The Next Generation

Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Maggie has led projects making anything from land mine detectors to satellite sub-systems that measure variables like wind speed to improve our knowledge of climate change. In presentations the Sky At Night expert talks about exploring space with missions like Rosetta, and how we live in a galaxy with 200 billion stars. Maggie believes that with 100 billion galaxies in the universe, there must be life out there – simply as a matter of probability.

Rt Hon Lord (Andrew) Adonis

As Transport Secretary, Schools Minister and Head of the No.10 Policy Unit, Andrew has been an architect of public service reforms from academies to policing. He also prepared the plan for HS2, before leading a review of regional growth strategies. As Chair of the new commission, he is now assessing the UK’s future infrastructure needs. In presentations Andrew looks at change management and policy implementation in complex organisations – and difficult conditions.

Christine Armstrong

Communications and management expert, and acclaimed author, Christine considers what modern, values-driven, inclusive organisations should look like and how they should operate. Touching on work-life balance, workplace culture, 'hybrid work',  management and mental health, she examines the new challenges to old ways of doing business. From remote working to diversity strategies, she points out the misleading assumptions and dares organisations to think differently about what they do, how and where they do it. She was named sixth out of the top fifty Future of Work influ...

Rt Hon Lord (David) Blunkett

As Home Secretary David was in charge of security, immigration and policing. He is now Chairman of a multi-Academy Trust and an advisor to easyJet. As well as sharing insights on cyber-crime and crisis management, David considers how leaders can best engage with the public and counter the widespread sense of grievance. He argues for business to take a lead: “You are a part of our communities, not just employers of people with certain skills.” After dinner he takes a lighter look at a life in politics - both highs and lows – from The Queen offering to cut up his meal, to...

Todd Buchholz

As well as serving under George Bush Sr, Todd has headed a $15bn hedge fund, lectured on economics at Harvard and co-produced a Broadway hit. He has also written about global upheaval in Market Shock. Todd looks at macro and geopolitical issues, like the crisis in Syria, and the impact they have on financial markets and business strategy.

Bob Geldof

Bob has inspired hundreds of projects across Africa and ensures it remains on the political agenda and in the public consciousness. In a rousing speech on social responsibility, Bob reminds us that we are all defined by what we do, not what we say. This isn’t confined to philanthropy. He might also confess to some pride at the thought of becoming the first Irishman (and the first genuine rock star) in space.

Professor Lynda Gratton

Professor of Management Practice at London Business School Lynda is considered one of the world's authorities on people in organisations and is one of the UK’s leading business advisors working with companies across the world. Formerly the Chief Psychologist for British Airways, Lynda explains people strategy, how to get the best out of groups, and why some teams seem to have an energy others lack.

Professor A.C. Grayling

Anthony is one of the most influential thinkers of the age. He believes in applied ethics - philosophical debate on everyday issues from leadership to profit to technology. In his speeches Anthony explores ‘the lessons of war for the business of life.’ He also considers the different forms of wealth, and how to achieve and use them: “Wealth of any kind (material, moral or intellectual) is pointless unless it’s applied.”

Kevin Green

The former Chief Executive of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation and also HR Director at Royal Mail, Kevin delivers challenging, practical advice on how to make the most of the often overlooked HR functions within an organisation. He looks at how to attract, retain and develop employees, how to create better leaders, get the most from millennials, and whether AI really is the threat to workers people seem to believe.

Justin King

Justin served as CEO of the retail giant for a decade, leading the 145-year old brand through huge shifts from the growth of online to the rise of discounters. He also pushed through the Nectar card, partnered with Jamie Oliver and brought in small convenience stores. In a down-to-earth style Justin weighs up the task of reviving true customer loyalty and bringing about culture change in large organisations: “It can be like an elastic band tied to a heavy object.”

Priya Lakhani

Priya is the founder and CEO of CENTURY Tech, the award-winning education company that aids the implementation of AI and machine learning in classrooms. She is part of the AIDecoded team on the flagship BBC programme The Context, sharing her insights into tech and business. 

Lord (Jim) O'Neill

As Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, Jim was responsible for making projects like the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ viable. He then led the review into the global threat of antimicrobial resistant viruses. Previously he served as the acclaimed chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and as their Chief Economist. In 2001 he predicted that the then G7 countries would no longer be the drivers of the world economy; coining the ‘BRICs’ acronym, he argued that globalisation would bring a new era. He considers what makes an economy thrive, whether at home or on a global scale, and the outl...

David Olusoga

David is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, historian and author of Black and British: A Forgotten History. Whether he is investigating the past of 18th century houses, or uncovering the relationship between art and imperialism in the 19th century, David shines a light on the importance of knowing our history.

Dr Paul Redmond

One of the UK’s leading experts on generational theory and employment Paul explains the realities behind the hype when it comes to millennial expectations of work and employment. Looking across the generations he outlines the leadership, culture and strategies required to attract and develop the best talent.

Richard Susskind

Best-selling author and independent adviser to international firms and national governments, Richard is a leading expert in two fields – on the future of professional services and on the impact of AI. His thinking on the future of the professions is covered in The Future of the Professions (2015, 2022, co-authored with his son Daniel) and has generated a global conversation. On AI, Richard has drawn on 40 years of experience of artificial intelligence in writing his upcoming book How To Think About AI: A Guide for the Perplexed offers a non-tec...

Helle Thorning-Schmidt

After serving as an MEP, Helle led the Social Democrats for a decade, and served as Denmark’s first woman Prime Minister. After leaving Danish politics she led the international humanitarian charity Save the Children. As well as advising many international bodies and NGOs she is a co-chair of Facebook's Oversight Board which leads reviews into the company's content policy.

Steve Wozniak

The Apple co-founder chose not to stay with the business he and Steve Jobs established, instead focusing his energy on encouraging the next generation of technology entrepreneurs and innovators. Steve speaks about how he and Jobs made computers in a garage, the vision for home computing that they shared, and what will come next.

Akala

Akala has become a renowned voice and activist on race, class and the lingering effects of imperialism in Britain, exemplified in his music, poetry and writing. He is the author of the bestseller Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire. 

Professor Jim Al-Khalili

As well as being a respected science communicator Jim is an active researcher specialising in theoretical nuclear physics and quantum biology. An acclaimed science writer and a regular on TV and radio, his presentations consider anything from the case for nuclear power plants to the weirdness of the quantum world, the prospects for time travel (and why it's much more likely forwards than back), the creation of life, the importance of asking the right questions (and accepting uncomfortable answers), and Medieval Arabic science.

Sonita Alleyne

Before becoming the Master of Jesus College (the first black woman to hold the post at any Oxbridge college), Sonita co-founded the media production Somethin’ Else and sat on boards in both the private and public sector. Passionate about education and equality, she also founded The Yes Programme to help school pupils make insightful career decisions.
 

Timothy Armoo

Timothy started Fanbytes at twenty-one and built it to a seventy-five-person business helping brands like Nike, Deliveroo, Samsung, and the UK Government engage with Gen Z through influencer marketing.