonne, appointed CEO of Women in Football in January 2022, champions equality across all levels of the sports industry. With over two decades of experience spanning sports, health, and business, she has left an indelible mark. Beginning her journey with GreaterSport, she ascended to CEO, propelling the charity to unparalleled success, and garnering prestigious accolades along the way.
As Managing Director of Project 92, Yvonne spearheaded initiatives blending sports and education, including the groundbreaking UA92 institution. In 2020, she founded StryveUK, a sports consultancy renowned for its work with professional franchises, clubs, and governing bodies, alongside providing executive coaching and mentoring.
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Antonia boasts a diverse skill set as a digital broadcaster, communications expert, podcaster, public speaking coach, and voice-over artist. With a career spanning 17 years in radio, she established herself as a prominent British radio personality.
Antonia curated and produced programs for the BBC across various regions including London, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, and Cambridgeshire, as well as throughout the East of England and the wider UK. Her journey began with GWR commercial radio, now recognised as Heart radio.
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Jodi Goldman, a Personal Impact Coach and seasoned international speaker, brings over 18 years of experience to her craft. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with numerous professionals and business owners, aiding them in cultivating magnetic confidence, crafting a compelling personal brand, and honing assertive communication abilities.
With a diverse clientele including corporations such as Google, RBS, Everywoman, Sony, JP Morgan, and Wetherspoons, Jodi employs a distinctive fusion of methodologies drawn from CBT, NLP, coaching, leadership training, and image consulting. Through this eclectic approach, she facilitates swift and comprehensive transformations in her clients, both internally and externally.
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Nikki’s career within the Civil Service, showcases her commitment and breadth of expertise. From
junior admin to Senior Civil Service roles, she has navigated diverse positions with a focus on service personnel and family support, deeply intertwined with the Military Covenant. Nikki led the Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre and the MoD Medals Office, where she pioneered initiatives to support service members and their families during challenging times.
As Deputy Director of Business Improvement within the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), she spearheads the implementation of DIO’s business improvement agenda, aligning with strategic directives and driving coherent design, planning, and delivery of improvement initiatives. Nikki’s tenure exemplifies her dedication to service excellence and continuous improvement within the civil service domain.
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Elaine Banton specialises in employment, equality, discrimination, and human rights. Elaine is known for her impactful work in challenging discrimination and promoting equality, a role model for aspiring legal professionals, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Nikki’s career within the Civil Service, showcases her commitment and breadth of expertise. From junior admin to Senior Civil Service roles, she has navigated diverse positions with a focus on service personnel and family support, deeply intertwined with the Military Covenant. Nikki led the Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre and the MoD Medals Office, where she pioneered initiatives to support service members and their families during challenging times.
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As a Royal Navy Air Traffic Control Officer and an advocate for diverse leadership within Defence, Danny’s current focus extends beyond his technical role to encompass the development and personal growth of individuals. With experience spanning from Barbados to Guam, Danny has had the privilege of engaging with various communities worldwide, each leaving an indelible mark on his perspective.
In June 23, Danny was honoured to be appointed Co-Chair of the Royal Navy’s LGBTQ+ Network, a position he holds with great pride. He firmly believes in the importance of representing, supporting, and celebrating everyone’s gender identity and sexual orientation. Danny is dedicated to fostering dialogue, showcasing talents, and driving the change needed within Defence by providing a platform for voices to be heard and empowering individuals to use their voices effectively.
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Robert has dedicated over 40 years of his consulting career to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. As the founder of Potentia Talent Consulting, he focuses on empowering business executives, particularly men, to become allies and cultivate inclusive leadership in their workplaces through keynotes, workshops, and coaching.
His commitment extends to his roles as Trustee of UN Women UK, Board member of European Women on Boards, and Trustee of One Loud Voice for Women. Additionally, he serves as a Non-Executive Director of Talupp, an AI-driven talent development platform.
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Jude joined the Royal Navy in 1997 after graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Anatomical Sciences. Her initial First Stage Career included various staff and operational roles. In her Second Stage Career, she completed Advanced Command and Staff Course and earned an MA in Defence Studies. Returning to Permanent Joint Headquarters, Jude served as a Military Assistant, a further appointment in HMS Ocean followed, as Commander Logistics. Promoted to Captain in 2018, she joined Standing Joint Force HQ deploying to Saif Sareea 3 and Exercise AUSTERE Challenge.
In 2020, she served in the Royal Navy CV19 cell and Finance and Military Capability. In December 2020, Jude was promoted to Commodore and served as Deputy Director People Delivery in NCHQ. In January 2022, she was promoted to Rear Admiral, becoming the first woman to hold flag rank in the Royal Navy.
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As CEO of Code First Girls and Member of Institute of Coding, Anna is on a mission to eliminate the diversity gap in tech by providing free education and employment to women, globally.
Anna has transformed Code First Girls from a social enterprise to a rapidly accelerating profit-making business, including securing Series A funding from female angel investors and a leading investment firm to accelerate the company’s growth and close the gender gap in the traditionally male-dominated tech industry.
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Exhibition Floor Plan
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Platinum
1. Amazon
2. Oracle
Gold
3. Janes
4. Boxxe
5. Mastek
Silver
12. Mott MacDonald
Bronze
7. Experis | PSC.
8. Itsus Consulting
9. Investigo
10. Centrica
11. Sanderson Government & Defence
12. Pega
13. Leidos
14. CGI
Champions
15. Atlantic Aviation Group
16. Avantis Performance
17. Code First Girls
WED Supports
18. Aching Arms
19. BuildForce
20. Camp Ecuador
21. Leap 76
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