2025 Speakers

As the Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs at Girlguiding - the UK's largest youth organisation for girls - Abby is passionate about storytelling and amplifying girls’ voices within these stories, sharing issues and topics that are important to them.

She helps to strengthen Girlguiding’s external presence and reputation by overseeing a busy press office, influencing sectors and government, and managing the corporate narrative of the organisation.

Previously, Abby worked at a communications agency focused on positive change, from preparing the UK for the EV era to guiding parents and young people on post-16 educational options.

Adam Ferguson is big into understanding people’s problems and tearing up norms until a solution presents itself. He has spent his career matching global trends and individuals’ needs with products and services purpose built to help. At HMD he is responsible for the balance between Insights, Propositions and Product Marketing.

Over the last 18 months Adam and his teams at HMD have been on a journey to understand the needs and experiences of younger tech users and how these sit alongside the hopes and fears of their parents. It’s clear the smartphone landscape needs to change, and the path to that change comes by listening. In this case, listening to more than 35,000 parents and kids who have revealed what they want when it comes to their own relationships with tech and from the phones of the future.

This isn’t the first time Adam and HMD have taken on an industry spanning challenge. They are also actively engaged in changing the industry’s approach to eWaste by designing repairability into smartphones of all price points. To this end Adam is a member of the Circular Design Forum and in 2024 contributed to their Circular Electronics Design Guide, a joint venture with Accenture and the CEP which aims to help with the embedding of circularity into design. In 2025 he’ll be speaking at London Climate Action Week.

Adam has been with Lovehoney nearly 4 years and is the Affiliate Marketing Manager leading the Lovehoney affiliate programs across the UK, EU, Australia, and New Zealand. He is passionate about building strong, collaborative partnerships through working closely with affiliates, sharing insights, and aligning goals to drive success. We aim to expand Lovehoney’s reach across global markets through strategic, performance-led collaboration and ensure that we're the world's leading sexual-wellbeing company.

Adam is the Head of Marketing at The Student Room, where he leads the development and execution of impactful marketing strategies targeting the student demographic. His extensive experience in the student sector includes notable roles at UCAS, where he honed his understanding of the higher education journey, and Endsleigh Insurance, focusing on student-specific financial products. His expertise lies in crafting and implementing multi-channel marketing campaigns that effectively engage students across various platforms.

Adarsh is a Content Creator & Presenter, part of NAVDARSH. He's been producing content for over a year with his girlfriend, Nav, making fun, quirky relationship content! Adarsh has collaborated with brands such as Black Sheep Coffee, Adobe Express, Papa Johns & Buyagift, to empower their marketing to connect to Gen-Z audiences. Nav & Adarsh also featured on BBC's 'Sex After Religion', and have previously hosted dating events, professional networking and socials.

With more than 15 years of experience in student recruitment, branding, marketing and communications, Aimee has extensive knowledge of the sector and the unique challenges faced. At SMRS, she provides strategic consultancy services to many education providers, assisting them in ​problem-solving, extracting valuable insights, and achieving actionable outcomes. This has included brand and reputation insight and development for the Universities of Bristol, Reading, Liverpool, City, Warwick, Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), and the ​Royal College of Art (RCA), amongst others.

Alex is Campfire's Chief Creative Officer, who brings a blend of creativity and strategic insight from his experience in social media content creation and advertising. Alex works to revolutionise our approach to social-first advertising, aiming to inspire our teams to push the envelope, blending bold creativity with meticulous strategy.

Alexandra Douglas is the UK Marketing Director at Edgewell Personal Care, overseeing key brands including Wilkinson Sword, Intuition, Hawaiian Tropic, and Bulldog. During her tenure, Edgewell has modernised its approach on social, been recognised as a Great Place to Work and has celebrated three Product of the Year awards. Previously, Alexandra held senior leadership roles at Wella Company, Boots UK, and Philips, specialising in beauty and healthcare marketing.

Ama Amo-Agyei is a Ghanaian-British entrepreneur and founder of Plantmade, an award-winning wellness brand known for its vegan, plant-based haircare and personal care products. Starting with just £100, Ama built a multi-million-pound enterprise focused on nourishing, sustainable solutions for hair and skin. Under her leadership, Plantmade has seen rapid growth and was ranked 29th on The Sunday Times List of the UK’s fastest-growing private companies in 2024.

Ama champions minority empowerment through entrepreneurial storytelling, sharing her journey with companies like Meta, PwC, and Microsoft, and at events like Black Tech Fest - proving passion and purpose can uplift entire communities.

Amber Taylor is a creative, marketing strategy leader with over 20 years of experience driving impactful, fan-first campaigns in the entertainment industry at Netflix, Twentieth Century Fox, and Warner Bros. Her expertise spans 360° communication channels, building enduring brand fandoms and buzzworthy cultural moments globally.

As Netflix’s first marketing hire in EMEA, Amber launched the brand in the UK and led flagship original series & film campaigns fuelling 15x subscriber growth and elevated the brand’s cultural standing. She has shaped campaigns for iconic franchises such as Harry Potter, Breaking Bad, Black Mirror, Orange is the New Black, The Crown and Stranger Things.

With over 15 years marketing and digital experience spanning across the globe, Andrew is known for disrupting industries, building transformative marketing teams and programs to deliver commercial and customer growth. Having worked for American Express, Vodafone, Westfield, Mastercard, IKEA and Aviva, he is no stranger to utilising the latest tech, platform and advertising capabilities within start-ups right through to large matrix organisations, to drive a change and put brands on the map.

He’s also recently taken Silver in The Drum Media Awards; and won best finance and social activation awards for the UK Social Media Awards.

Anto is the Editorial Director of Western Europe at YPulse, where he leads the creation of engaging and informative research on Gen Z trends and behaviors. With over a decade of experience working with young people in the US, Hong Kong, and the UK, Anto brings a unique global perspective to his work and understanding of the next generation. Originally from France, Anto lives in south London with his wife and two sons. Anto was granted the Cumberland Lodge Fellowship in 2020 for his research on Gen Z and social media.

April is a seasoned comms pro with 14+ years’ experience in some of London's top PR agencies. Currently leading the team at creative comms agency Here Be Dragons, April has always been drawn to culturally relevant creative work, and at Here Be Dragons has worked across industry recognised campaigns for brands including Greggs, Beavertown, Oddbox, Kimpton Fitzroy London and Disney.

I’m currently a student at the University of Reading studying Accounting and Business. This is in partnership with the ICAEW incorporating placements with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

I am currently studying Philosophy and Politics at the University of Exeter, while also working two part time jobs: an online tutor, and in a burger van at night. In the future I am very interested in travelling a lot more and seeing more of the world, and while I don’t have any specific career aspirations I am passionate about teaching and helping young people. I am also passionate about various political issues such as women’s rights, climate justice and foreign policy.

Bec Mortimer is a seasoned entertainment executive with decades of leadership experience across global streaming platforms, major studios, and independent distributors. At Netflix, she established the company’s first international office in the UK, where she spent nearly ten years. She built and led the UK team, driving the business to profitability ahead of schedule. Her strategic leadership also played a critical role in Netflix’s expansion across EMEA.

Earlier in her career, Bec was instrumental in launching and successfully scaling Momentum Pictures and Entertainment One, and she held senior leadership roles at Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures.

CMO at NatWest Rooster Money, a children’s prepaid debit card and pocket money app, designed to give young people a head start with money by building their money confidence.  Ex Zopa, Betfair, Interactive Investor - driving growth at some of the UK's leading start ups and scale ups.

Cat has over 20 years film marketing experience leading international and local teams. Cat’s track record of executing ambitious big and nuanced campaign ideas includes Fast & Furious, Fifty Shades, Jurassic Park, Mamma Mia, Bridget Jones, Despicable Me, How to Train Your Dragon and James Bond.

An active campaigner for greater diversity in the Industry via ‘ROLE THE CREDITS’ series, Cat is a long time Mentor for The Prince's Trust.

Cathy is a senior global communications leader at Human Mobile Devices (HMD), where she’s helping reimagine what safer, more mindful smartphones can look like—especially for children and teens. A driving force behind HMD’s community-led Better Phone Project, she has worked with families, experts, and product teams around the world to design tech that grows with young users, not overwhelms them.

A proud mum of two, Cathy is right at the heart of this conversation—both professionally and personally. With one child on the cusp of their first phone, it’s a topic that dominates chats at the school gates and inspires much of her work. She’s passionate about helping parents make informed, confident choices when introducing tech into family life.

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Charlie Cooper Henniker is Head of Brand Experiences at ITV where he’s responsible for the development and production of title-led and brand activity with a particular focus on content creator and commercial audiences. Prior to this Charlie was Director of Global Production at the LEGO® Group, creating content and experiences for fans. He has also led event and production teams at BBC Studios, toured comedy shows internationally and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, published on the topic of Indian Cinema and produced a range of theatre projects.

Charlotte has created highly talkable and impactful campaigns at Entertainment One, Netflix and now Sky.  Charlotte and her team’s slate includes Mary & George, the Day of the Jackal, the Tattooist of Auschwitz, Sweetpea and many more.

Chris is the Country Marketing Manager for Northern Europe markets at VistaPrint, where he oversees defining and implementing the marketing strategy for the UK, Italy and Nordic countries. His responsibilities include monitoring and reporting on markets, identifying growth opportunities, optimizations and local initiatives in partnerships with corresponding stakeholders. He joined the company in 2021 as Email Strategy and Planning Lead for Europe, providing strategic direction through metrics monitoring, campaigns optimization and A/B tests development and analysis.

He has 15 years’ experience in Digital Marketing strategy, working in a diverse range of industries from Industrial automation to financial services and educational sector.

Chris graduated in Business Studies at Liverpool John Moores University and has a postgraduate diploma in Digital Marketing. He lives and works in Staffordshire.

Christopher Platt is the founder and CEO of Dig In, a company dedicated to creating a brand that is both well-loved by students and universities while also achieving commercial success. Established 10 years ago, Dig In has grown into the largest offline marketing network in the UK, helping brands connect meaningfully with students.As a youth marketing maverick and attention economy expert, Christopher leverages his unique insights to develop future-proof marketing strategies that transcend algorithmic dependencies. He also embraces his ADHD, turning it into an asset in the marketing realm, fueling his ability to think outside the box and drive innovation.Before launching Dig In, Christopher built an impressive career in financial services and data analytics, building tailored financial planning and risk solutions for institutions in the UK and overseas.

Daniel is Head of Content & Customer Experience at Pion and is responsible for leading Pion’s Global content operations in 100+ markets. In his time at Pion, Daniel has successfully worked on Gen Z campaigns across EMEA, US and APAC regions, with brands including ASOS, Gymshark, Domino’s Pizza, Apple, Amazon and more. Daniel has first hand experience in adapting to the changes on e-commerce consumer buying behaviours over the past decade.

Outside of work, Daniel enjoys spending time in his local playground with his 2 daughters and cuddling his Persian Cat, Dandy, whilst binging ITV’s latest crime thriller.

Danny Vitale is a content creator, IBD awareness advocate, music artist, and founder of 5South5—a social media marketing agency specializing in organic short-form social media content for artists, athletes, and influencers. With over eight years of hands-on experience in the digital space, Danny blends strategic expertise with a personal passion for advocacy, empowering clients to grow authentic, engaged online communities. His work is deeply rooted in fostering impactful conversations around both mental and physical health. Danny is honored to share his journey and insights as a speaker at YMS London 2025.

Dr. Peter Hughes is a specialist in communication psychology with a particular interest in brand psychology. He founded the Cognition Scientific Board, now acknowledged as the UK’s foremost board of advisors with expertise in psychology, neuroscience and statistics.

Peter has managed over 200 research, messaging, segmentation and growth projects for clients in more than 25 countries in EMEA, the US, LATAM and APAC. He has appeared in more than 60 television documentaries, delivers talks and runs workshops in the UK and internationally on psychology, decision science and leadership.

Dr. Russ Wilson is currently Head of UK at global strategic insight agency, The Sound. He has spent the last 15 years working across the insight and strategy industry, including a stint at Amazon, and has carried out research and consultancy projects for many of the worlds’ leading retailers, delivery companies and payment providers.

Ellie has spent over eight years immersed in the student marketing space, with more than six of those at PION. During this time, she has led the global student strategy for some of the world’s most recognisable brands, including EE, Gymshark, schuh, Domino’s, and many more!

A recognised award-winner in the affiliate marketing industry, Ellie is known for building impactful, high-performing partnerships. Her leadership and innovation in affiliate management earned her a place on HelloPartner’s prestigious Hero100 list, where she was honoured as 2024’s 'Partnership Pathfinder'.

