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 brings over 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and business development for premium brands. Since joining as CMO of JKS Restaurants five years ago, she has played a pivotal role in the group’s commercial success, combining data-driven insights with creative strategies to boost covers and revenue. Passionate about crafting memorable dining experiences, Laura has been central to the group's brand growth over the years. Now, as Managing Director, she champions a collaborative, supportive work culture and continues to lead with expertise, vision, and a commitment to delivering world-class guest experiences across the UK and beyond. Her role oversees Gymkhana, Ambassadors Clubhouse, Trishna and Brigadiers in London.

Sara McKennedy is Managing Director at Coco di Mama, the UK’s leading Italian-to-Go brand. Since joining the brand in 2018, she has overseen the brands growth strategy that started with expanding their flagship cafes in Central London in 2019, and then post-Covid expanding to 140+ nationwide delivery kitchen locations in 2021, and most recently launching their Italian deli retail range into 2,000+ supermarkets. The brand has been recognised with a collection of Great Taste awards, QSR Media Awards and Sammies retail awards. Sara has 15+ years’ experience across hospitality, FMCG, start-ups and social enterprise. She is an alumni of the Marketing Academy and Marketing Week Mini MBA, and a non-executive director of Well Grounded.

Éadaoin McDonagh is Managing Director of Lina Stores and COO of White Rabbit Projects, a hospitality development platform specialising in the identification, creation and growth of early-stage concepts. With quality, culture and guest experience at its core, White Rabbit Projects’ portfolio spans restaurants, hotels and wellness across the UK and Europe, including Lina Stores, Kricket, Arc and the recently opened Locke de Santa Joana in Lisbon, created in partnership with chef Nuno Mendes.

At Lina Stores, Éadaoin has led the transformation of the 80-year-old Soho institution into an internationally recognised brand. What began as a single, much-loved deli has evolved into a diverse family of pasta bars, flagship restaurants with delicatessens, and Bar Lina — a nod to Italy’s popular aperitivo bar culture. In 2022 Lina Stores opened its first of three international stores in Japan.

Beyond its restaurants, Lina Stores has expanded its retail offering, with a curated collection available online and through leading retailers including Selfridges, Anthropologie, Fenwick and soon John Lewis.

Marcel Khan is a strategic and entrepreneurial CEO with more than 25 years’ experience leading and scaling some of the UK and Europe’s most successful restaurant brands. As Chief Executive of Fulham Shore, he leads Franco Manca and The Real Greek — two of the country’s best-loved concepts — delivering growth, revitalising leadership and performance, and launching a new retail channel that generated £800k clear profit in its first year.

With deep expertise in brand transformation, operational excellence and private equity partnerships, Marcel is known for building high-performance teams and consumer-first brands that win loyalty, market share and long-term value — whether through cultural overhauls, multi-market expansion or sharper commercial strategy. Previous roles include driving European growth at Five Guys and shaping new market strategies at Nando’s. He is also passionate about mentoring future leaders, building inclusive cultures, and staying close to product, people and the guest experience.

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.

Charlotte Mair is the Founder and Managing Director of The Fitting Room, an award-winning culture and communications agency known for delivering some of the UK’s most talked-about campaigns.

She launched the business with just £17.22 in her account, and has grown it into a leading agency working with some of the world’s most iconic brands, talent, and businesses.

Charlotte has earned her seat in the boardroom by acting as a bridge between shareholders and customers, cutting through complexity to deliver strategic clarity and cultural connection. Her work sits at the intersection of pop culture and commercial, helping brands stay relevant in a fast-moving, people-powered world. A regular voice in leading industry titles such as PR Week, Campaign, and Ad Age, Charlotte was named one of Ad Age’s Leading Women in Marketing, Advertising & Media. She’s also a sought-after podcast guest and a respected judge for some of the most prestigious awards including D&AD, as well Cannes Lions speaker.

Charlotte currently holds the #1 spot on YouTube and TikTok as the leading female voice in the Marketing, Sales, PR, and Advertising categories, and is ranked #2 across all genders (Favikon, 2025)- a testament to her influence, relevance, and ability to engage at scale across platforms.

In 2024, she was recognised as one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices globally, earning the platform’s coveted blue tick for her impact and influence.

Her ability to turn brand positioning into culturally resonant stories-paired with her signature “get sh*t done” energy has made The Fitting Room the go-to agency for clients like Meta, Instagram, Pernod Ricard, GoDaddy,Popeyes, and Idris Elba. Charlotte is known for her unmatched cultural insight, sharp strategic lens, and instinctive feel for what’s next. She doesn’t just follow trends- she forecasts them, helping brands build credibility, cut through noise, and lead with relevance.

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.

Alexis Melikov is co-founder of Tigermilk, the France-based Latin American restaurant group he launched in 2019 with his partner Nina Melikov. Under their leadership, Tigermilk has become a cult favourite across France and Belgium, known for its vibrant, generous take on Latin cuisine and its bold, spirited design ethos. In 2025 the brand made its UK debut with a flagship restaurant on London’s Charing Cross Road, bringing its “love letter to Latin America” - described as loud, generous and full of soul — to the capital’s dining scene.

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.

