Jack grew up in Ashton-under-Lyne just outside of Manchester. His parents are self-made small businesspeople.

Graduating from the University of Warwick with a master’s degree in Mathematics and Physics in 2014, Jack joined Centrica where he started his career in commodity trading, investment decision-making, mergers and trading in the energy industry. He joined specialists in renewable energy, Pexapark in 2022.

After serving as a Central Windsor Councillor from 2015-19, he became the Conservative Member of Parliament for Windsor following the July 2024 General Election. Representing a double-garrison army town, and sitting on the APPGs for Ukraine and Israel, Jack takes a keen interest in defence matters. He is also a member of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee, and an officer on the APPG for Events.

Jack lives in the village of Sunninghill in his constituency with his wife Sarah, two sons and two Warwickshire beagles.

With 16+ years of experience influencing C-suite decision-makers at global brands like Google, GSK, The Associated Press, and NBC Universal, Mariana Saraceni is a catalyst for positive change. Her career in tech sales and leadership development has sharpened her ability to drive cultural transformation, champion diversity, and inspire meaningful action across teams and organisations.

Now, as a Happiness Consultant and Keynote Speaker, Mariana empowers individuals and organisations to rediscover their “magic”—fostering environments where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. With infectious enthusiasm and an unwavering belief in her clients, she helps unlock new possibilities and deliver extraordinary results. Mariana blends deep emotional intelligence with a strong business mindset, ensuring that her work bridges personal growth and strategic impact.

11:45 – 12:00 – Coffee Break

John leads the UK Public Affairs team at H/Advisors Cicero. A strategic communications consultant with 20 years’ experience working in London and Washington D.C., he has advised clients in financial and professional services, technology, global hospitality, defence and mining industries. He is known for his work on complex issues in highly regulated markets. He was named 2023 Public Affairs Professional of the Year in the PR Week UK Corporate, City and Public Affairs Awards. At the time of his award, PR Week said “the respected agency figure has built a formidable reputation, reflected in the value that clients place on his insightful and strategic counsel and proactive, enthusiastic style.”

He is a member of the Executive Committee of the PRCA Public Affairs Board and is a freeman of the Company of Communicators, the City of London livery company for PR professionals. John is a non-executive director of Churches Mutual, a workplace credit union for employees and trustees of Britain’s churches. He is member of the Advisory Board of the Managing Partners Forum, which promotes management excellence in the professional services sector. He is a keen BBQ chef, aviation enthusiast, husband to Marie and dad to two young boys.

Helen Packham is a Leadership Behaviour and Communications strategist helping leaders increase the impact of their communication to engage, retain and maximise the potential of their people. She has 15 years’ experience in leadership, talent and executive development and 10 years in entrepreneurship. A TEDx curator, speaker and podcast host, Helen passes on the powerful tool of storytelling to her clients so that they can confidently communicate and speak with impact. 

Will Greenwood has dedicated his life to embracing diversity, fostering unity, and personal growth. After obtaining an economics degree from Durham University and starting his career on the trading floor with HSBC in London, he fully embraced professional rugby in 1996. Greenwood quickly ascended to become England’s second-highest try scorer and played a pivotal role in England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup victory, earning him a place amongst the nation’s rugby legends.

Despite facing challenges, including injuries and personal trials, his unwavering dedication and resilience propelled him to success, both nationally and internationally, over an 11-year professional career. This journey included three tours with the British and Irish Lions, a testament to his exceptional skill and character on the field.

Off the field, Will transitioned seamlessly into broadcasting, becoming a mainstay on Sky Sports as a match day presenter for over two decades. He has also been instrumental in leading ‘School of Hard Knocks’, a programme aimed at transforming the lives of at-risk young people through sport. In addition, he has contributed a regular column to the Telegraph for 17 years, sharing his insights and experiences.

An author of three books, his latest work, “World Class”, dives into the success stories of over 100 top performers from business and sports, revealing the keys to their achievements.

Since 2014, Will has been with Afiniti, serving as Chief Customer Officer since 2020, where he plays a crucial role in leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences for major enterprises globally.

Together with his wife Caro, Will supports Borne, a charity dedicated to preventing premature births, through various adventurous fundraisers, honouring the memory of their son Freddie and leaving a lasting legacy.

David, the Managing Director at Inloco Events, is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of invaluable experience in the hotel and events industry. For the past 28 years, he has specialised in event management and venue sourcing, perfecting his expertise. Our dedicated team collaborates closely with clients to thoroughly understand their objectives and budget, ensuring the selection of the most suitable venues for their needs.

David is Vice-Chair of beam and serves on the executive committee of UKEvents.

Amy is the Director of Policy & Impact at Spirit of 2012, where she has led on its research and learning work since 2017. Spirit of 2012 is the social legacy funder of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, and aims to improve our collected understanding of how to strengthen the long term impact of events. Amy has been a member of the evaluation steering groups of the last three UK Cities of Culture. In January 2023 she co-authored the final report of Spirit’s independent inquiry into maximising the power of events.

Caroline, is the Director of Events for XSEM and is passionate about the events industry. She has a wealth of experience from her roles in luxury hotel operations and national sales. Having previously led conferences and events for one of the country’s largest agencies, Caroline now guides our incredible team of project managers, focusing on delivering the best possible experience for her team and customers alike. She is committed to nurturing the next generation of event professionals, as a Board member of beam, mentoring at Manchester Met University as part of the Elevate Mentor program, speaking at industry events, and advocating for mental health and well-being through her role as a trustee at Eventwell.

Richard Smith is Chief Commercial Officer for Wyboston Lakes Resort

Lauren leads Manchester Central’s sustainability and impact strategy, ensuring that environmental, social, and economic responsibility is embedded across both the venue’s operations and the events it hosts. She works closely with clients and event organisers to maximise the positive impact of events, whilst driving the venue’s own commitment to setting the standard for sustainable practice.