Marketing has been a passion of mine since age 15, when I first realised the potential of this field to shape narratives and create meaningful connections between brands and people. Early on, I started giving career talks to Year 11 and sixth form students around North and East London, sharing the often-unseen creative and strategic avenues that marketing offers. Those experiences showed me the power of mentorship and ignited a lasting desire to inspire others about this dynamic career path. I have developed strategy and ideas for all multi-channel seasonal campaigns and marketing activations at Ann Summers, New Look, Lipsy, and Hamleys.

Frankie leads Talent Attraction and Recruitment Marketing at Linklaters, and specialises in designing campaigns and initiatives that connect Gen-Z talent with career opportunities. She has developed social strategies that have driven exceptional engagement, making her responsible for some of the most followed and engaged social accounts in the legal industry globally.

Outside of her work increasing access to career opportunities, Frankie is also dedicated to increasing access to the slopes. She co-founded Off Piste Ski Trip, a Black-led ski community that has inspired millions and introduced hundreds to snow sports, even catching the attention of Beyoncé.

Geli (she/her) is the Associate Design Director at Shape History, the impact-first agency. Whether it's spatial experiences, creative ideation, or visual storytelling, she believes in the power of design in shaping everyday life. Her first foray into branding won her a D&AD Pencil, which led to her specialising in brand identities and creative comms.

Since working in the social impact space, she has led brand evolutions of NGOs, including Refugee Council and Women Deliver, and developed campaigns for Girl Effect, Amnesty International and SheDecides.

Award-winning creative copywriter by day.

Sleeping award-winning creative copywriter by night.

Gemma’s partnered with big and boutique brands on all kinds of copy, content and conceptual work for over two decades now – and still loves it. Building out fresh ideas that are as memorable as her surname, she’s worked with clients from almost every sector to bring powerful stories to life in the right way, in the right places, for the right audiences.

George is the founder and CEO of The Sole Supplier – a shopping platform and marketplace connecting sneakerheads with hard to find products. Through the use of innovative tech, engaging content and strategic partnerships, The Sole Supplier drives over £50million in annual revenue to global brands like Nike, adidas and ASOS.

Over the past decade, George has bootstrapped the company from a bedroom blog to a UK powerhouse, driven by an amazing team of 30 at their Shoreditch hub.

Hannah Sharratt has been leading the force for modern storytelling as an Associate Director at Axe & Saw, the agency rewriting the rules with earned-first thinking. A Cannes Lions Grand Prix winner with over a decade of experience in earned media, Hannah has shaped global campaigns across industries - from travel and tech to FMCG - for global powerhouses like Cadbury, Coca-Cola and TUI. She’s also helped cultivate the distinct voices of cult-favorite brands including Yard Sale Pizza, Spotify, Arsenal, and Feeld. Her focus is always about delivering culturally-charged, purpose-driven storytelling that doesn’t just add to the noise but moves people.

Hanne is a Senior Marketing Manager at Abercrombie & Fitch working across the portfolio of brands (Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch) where she oversees the affiliate and student-based strategies across the EMEA region. She has been specializing in affiliate and performance-based marketing for over 9 years and have previously worked across brands like Decathlon, Webgains and Betway.

Harri is the co-founder of Antler Social Ltd, a TikTok-first agency reshaping how brands connect with audiences. With 5 years in global influencer marketing, working with Beats by Dr. Dre, MAC Cosmetics, and FARFETCH, she saw the need for fresher strategies. Since 2023, Antler Social has grown to a 7-strong team, empowering brands like Ann Summers and Purplebricks to thrive on social platforms.

Haydn leads the marketing for MiXR, the media network from Stonegate Group - the UK’s largest pub company and home to 221 student venues. As the lead behind the MiXR app strategy, Haydn crafted the brand and loyalty strategy, scaling it to 1.6 million downloads, £24 million in transactions, and 600,000+ rewards delivered.

At YMS, Haydn will share how MiXR uses first-party data to boost student engagement, footfall, and frequency - creating smarter campaigns and stronger connections between students, venues, and leading brands like Guinness, Aperol, and Hendricks.

Hayel Wartemberg is a cultural strategist, speaker, and the co-founder of Word on the Curb — a youth marketing agency powered by cultural insights. He helps brands and organisations connect with young, diverse, and often overlooked audiences through emotionally intelligent strategy, storytelling, and deep community understanding.

A 2023 PROs Awards “Founder of the Year” winner and 2024 Marketing Academy Scholar, Hayel and his time have worked with the likes of Spotify, Just Eat, Pinterest, the Open University and Camden Council to deliver insights-led campaigns,  blending lived experience with sharp strategic thinking to challenge assumptions, reframe communications, and move audiences — not just target them.

Hi I’m Isaac, I’m 15 years old and currently studying for my GCSEs, the options  I have chosen to do include geography, Spanish and business studies. I love going to theme parks and riding rollercoasters, and my hope for the future is that I will design some myself! I also enjoy playing online games with my friends on my PlayStation.

Jay’s ever-evolving style and strong presence in the fashion community have made him a standout voice in the industry. With a clear sense of personal identity and a genuine connection with his audience, he continues to carve out a space that feels both trend-forward and authentic.

Jazzy has been working in social media for over eight years, with experience spanning in-house roles, agency environments, and freelancing. Her journey has given her a diverse perspective on what makes content resonate across different industries and audiences. A major turning point came when she started her own TikTok account—growing that platform not only helped her connect with a vibrant community but also created opportunities to take on freelance work, further expanding her skill set.

Working in social media has also given Jazzy valuable insight into the broader digital marketing landscape. She sees social not just as a channel, but as a driver of brand perception, community, and impact. Being part of that ecosystem has given her a well-rounded view of how digital marketing strategies come together to create meaningful campaigns.

Jess Wreford is the co-founder of Antler Social, a TikTok-first agency dedicated to helping brands stand out with bold, creative strategies and scroll-stopping content. With over a decade of experience in social media, Jess brings a passion for creativity and data-driven insights to help brands thrive in the ever-changing digital landscape.

Jessica is Co Founder of Search Marketplace Didgeheads, where she delivers social and search strategy to global brands and agencies. She's also Founder of Digifest - a Digital Marketing Conference in the Middle East.

As a former actress and singer, Jessie Lilley brings a creative flair to her current role as an enthusiastic sales leader at Awin, a global leading affiliate network. With a passion for storytelling and a deep understanding of audience engagement, she helps clients of all sizes build their online presence and drive sales. With years of experience in both creative and commercial industries, Jessie is dedicated to helping brands achieve measurable success in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing.

As the CEO of Co:cubed, Joel leverages over a decade of experience helping the world's largest brands solve their biggest problems by fostering impactful partnerships with startups & scaleups globally. Under his leadership, Co:cubed has established a network of 12 million startups, fostering impactful partnerships between brands and startups that drive innovation and growth.

Marketer with 7 years experience in Brand Management across global healthcare (Durex & Nurofen), beauty (La Roche Posay) and personal care (Wilkinson Sword) brands. Most recently heading up UK #2 female hair removal brand Wilkinson Sword Intuition.

Jon Kell is the Vice President of Marketing at Yoto, responsible for driving the growth of the Yoto brand globally. Since joining Yoto in its early stages, Jon has helped it expand from a small team to over 170 employees worldwide.

Prior to joining Yoto, Jon spent a decade in various agencies working across a number of disciplines crafting strategy and campaigns for brands such as Coca-Cola, Budweiser, and Bose. Additionally his time in startups and the music industry further enriched his experience, culminating in the insights he brings to Yoto today.

Jon has over 20 years’ experience in developing successful student marketing strategies across dozens of brands. In addition to leading paid media campaigns, he’s been at the centre of countless strategic projects helping universities to communicate more effectively with their audiences. Projects such as brand development, brand research, propensity modelling, student journey mapping and persona development.​

Josephine Hansom is an industry thought leader with over 20 years of research experience transforming businesses through strategic insights. For the last decade she has pioneered methodologies that have shaped how global brands connect with the next-generation.

Kian is the Founder of The People and Author of Marketing for Social Change. The People is a Gen-Z consultancy powered by a global community of young changemakers. He is listed as one of the Top 50 Future Leaders by the Financial Times. Kian is also an Advisor to UN Climate Change and a TEDx speaker. He regularly writes about Gen-Z marketing and social impact for Forbes CMO Network. Kian is deeply passionate about using the power of creativity for good.

Kim Townend is a strategist and researcher who turns social data into cultural intelligence and cultural intelligence into actionable strategy.

Konstantinos is the Affiliate Marketing Manager at schuh, where he oversees the affiliate channel across the UK and Ireland, leading the channel strategy. In his role, he focuses on ensuring schuh capitalizes on the student market by strategically planning activities with student partners.

With over five years of experience in affiliate and partnerships marketing, Konstantinos has driven growth for brands such as Sky, Samsung, and Selfridges through his previous work in affiliate networks.

Laura is a marketing strategist and founder of LD Consulting, where she helps brands and startups grow through social-first thinking, creator partnerships, and commercial brand building. With a background spanning DTC, FMCG, and tech, she’s led digital growth at scale and now advises businesses on how to drive cultural relevance and revenue through the creator economy.

She's worked with brands like Wild and Healf, and is passionate about championing diverse, values-led marketing.

As Head of Brand, Marketing and Communications at Girlguiding - the UK's largest youth organisation for girls - Laura is dedicated to promoting Girlguiding’s mission of empowering girls and ensuring their voices are heard.

She helps to build Girlguiding’s brand, including the launch of a rebrand in 2023, improve perceptions and inspire people to join through overseeing creative output, marketing campaigns, social media channels and member communications.

With over 16 years working in marketing, Laura previously worked at the NSPCC creating impactful behaviour change and brand campaigns. Laura is an accredited coach and is passionate about helping people grow and achieve their full potential.

Hi - I’m Lexie and I’m a final year undergraduate Politics and Sociology student at the University of Birmingham. Alongside my studies I’m also a freelance youth voice consultant, and I’ve worked with a range of agencies and brands (inc. The Pineapple Lounge, KFC, and Google) to deliver relevant and tailored Gen Z insights since I was 10 years old.

Libby single-handedly grew Attwells Solicitors' TikTok following from zero to 25,000 organically, generating 4.8 million likes. Her top-performing video reached 19 million views, and the account has gone viral 15 times.

This success led to a surge in apprenticeship applications, new business enquiries, and a refreshed, modern image for the firm. Major publications such as NBC News and UniLad have requested to feature her content. The recruitment campaign Libby developed attracted unprecedented interest from top talent, earning two shortlistings for the 'Best Early Talent Recruitment Campaign' at the People in Law Awards.

Her work has been featured as a case study on employee-generated content by multiple brands. Libby has also delivered talks on the power of employee-generated content and has been featured in the Digital Marketing Institute for her expertise.

Lottie is a dynamic brand marketing leader with over 19 years of global experience spanning digital, content, customer experience, media, and PR. She has a strong track record of scaling brands and cultivating engaged communities through bold campaigns, strategic platforms, and impactful storytelling.

As the head of The Travel Corporation’s Tour Brands Marketing Lab, Lottie drives marketing innovation and cultural relevance across multiple iconic travel brands, including Contiki. She thrives on creating strategies that spark conversation, fuel engagement, and leave a lasting impact.

Lucy Jackson is the Head of Partnerships at CoppaFeel!, the UK's only youth-focussed breast cancer awareness charity. With over 12 years experience in the charity sector, she currently leads the Partnerships team in the development and delivery of the corporate partnerships strategy.

Lucy is passionate about creating attention-grabbing and impactful partnerships with brands and companies to raise vital funds for the charity's work, as well as raising awareness of CoppaFeel!'s life-saving message; that checking your chest could save your life.

Lydia is a creative media strategist who turns insight into impact for her clients,  cutting through noise with strategies rooted in real audience behaviour, sharp market instincts, and brand opportunity.

Equal parts creative and commercial, she builds campaigns that deliver — on awareness, performance, and growth. With cross-sector experience and a challenger mindset, Lydia helps marketing leaders push boundaries and drive results.

Madeline Riley is a highly experienced marketer with a passion for creative that blends culture, storytelling and audience insight. Before joining Tinder, Madeline was the EMEA Marketing Manager at Meta, and established her career working with in ad agencies across brands such as Audible, BMW, Mentos, and The Times. Madeline is also the host of 'To Whom it May Concern', a podcast centred on navigating career milestone and moments of failure.

Hey, I'm Mahlia! I'm a CRM Executive at Pion - with a drama degree that doesn't get used nearly enough! I love meeting new people, great conversations, and like to balance marketing work with getting up on stage, getting in front of a camera or getting creative (hello side hustle illustration business).

Mark Bellamy is Strategy Director at NewGen, where he leads strategy across brands like Pepsi, Tropicana, Hasbro, and Activision. Mark works closely with brands to position them at the heart of culture and conversation, understanding how they can build brand social up, putting community at the heart of their growth strategy.