Michael Radley is the Co-Founder of Joli, the influencer marketing platform for hospitality. Michael's background in hospitality technology coupled with his micro-influencer side hustle in the industry led him on to launching the first end-to-end influencer management tool, designed specifically for hospitality & leisure brands. 

Joli works with over 250 hospitality businesses up and down the UK. The app vets and curates micro and nano influencers based on reach, following, location, audience demographics, content style, category and even dietary requirements. Then matches and connects the right influencers for hospitality businesses based on their specific requirements. The platform streamlines, and now fully automates, the booking management process which notoriously has involved lots of influencer outreach, admin and back and forth communications when arranging collaborations. Joli is designed to remove all of this and save brands time and money. Joli's dashboard also tracks and stores all influencer-generated content and measures the impact so brands can monitor the success influencer marketing is having on the business.

Tom Patrick, Brand Marketing Director for Banana Tree Restaurants and Las Iguanas, part of The Big Table Group. With a background in Late Night, QSR, Premium and Casual Dining, Tom is passionate about all things Hospitality and all things Guest. Tom has a real interest in how data can drive bums on seats and has a background in brand transformations and roll outs, having worked with some of the biggest hospitality brands on the high street.

Hester Mitchell is Digital Marketing Manager at Bleecker Burger, where she leads social media, influencer partnerships, CRM, and supports paid strategy. With over four years’ experience across casual dining and QSR brands, Hester has worked in fast-paced hospitality environments delivering social strategies, creator collaborations and integrated campaigns. She has a strong interest in how organic and paid social, influencers and CRM work together to build brand affinity and drive in-store engagement.

Marketing consultant and advisor (Founding Add Sizzle in 2025) and interim fractional Marketing Director for Wasabi Sushi & Bento. Over 25 years in hospitality and 13 years as a senior marketing leader; Marketing and Food Development Director for Casual Dining Group (Now Big Table); Bella Italia and Strada, Marketing Director for Gordon Ramsay Group, Carluccio's and Marugame Udon.

Evie has led the communications, marketing, branding, social and PR for Big Mamma's UK & Irish restaurants since 2021. With a background in PR, she has led on the marketing of some of the group's most talked about restaurants: Circolo Popolare Manchester, Jacuzzi, Carlotta, and, most recently, Gloria Osteria in Dublin. Launching and implementing marketing strategies to ensure cross-regional and country launches that celebrate Big Mamma's unique brand story of exceptional Italian suppliers, vibrant team culture and transportative dining experiences.

Claire Scullion is a specialist in menu optimisation and design, with recent work spanning leading hotel groups like Four Seasons, Fairmont, and Travelodge, as well as high-street brands such as Côte and Vapiano. She also runs a successful Paint and Sip events business, driving new customers into pubs and restaurants through creative social experiences.

With expertise in menu strategy, consumer psychology, and operational efficiency, Claire delivers impactful solutions that enhance guest experiences and increase revenue. Her mission is to help hospitality spaces thrive through innovative, profit-focused strategies and customer engagement.

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.

Kiran Quinn has been the Group Marketing Director at RedCat Hospitality since May 2022. Prior to this, she amassed over a decade of experience at Greene King, serving as Marketing Director for the Premium & Urban Pubs division for two years, and more than eight years at Fuller's as a Marketing Manager. 
Kiran has been instrumental at RedCat Hospitality in bringing the business together under clear and coherent brands, whilst preserving the heritage of high-quality independent pubs and creating local hubs where guests within the community can enjoy excellent food, drink and hospitality.
In addition to her role in hospitality, Kiran is an Integrative Transpersonal Psychotherapist, reflecting her commitment to mental wellbeing and personal development. Her dual expertise in marketing and psychotherapy underscores a unique blend of strategic leadership and empathetic understanding, contributing to her effectiveness in both fields.

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.

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.

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 Clarke is Marketing & Culinary Director for UK and Ireland at Sodexo Live! where she leads hospitality strategy across stadiums, heritage venues and major events. She's spent twenty years taking complex operations and building systems that actually work when teams are under pressure - covering menu strategy, guest experience, culinary development, sustainability and the commercial framework that makes it all viable.
She's a vocal advocate for women in sport, pushing for visible leadership and realistic career pathways. She works with culinary and marketing teams to shift food culture toward quality and impact, not just volume and margin.
She also talks openly about executive wellbeing and perimenopause - subjects most people in leadership avoid until they're already struggling. It's part of her wider belief that hospitality relies on people being able to think clearly and show up properly.

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.

Duncan Stirling is the Co-Founder of Inception Group, alongside his business partner Charlie Gilkes, starting the company when they were in their mid-twenties. Stirling and Gilkes have grown the start-up into a disruptor within the industry, and now has 450 employees. Pioneers in the London cocktail bar scene, Inception Group are well-loved for their unique and eclectic hospitality concepts and own and operate all of the Mr Fogg’s venues across London.  Other Inception Group venues include Cahoots, a 1940s-inspired bar set in a hidden underground tube station, a Chelsea speakeasy called Barts, 80s themed nightspot Maggie’s, as well as brand new bar 90s inspired bar, Bunga 90 in Covent Garden.

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.

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.

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.

With a dynamic and distinguished career spanning over three decades, Marshall has guided hotels, restaurants, and event venues through transformative growth, consistently delivering tangible results through an integrated approach to F&B. From concept development and market positioning to operational excellence and guest experience, