James Hacon is the Founder and Managing Partner of Think Hospitality, a global F&B consultancy and venture partner recognised for shaping strategies, concepts and growth plans for brands, investors and developers around the world. With more than two decades of experience, he has worked with over 80 hospitality brands across multiple markets, from Michelin starred restaurants and boutique hotels to international hotel groups, casual dining operators and emerging fast casual concepts. A widely respected industry voice, James is a regular keynote speaker and moderator at leading international conferences and contributes insight to major industry and business publications, sharing his perspective on trends, innovation and the future of hospitality.

Maria Vanifatova is the CEO and founder of Meaningful Vision, a provider of an AI-powered competitor intelligence platform that delivers insights on consumer traffic trends, menu composition, pricing, promotional activity, and the opening and closure of trading locations across the foodservice industry. This solution enables foodservice businesses in the UK, Ireland, France and Germany to make confident, data-driven decisions that support sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive and fast-paced market.

She is an executive professional with 25 years of international experience in consultancy, market research and data analytics across the Retail, Consumer Markets and Foodservice industries. She has held C-level positions in global market research organisations. Her passion for data and insights, and particularly their practical application, originates from her PhD in Knowledge Management and her extensive experience helping clients transform data into actionable insights.

Mark Bentley is the Business Development Director at Hospitality Data Insights (HDI), passionate about helping hospitality operators and their suppliers make better data-led decisions. Mark specialises in insights and Category Management to drive performance, with extensive experience across the retail and hospitality sectors, covering retailer, supplier, and agency-side roles. He is also a qualified beer sommelier and a judge for the 2025 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards.

James has spent more than a decade in senior marketing roles in hospitality and now runs RevOps Hospitality, a consultancy focused on revenue optimisation for hospitality businesses. He aligns sales, marketing, operations and guest experience through data-led insights, tech stack optimisation, brand partnerships and stronger internal processes to drive sustainable growth.

Laura has fifteen years of experience in developing and executing innovative marketing and sales strategies for premium brands, including at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants. Not only passionate about creating memorable dining experiences for our guests, Laura has been hugely impactful on commercial growth, implementing cover and revenue driving systems that have resulted in record breaking sales years. Furthermore, she has been fundamental to JKS brand growth since joining four years ago. Championing a collaborative and supportive work culture, Laura is an invaluable mentor to many across the business, empowering teams and inspiring the next generation of talent.

Romy joined Knoops as CMO in 2024 to realise the potential of drinking chocolate and in doing so, to create a new category – doing for chocolate drinks what has been done for barista coffee. Before Knoops, Romy was Global Brand Director at KellyDeli, an artisan sushi concept with 1,200 retail locations across the UK, Europe, LatAm and Dubai. From 2013-2021, Romy was Marketing & Commercial Director at GAIL’s Bakery. Prior to GAIL’s, Romy was at BBH advertising agency, creating fame through strategy and creativity for global and British brands. Romy’s favourite Knoops is a 65% hot chocolate with sea salt.

From starting the agency with £17.22 in her bank account, the business now works with some of the UK’s most loved brands, artists, and businesses. A regular contributor to Campaign, PR Week, AdAge and The Marketing Society, Charlotte and her agency are committed to driving hype, demand and legacy for brands. Earlier this year Charlotte made the Ad Age ‘’Top 20 Leading women in marketing, media and advertising in Europe’’ list. Charlotte has worked her way to the boardroom by becoming a conduit between stakeholders and their guest/ customer, simplifying the evolving landscape. She will frequently be heard commenting that the book, ‘The Tanning of America’ influenced her outlook and empowered her to embrace her cultural differences, to add further value to her client’s marketing communications. Her ability to connect a client’s brand and proposition to make an interesting story steeped in culture and experience for a customer is unrivalled. This, paired with her 'get sh*t done' attitude has resulted in The Fitting Room delivering some of UK’s most well-known campaigns and events. Clients will tell you, ‘’Charlotte is the person you want at the table if you’re really looking to drive change’’. She will challenge, educate and get you comfortable with the uncomfortable, which will in turn, drive a better outcome.From global brands like Bugaboo, to household names like Idris Elba, to our favourite eateries like Wagamama, Charlotte is committed to creating hype, demand and legacy.
 

Libby is an award-winning marketer with significant experience across the US and UK food and drink industries. With 17 years of in-house and agency experience, she has worked on leading-sector campaigns for a broad mix of well-known operators and brands including Pho, Turtle Bay, Sweet Chick, Knopf Doubleday and NBC Universal. She has been recognised by the Evening Standard as one of London's most influential people, and as RMI's Marketer of Year.

Mark Stretton is co-founder and CEO of Fleet Street, a UK-based strategic communications agency working with hospitality, leisure, retail, food and drink companies across the comms spectrum, from corporate comms, reputation management and CEO / leadership messaging through to landmark campaigns, brand building, product launches and content management, all underpinned by insight and with storytelling at its heart.  A former Sunday Times and industry journalist, Mark leads a 25-strong team of consultants based in London, working with a range of clients including AlixPartners, Arc Inspirations, Brava Hospitality, Chopstix, Diageo, Dishoom, Hawksmoor, Heineken, Parkdean Resorts, RedCat Hospitality, Sona, UKHospitality, Wyndham Hotels and Zonal.

Kavi Thakrar co-founded Dishoom in 2010. Before Dishoom, Kavi worked at the IFC in Washington DC, and also at his family’s business Tilda Rice for several years. Starting with one café in Covent Garden, Dishoom now employs over 2,500 people across seven London sites, as well as Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Most recently, the team opened the all-day bar café, Permit Room, in Notting Hill, following openings in Brighton, Cambridge and Oxford. Kavi and the Dishoom team care enormously about creating beautiful and democratic shared spaces which pay homage to the food, history and culture of all Bombay. They also care deeply about creating a company which is an awesome place to work; the Sunday Times ranked Dishoom as one of the Top Ten ‘Best Places to Work’ in 2024.

With a career spanning various global brands, Russell has held innovation and strategy roles at companies such as Tesco, YUM Brands, KFC, P&O Cruises, Cunard, and UK pub groups Greene King and Punch Pubs & Co. Renowned for challenging the status quo & creating transformative and disruptive brands, he now leads the brilliantly diverse Laine Pub & Brewing Company.

Jordan is a hospitality marketing specialist with extensive experience driving growth for multi-location restaurants, cafés, and food brands. His agency, Sugar Snap, specialises in multi-site hospitality expansion. He has helped transform neighbourhood concepts into household names across the UK and Ireland. He is also an alumna of the RMI 30 Under 30 Rising Stars Award.

Sam founded Juice Jar in 2019. With a laid-back vibe and a focus on quality, Juice Jar serves made-to-order juices, smoothies, and signature Acai bowls with no additives or preservatives. From its origins in Belfast to expanding into England and Dublin, Juice Jar has quickly become known as an ‘experience location’ — combining nutritious food, social media-savvy presentation, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Peter co-founded Seed in 2018, growing it to three thriving locations, with a clear expansion plan now underway. Seed is on a mission to redefine fast food through globally inspired salads made with clean, locally sourced ingredients.

Paul’s vast experience of cheffing around the world has led him to establish various restaurants, including co-founding Orto Pizzabars. With four locations in Belfast, this neighbourhood café and pizzeria concept has been growing from strength to strength.

Marie Guenot is a marketing and brand strategist with a strong track record shaping impactful campaigns for international luxury hospitality and lifestyle brands. She has worked with Michelin-starred chefs and global restaurant groups across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, leading award-winning communications and brand development initiatives.

After completing an MBA in Brand and Marketing Management at INSEEC Paris, Marie began her career with Chef Thierry Marx, developing marketing and business strategies for the group. She later consulted for Chef Anne-Sophie Pic, supporting her Michelin-starred restaurants and international expansion in Dubai and New York.

In 2019, she joined Caprice Holdings in London, overseeing campaigns for iconic restaurants including Sexy Fish, J.Sheekey, Balthazar, Scott’s, and 34 Mayfair, before becoming Global Head of Marketing at Chotto Matte. Today, Marie is Director of Marketing, Europe at Aqua Restaurant Group. A certified yoga instructor and master herbalist, she brings a holistic perspective to her creative work.

Laura Lewis is Marketing Director at Arc Inspirations, where she has worked for the last 5 years building the Manahatta, BOX and Banyan brands and driving them from strength to strength. During her time at Arc, Laura has focused on evolving the brands, ensuring they continue to remain relevant, driving a multi-channel comms strategy and moving towards a more data driven marketing approach via CRM. Prior to this Laura spent 12 years working in Supermarket Retail with stints at both Tesco and Morrisons where she built up a wealth of experience in national and local advertising and loyalty and data driven marketing.

David leads brand and marketing for Franco Manca, overseeing campaigns across 70 pizzerias nationwide. With over a decade in hospitality - from start-ups to FTSE 100 companies - he’s passionate about brand, menu innovation and customer experience.

Having spent the first half of his career working in the entertainment industry, George began a new chapter in 2012 determined to use his energy and influence to make a positive, meaningful and lasting impact on society.
In 2018, George founded the life-skills education programme, GROW, that works in schools and communities to promote mental and physical wellbeing as well as a more hands-on relationship with nature.
After a chance meeting with Andy, followed by time spent on the farm, in 2019 George co-founded Wildfarmed alongside Andy and Edd. George is passionate about improving people’s understanding and connection with the food system to help drive positive, lasting change in the way food is produced, distributed and consumed.

Rory Graham is the Marketing & Brand Director at Incipio Group, the hospitality company behind some of London’s most recognisable lifestyle destinations. He leads the brand strategy, creative direction and marketing performance across a growing portfolio of venues, spanning restaurants, bars and large-scale experiential spaces. With a focus on commercially driven creativity, Rory has reshaped Incipio’s approach to digital, social, CRM and brand development building strategies that drive bookings, increase market visibility and position the group for national and international growth. Rory is currently leading the marketing and brand strategy for Incipio’s five new concepts launching at Olympia, as the group evolves into a more premium, globally scalable hospitality operator.

Jayson first ran restaurants in South Africa before relocating to the UK where he joined Fullers, spending an exciting 14 yrs progressing from pub management into multi-site operations management. He then moved on to be the Tenanted Trade Director at Palmers Brewery before joining Butcombe Group in March 2017 as Managing Director, Pubs & Inns, with a particular focus on future strategy, pub acquisitions and growth.
During this time, Jayson has played a leading role in the substantial expansion of the business including the acquisition of 21 pubs from Wadworth in 2020 and a merger with Cirrus Inns in December 2022. As a result, Butcombe Pubs & Inns is now one of the leading premium accommodation providers in the South of England.

Now Chief Operating Officer and leading the overall operations of the wider business including brewing, distribution, tenanted and managed divisions, Jayson has overseen the development and successful launch of Butcombe’s premier collection – Butcombe Boutique Inns while continuing to drive innovation of the brewing business and championing the infamous ‘Original’ now the South West No,1 selling real ale.

Matt Jaggar is a guest-experience focused marketer with a strong grounding in media and content. Currently Head of Marketing at Brakspear, he has also worked with some of the industry’s best businesses including Punch Pubs and The Coaching Inn Group, and is also a proud alumni of Rising Star programme from 2018.

Ken Umasanthiram is currently Head of Food for Brakspear, Ken is a customer and team focused leader. Ken favours modern British Cuisine with a twist. He emphasises local sourcing and sustainable supplier relationships, arguing that knowing where your produce comes from and working closely with suppliers leads to better-quality dishes. In 2023 Ken was shortlisted as one of the top 5 executive chefs in the UK by FEJ.

Katy is the founder and MD of KAM, a consultancy that she started in 2014. She is passionate about pubs, bars and restaurants (and not just about being in them!). Katy founded KAM as she saw a gap in the market for a hospitality and food service insight consultancy that puts creativity at its heart.