Martin Klokk Mogensen has spent 15+ years in sales, marketing, and retail—crafting strategies that make brands not just seen, but remembered. With a history from Apple APR, marketing agencies and the affiliate world the knowledge is there to build brands. Now a retargeting marketer, he’s all about turning bounced traffic into loyal customers and building connections that stick. With expert knowledge about where branding meets the performance sweet spot, where smart retargeting brings your audience back and keeps them coming back.

Martyna Hobson, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Awin, has been immersed in the world of affiliate marketing for over 5 years. As a Tech Partner Consultant, she's all about finding and implementing game-changing tech solutions for brands. Martyna is passionate about helping brands stay ahead of the curve and connect authentically with young audiences.

I’ve innovated at startups for over 19 years in fields such as AI, Healthtech, Fintech, E-commerce and Publishing. I’ve designed and led for global corporations like Time Warner, Holland & Barrett, and the Stepstone Group, helping businesses and communities achieve extraordinary things.

I also write novels, compose music for adverts and am passionate about crafting a better story for our young so that they can get excited for the future.

Aside from daily burritos, my role focuses on developing customer-led strategies to enhance customer loyalty and retention. Key to this is leveraging data to make interactions feel tailored, personalise messages, and continuously analyse for emerging trends and insights.

I’m a global marketing executive at William Grant & Sons, leading on digital communications and experience initiatives and more for Monkey Shoulder - a premium Speyside blended malt whisky renowned for its smooth, malty character and versatility in cocktails. Passionate about building bold, authentic brands that resonate with diverse audiences, I thrive on creating engaging marketing initiatives that challenge conventions and connect meaningfully.

I am a proud alum of The Marketing Academy Foundation, an organisation dedicated to bridging the gap between diverse talent and leading organisations, providing opportunities for young individuals to embark on fulfilling careers in marketing.

I guess you need to know how I got here. I have 12+ years of experience <insert big list of brand names here to show off and brag so you might think I’m a big thing>. I'm not a Forbes 30 under 30; I have not been named 'Top Marketing Influencer' by some random agency looking to PR for new business. At Ryanair, I ran its social media. I let my work do the talking (most of the time), and I think I'm doing ok at it. You can call me the Aldi version of Gary Vee. Now it’s time to speak Frankly.

Michele Tropeano is a seasoned Marketing operator with over 13 years of experience scaling online marketplaces and subscription services.

Currently UK Country Manager at Fiverr, Michele believes that combining data-driven insights with compelling storytelling is the winning recipe to a successful Go-to-Market  strategy. With experience launching and positioning products in competitive markets at Universal Music, Deezer, and YunoJuno, Michele brings deep expertise in the youth marketing landscape across a wide range of industries.

Outside of work, Michele is an avid Crossfitter, an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, and enjoys advising purpose-driven entrepreneurs on Growth.

Michelle Amos is a skilled marketing leader with over twenty years experience in strategic marketing and business development. Currently working as the Associate Director of Marketing and Digital at the University of Salford, she has responsibility for developing comprehensive marketing strategies and oversees digital media, creative services, recruitment marketing and champions the university’s brand. Michelle's professional background includes roles such as Business Development Manager at The ACC Liverpool Group and Head of Events and Sponsorship for NHS Health Scotland. Her expertise spans event management, stakeholder engagement, and digital strategy.

Michelle holds a Chartered Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from CIM and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Liverpool John Moores University. She is also a dedicated trustee and director for the Blackpool Grand Theatre.

I am a Girlguiding Advocate, alongside being a Ranger and Brownie leader, and I have been a member of Girlguiding for 13 years. I am passionate about eradicating period poverty and ending violence against women and girls. I joined the Advocate panel to speak up about these issues and empower girls' voices. I am interested in how social media can be used as a positive tool for advocacy work!

I’m Molly, a Girlguiding Advocate, and I am interested in emphasising the significance of responsible marketing to young people, especially girls and young women. I believe in creating safe, empowering messages that inspire confidence and positive role models for and within young people.

Currently working as a Social Media Executive, Najma is passionate about creating meaningful and engaging content that connects with our members. Always exploring fresh, creative strategies to grow brands online, and excited to keep evolving in the ever-changing world of digital and social.