She is a BII Trustee and an advisor for Only a Pavement Away. She is also a judge of the Bii Licensee of the Year Award, Restaurant Marketer and Innovator Awards and the Great Taste Awards. Katy is also the founder of Hospitality Rides, the hospitality initiative that raises money and awareness for the LTC and OAPA.

Heleri leads development and placemaking strategy at Think Hospitality, advising hotel groups, developers and investors on F&B positioning, concept creation, and operator or chef selection. With experience across seven countries and degrees from NYU and EHL, she brings a unique global perspective. Hyper-connected and highly respected, her project portfolio includes Accor, Hilton, Kempinski and Peel Holdings. She also curates leading industry events and publications, shaping the conversation around the future of hospitality and gastronomy worldwide.

Chris Miller is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, developing and scaling hospitality and wellness concepts.  
He is the Founder and CEO of White Rabbit Projects, a specialist hospitality incubator he launched in 2016 to invest in and build early-stage restaurants, bars, and wellness brands — combining capital with comprehensive operational support. 
Under Chris’s leadership, the company has expanded to a team of over 1,300 across 67 global sites in the UK, France, Japan and Portugal.  White Rabbit’s portfolio includes brands such as Lina Stores, Kricket, Soma, White Rabbit Hospitality and ARC.   
At the start of 2025 Chris launched ARC - the UK’s first communal contrast therapy club, featuring the country’s largest sauna (65-person capacity), 8 custom-built ice baths, and a spacious communal lounge.  ARC offers guided classes, free-flow sessions, and ‘ARC After Dark’ social events including DJs, blending wellness, connection, and recovery in a vibrant, alcohol-free setting.  ARC is a new way to connect — where people come to enhance their mental, physical and social wellbeing. 
Before founding White Rabbit, Chris was Commercial Director at Soho House Group, where he played a key role in the global expansion of its members' clubs and restaurants.  He worked on the development of projects including Farm House, the NED, and houses in London, Amsterdam, Barcelona and New York.   
His earlier career in private equity and corporate finance focused on scaling hospitality and luxury consumer brands.

Loui Blake is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor and public speaker, working at the intersection of human & planetary wellness. He is the co-founder of Long Lane, a wellness-focused hotel members club, and a partner at GC Investments, a hospitality investment company. Loui also serves as a mentor to entrepreneurs and founders.

His podcast; “Human Nature” explores themes of wellness, philosophy and personal growth. An avid ultra-endurance athlete, Loui competes in races globally,  raising considerable sums for charity in the process.

Nicci is a brand and marketing specialist, with a track record of leading brands and teams though transformational change. Nicci joined Sodexo Live! in June 2022 and her current role focuses on shaping the marketing strategy, growing brand awareness and delivering pioneering campaigns that exceed guest expectations and drive business growth. Prior to joining Nicci has led marketing, creative and digital teams at Punch Pubs & Co, Emma Bridgewater and The Co-op.

Anthony is a Marketing and Brand Strategy Consultant, working with a diverse portfolio of B2B and B2C clients in the hospitality, leisure, and travel sectors. Specialising in brand development, marketing strategy, and audience engagement, he helps businesses enhance their presence and drive commercial success.

Previously, Anthony was the Sales and Marketing Director at Incipio Group, where he led the marketing strategy and creative direction for a portfolio of experiential venues, including Pergola, Lost in Brixton, and The Prince.

Before joining Incipio, Anthony was Managing Director at Elliotts, a leading hospitality strategy agency, where he played a key role in launching and marketing some of London’s most successful bars and nightlife venues, such as Mahiki, Steam & Rye, and Tropicana Beach Club.

Recognised for his contributions to the industry, Anthony was named Future Marketing Leader of The Year by Restaurant Marketer & Innovator in 2018 and shortlisted for Marketer of the Year 2024.

Michael has a deep and extensive experience leading and improving businesses across Europe. Working hands-on with investors and management teams in the food and hospitality sectors on developing ambitious but achievable strategies, and then getting all the business elements right for executing the plans and achieving the goals.

After completing his MBA from Dartmouth College in the US, he spent a number of years with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, as founder/CEO of technology firms in Scandinavia and the UK, and working with private equity firms across Europe.

He’s the chairman, director or advisor of a number of restaurants (from casual to Michelin starred), food, tech and communications companies in the UK, Scandinavia, the US & South America, giving him a unique perspectives on what works and what doesn't -and a deep respect for the unique qualities and challenges of each individual business.

Charles is a Co-Founder, a fourth generation foodie, an expert in food futures and a ‘champion of change’. Cooking at his mother's side in the kitchen is where Charles' obsession for food began!

He and his business thefoodpeople are known for shifting the future of food and drink by harnessing the power of trends. Charles has spent the past 25 years in the food industry working across all sectors including food service, fine dining, hotels, food brands and food retailing.

thefoodpeople, established for over 15 years, are a global trends business, specialising in future foresight in the food and beverage sector. A united group of trend spotters and innovators, we’re a team of psychologists, chefs, marketeers, product developers, academics, flavourists, historians and anthropologists. But more than that TFP are ‘champions of change’ that bring their inherent experience, as well as an obsession for food and drink, natural curiosity, intuition and tenacity. This is underpinned by our vision ‘to shift the future of food and drink’. What drives us is our desire to shape a better future across society by harnessing the power of trends.

As Founder of Private Drama Events, Adam is an experienced producer and creative director who tells powerful stories from concept to delivery. He seeks the emotional spark that drives meaningful conversations and exceptional work, drawing on a lifelong passion for theatre and the arts. His creativity is rooted in collaboration with leading artists and makers, constantly exploring new ways to shape experiences and engage emotions.

Private Drama Events is an award-winning event planning and storytelling agency specialising in world-class, emotionally resonant experiences. The team creates unforgettable moments driven by soul and sentiment, using deep research and strong content strategy to bring each story to life. From high-profile weddings to immersive wonder emporiums, they deliver a seamless end-to-end service from vision to execution. With three decades of experience, the agency has earned a trusted reputation for bespoke design and exceptional talent, orchestrating every event as a three-act performance crafted to perfection.

Michelle brings over 15 years of hospitality experience with a focus on Marketing, Sales, and Commercial strategy. She has led major digital initiatives across guest data, acquisition, and engagement, including the rollout of guest-facing apps, website improvements, and paid media programs that drive pre-booked sales. Known for her strong guest and brand focus blending digital innovation with commercial results.

Megan joined Bella Italia, part of The Big Table Group, in October 2022 as Marketing Director to spearhead the brand's transformation. Her strategic vision, which blends creativity with commercial acumen, has been instrumental in the brand's successful turnaround and continuous growth. With a proven track record from her previous roles at EAT., The Restaurant Group, and Tim Hortons, Megan brings a wealth of experience, and passion for, brand comms and customer focus to her position. She is also a member of the inaugural Boardwalk Mentoring programme 2025.

Laura has spent the last 19 years working with Cornwall’s most well-known food, drink and hospitality brands and businesses. Spanning the public and private sector - Laura’s roles have encompassed reputation management, communications and marketing - and she’s scooped a number of high-profile industry awards and accolades along the way.

Laura has spent the last nine years at St Austell Brewery, one of the region’s largest private sector employers. Operating as part of the executive board, Laura leads on all corporate comms, the strategic direction of the company’s portfolio of beer brands and all marketing deliverables across its 160+ South West pub estate and vast regional wholesale network. Laura also spearheads the company’s sustainability strategy, helping to shape the future of the nearly 175-year-old business.

Mark McCulloch is one of the leading Hospitality brand and marketing minds in the world. Mark is currently Fractional CMO at Prezzo and has over 20 years Brand, Marketing and Employee Engagement experience and held senior / board level positions at lastminute.com, Barclaycard, YO! Sushi and Pret A Manger. Mark is also a Virtual CMO, NED, Broadcaster and Speaker and helps brands become more famous and more loved inside and out. Everything starts with the teams living and breathing your brand every second of every day. Mark also founded Hospitality Rising to attract the next generation of talent into hospitality. 

Madeleine Phillips is the Marketing Director at Various Eateries PLC, overseeing brand strategy, digital, social, PR, and loyalty across Coppa Club, Noci, Tavolino, Strada and 31 Below. She specialises in blending brand equity with performance marketing to drive sales and commercial growth. Madeleine began her career in travel and tourism before moving into luxury lifestyle hospitality, holding senior roles at Firmdale Hotels, Kit Kemp Design Studio and Grosvenor Pubs & Inns. Her strategic approach unites data, creativity and commercial insight to build high-performing brands.

Debs has spent over 25 years in the hospitality, leisure, and events sectors, progressing from frontline operational roles to senior management and consultancy positions. She has led award-winning teams, shaped guest-experience strategies across national brands, and built a reputation for helping organisations strengthen service quality, operational excellence and commercial performance.

Within Proinsight, she now partners with hospitality and leisure brands to capture real guest experiences and translate them into actionable improvements that drive loyalty, revenue and long-term growth.

Michael is an accomplished C-level hospitality professional with over two decades of international experience, specialising in hospitality management and business development. He has a strong history of working with private equity groups and delivering results in competitive, challenging and culturally diverse environments.

He has a proven track record of raising standards, improving profitability and enhancing operational efficiency, alongside extensive experience in launching successful F&B operations globally. Michael combines strong business and financial acumen with a hands-on, people-focused leadership approach.

Markus Thesleff is an award-winning serial entrepreneur with nearly 25 years of international success in hospitality as an owner, operator, advisor, and consultant. Twice named Caterer Middle East Restaurateur of the Year for Middle East & Africa and shortlisted for the UK “Cateys” Restaurateur of the Year, he has built brands that have won over 160 awards across cities from London to Dubai. His achievements have been recognised in the Caterer Power 50, Hot 100 Entrepreneurs, and The Standard’s 100 People Shaping London. In 2024, he was named European CEO of the Year at the EU Business News Awards, and in 2025, Luxury Hospitality Group CEO of the Year at the Corporate LiveWire Awards. Markus continues to shape the future of hospitality through visionary leadership and strategic expansion.

Tessa Graham is the Group Brand Director at Tashas Group, where she leads brand strategy across a growing global portfolio of hospitality concepts. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked with visionary founders to shape brands that are both commercially successful and deeply authentic. Formerly Brand Director for Jamie Oliver, Tessa has also held senior leadership roles working in fashion, food, technology and sport alongside a successful career as a brand consultant. Originally from Canada, she has lived and worked on four continents. She believes that great brands, like great meals, are best when made with purpose, shared generously and remembered for how they make people feel.

Having run front-of-house teams in London restaurants Quaglino's, Vong and Bank in the nineties, Olivia saw at first hand the way technology could be a game-changer for businesses in our industry.  

Having caught the technology bug working in front-line hospitality, she has been following this theme ever since, working with companies that prioritise innovation, from start-ups to mature businesses looking to develop a new aspect of their proposition. 

Now in the MD seat at 125 Data & Insights, she's jumped back into guest experience with both feet. Just as vital as collecting feedback from multiple channels, the mission at 125 is to present guest insight with mind-blowing simplicity - so each team member knows how they can have a positive impact, every single day.

Tom has been working in hospitality for over thirty years since his first job collecting glasses in his local pub. He went on to be a senior manager for Henry J Beans, Revolution and two independent restaurants in Jersey and Bristol. 

For the last 15 years he’s been a director of a wide variety of businesses including Jamie’s Italian, Coppa Club and Harbour Hotels.

He joined Bill’s in October 2021 as Group Operations Director and had been Managing Director of the well-loved all day casual dining concept for the past two years. With his management team,  Bill’s has gone on to deliver record sales, 50% growth in Ebitda over consecutive years and a return to the expansion trail in November 2024. 

Heleri leads development and placemaking strategy at Think Hospitality, advising hotel groups, developers and investors on F&B positioning, concept creation, and operator or chef selection. With experience across seven countries and degrees from NYU and EHL, she brings a unique global perspective. Hyper-connected and highly respected, her project portfolio includes Accor, Hilton, Kempinski and Peel Holdings. She also curates leading industry events and publications, shaping the conversation around the future of hospitality and gastronomy worldwide.

Bob is Managing Partner of Mr Lyan Studio, a strategic consultancy which works predominantly in the drinks and hospitality industry. Part of the Mr Lyan group, Mr Lyan Studio partners with drinks brands, hotels, restaurants and real estate on projects ranging from venue development, beverage strategy, menu design and trade engagement. 

Bob himself has a background in strategy, innovation and brand development, having spent 20 plus years consulting for giants like Google, HSBC and Blackstone whilst also working in, on, and in support of startups and incubators.

Carey has spent 20+ years building businesses across industries and continents, including time at multi-nationals and high-growth startups. During his career Carey has founded three companies, led Flyt
which was acquired by Just Eat, and held senior roles in leadership, coaching, and advisory in commercial and not for profit organisations. 
Currently the Cofounder and CEO of Guestwise: a marketing tech platform designed specifically for hospitality. The platform helps operators and multi-site brands personalise guest engagement and marketing, turn siloed data into a single guest view and automate campaigns across social, web, and email. Harnessing the power of AI to handle guest enquiries and elevate the guest experience. 
Carey is passionate about using data intelligently, working with partners and building technology that will help hospitality business' to thrive - regardless of the economic environment.

Aaron Morgan is the Head of Marketing at The Alchemist, the UK’s leading creative cocktail bar and all-day dining restaurant brand. Since joining in 2017, he has been instrumental in shaping the brand’s distinctive identity and leading campaigns that capture its theatrical energy, including the recent collaboration with Campari to launch the UK’s first Alchemist Negroni bar. With a background in European brand management at Spectrum Brands, Aaron brings a blend of creativity and strategic insight to every project, driving innovation across digital, social, and PR to keep The Alchemist at the forefront of hospitality marketing.

Paul Jones is the Head of IT at The Alchemist, the UK’s leading creative cocktail bar and all-day dining restaurant brand. Since joining the business, Paul has played a pivotal role in shaping the technology strategy that underpins The Alchemist’s reputation for innovation and seamless guest experiences.

With a focus on bridging technology and brand identity, Paul has been instrumental in elevating The Alchemist’s digital presence. He co-led the design and development of the new Alchemist website, transforming it into an intuitive, dynamic extension of the brand’s theatrical in-venue experience.

Paul brings a pragmatic yet forward-thinking approach to hospitality technology, ensuring that every digital touchpoint reflects the creativity, energy, and theatre that define The Alchemist. His work continues to push the boundaries of how digital innovation can enhance the modern guest journey.

Holly Hilton is the Marketing Director for Market Place Food Halls and started with the company in September 2023. An innovative, outcome-oriented, digital marketing professional with over 15 years’ experience managing promotions, campaigns, and creative content across the retail, leisure, and gastronomy industries. Holly has a strong background in data analysis and price establishment, using this skill as the foundation for creative marketing solutions to drive footfall.

Ria Pattni grew up in North West London and studied History at the University of Liverpool. Aged 21, she landed a role at fast-paced, London restaurant PR agency, Gerber Communications, and it was here where her journey with JKS Restaurants began. In her 5 years at the agency, she rose up from Intern to Senior Account Manager, the highlights being the PR launches of prestigious  Gymkhana in 2013 and Brigadiers and 2018.

In 2019, she accepted a role in-house at JKS Restaurants, as Marketing and PR Manager, progressing to Head of Marketing in 2020 and then Director of Marketing in 2024. 

Over the last 6 years, Ria has become integral to the business’ success. She is seen as someone who always finds a way to deliver, even when it may first appear impossible. During her time at JKS she has launched numerous brands, including most recently Ambassadors Clubhouse in London and Gymkhana in Las Vegas.

15 years into her career, Ria has built broad and deep experience,  spanning a multitude of marketing and sales functions. Her dedication to the JKS brands and marketing for the hospitality industry as a whole is unparalleled.

Tommy Giraux is Head of Restaurant Systems at Honest Burgers, leading all technology, systems, and data integrations across 50 UK restaurants.

He began his career in France before moving to London in 2007, managing restaurants for Costa Coffee and Itsu before joining Honest Burgers in its early years. Over more than a decade, he’s moved from operations into systems, helping the business scale new concepts and markets with a data-driven, best-of-breed tech stack.

Alongside Honest, Tommy consults for hospitality brands on how to select, integrate, and optimise technology that genuinely supports teams and improves performance.

Tasos' Greek-Cypriot heritage has been the driving force behind Brother Marcus' East Mediterranean menu and brand ethos since the brand's foundation in 2016. Growing up working in his father’s taverna in Crete instilled in him the discipline and attention to detail necessary to run a successful kitchen, alongside summers spent on the Cretan coast with his family which taught him to appreciate simple, fresh, local produce. 
Shaped by the various cultures, religions, and people of the East Med, and inspired by his Cretan roots and the rich and diverse food found in the region, Tas plays a pivotal role in menu development, curating the vibrant, healthy, and flavourful dishes that Brother Marcus is known for today.
Graduating in photography from the Edinburgh College of Art, Tas is very much involved in the creative side of the business, overseeing the design of the restaurants through to Brother Marcus’ overall brand identity.
Alongside his creative input, Tas plays a crucial role in business development; seeking out new site locations and overseeing the brand’s ambitious growth plans, as well as leading on strategic marketing direction and brand storytelling.

Much like his Brother Marcus co-founder, family has always been at the heart of Alex’s vision. The name Brother Marcus is a tribute to Alex’s own brother, Marcus, whose warm, friendly attitude embodies the welcoming atmosphere at every Brother Marcus restaurant. Alex’s hospitality journey began at 16, working in restaurants where he developed an instinct for exceptional hospitality. His background in acting and theatre made him a natural host, and in the early days of Brother Marcus, he was at the front - chatting with locals, handing out flyers, and creating a sense of community.
Now, almost a decade on, Alex has gone from FOH host to strategic leader, guiding Brother Marcus from a single location to a thriving multi-site restaurant group. His role has evolved into shaping the company’s long-term vision, driving expansion, and ensuring sustainable financial growth - all while preserving what is vital to making this brand special.
At the heart of it all, Alex remains a people-first leader. His open, inclusive approach has shaped the company culture and helped build a strong, unified team. Through his leadership, Brother Marcus continues to foster a collaborative and welcoming environment, making both guests and staff feel part of the family.

Joe Comiskey is Digital Director at Stonegate Pub Company, leading digital transformation across the UK’s largest pub group. He works across all digital touchpoints for guests and publicans, including the award-winning MiXR loyalty app, Trade on Tap eCommerce platform and the broader digital marketing ecosystem.

With over 15 years’ experience spanning hospitality and FMCG, Joe has held senior roles at Beiersdorf and Unilever, where he delivered market-leading eCommerce growth and developed global digital capability programmes.

A creative, data-driven leader, Joe specialises in connecting digital innovation with commercial impact — driving growth through technology, customer insight and media effectiveness.

Joel is the founder of Openr, shaped by a career spent wrestling with complexity at scale. At Sainsbury’s, he lived through the shift from single-channel retail to true omni-channel, leading product, strategy, and £150m of annual technology investment while helping thousands of colleagues deliver brilliant customer experiences. He saw first-hand how clarity, data, and well-designed systems unlock commercial performance.

At Azzurri, he led the digital and technology transformation across ASK Italian, Zizzi and Coco di Mama - introducing Order & Pay, handheld ordering, loyalty platforms, kitchen management, kiosks, and group-wide data modernisation. Again, the same issues surfaced: siloed systems, pricing constraints and fragmented workflows.

Openr exists because hospitality is going through the same omni-channel transition retail faced a decade ago. Joel created Openr to give operators the tools to make confident, profit-driving menu and pricing decisions everywhere - without the chaos.