Nali has previously achieved a PhD, fully funded by the Leverhulme Trust, in exploring attitudes towards multiculturalism and cultural identity in the UK. He will run and oversee any research projects that may be required to achieve a more in-depth understanding of your audiences, working closely with you to understand your exact insight needs.  ​

Research projects Nali has delivered previously include creative testing for the University of Sussex, Oxford International ELLT and the Royal College of Art, and Nali also plays a lead role in the delivery of our proprietary MediaMapper research which explores how a prospective student audience (3,000 16-19 year olds) use media and various platforms, broadly and specifically in relation to their university research and decision-making.

Nav is a Content Creator & Presenter, part of NAVDARSH. Alongside her Bollywood Dance Club, she has been producing content for over a year with her boyfriend, Adarsh, making fun, quirky relationship content! Nav has collaborated with brands such as Black Sheep Coffee, Adobe Express, Papa John's & Buyagift, to empower their marketing to connect to Gen-Z audiences. Nav & Adarsh also featured on BBC's 'Sex After Religion', and have previously hosted dating events, professional networking and socials.

Nerija is a digital marketing professional with 14 years of experience leading digital performance strategies for clients and brands. Currently leading acquisition marketing teams for Affiliate marketing, Partnerships, PPC, Mobile apps and SEO at Surfshark. Surfshark is a prominent global cybersecurity company founded in Lithuania in 2018. Surfshark is renowned for its suite of privacy and security tools, including VPN, Antivirus, Alert, and Search, and has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity firms worldwide.

Oliver is an entrepreneur, speaker and founder of cocreatd - a venture studio for the creative industries.

Cocreatd invents, incubates and invests in marketing companies. Finding talent with big ideas and backing them with everything they need to succeed - money, support, and a community platform.

Previously Oliver served as CEO of Flight Story, the global marketing and innovation group he founded with Steven Bartlett. Exiting that business in 2023.

For over a decade, Oliver has been at the forefront of marketing and technology, helping guide the management teams of many of the worlds most successful companies including: Amazon, Apple, Coca-Cola, TikTok, Google, Disney & Uber to name just a few.

Paul has over fifteen years’ of commercial experience in the higher education sector, working both media and agency side. His background includes being the Commercial Director of The Student Room, helping university partners understand and engage with the next generation of students.

Paul now joins the Client Partner team at SMRS, bringing a deep knowledge of the Higher Education landscape, the challenges faced by universities, and the mindset of our target audience.

Paul is the Founder of PR Communications Agency Here Be Dragons, working with clients such as Greggs, Beavertown and Disney to create brave earned media work.

A passionate marketer, creative and brand leader Rachel has over seventeen years marketing experience, with the last ten spent spearheading youth brand marketing at Contiki.

Rachel is passionate about creating brand storytelling that’s purposeful, emotive and entertaining – ensuring Contiki remains on the pulse when it comes to targeting savvy Gen Z audiences. Her expertise lies in leading creative teams to conjure world class branding, campaigns and partnerships.

Rachel is Contiki’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion lead and is a passionate sustainability ambassador. Under her leadership Contiki has been recognized and received numerous DEI & Sustainability awards.

My name is Reece Sanghera, and I’m a second-year undergraduate at the University of Birmingham. I’m about to begin my placement year at BDO in their Restructuring division. I’m a huge Liverpool FC fan and have a real passion for combat sports—especially Muay Thai and MMA. Outside of work and sport, I enjoy spending time with my English bulldog, Oscar.

Richard heads up events at Pion and over the past 10 years he has scaled the Youth Marketing Strategy event across the globe. Richard's passion for bringing communities together, youth marketing and all things brand is what has given the YMS event its unique positioning. Richard’s love of storytelling is what has kept the YMS event relevant year on year.

Sadie is a writer/director for theatre and creative director of SWAMP, an experimental theatre company and brand experience agency. She holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from Birkbeck and has been resident director at Leeds Playhouse.

She has directed productions at theatres across the UK, including the Young Vic, Park Theatre, and Southwark Playhouse, as well as in ‘found’ and ‘phygital’ spaces for SWAMP.

For brand experiences, Sadie’s clients include: PRIME VIDEO - ITV - NETFLIX - WARNER BROS - LEGO - HEINEKEN - PERNOD RICARD - HENDRICKS - EXPEDIA - DELOITTE - PINTEREST - TIKTOK - SQUARE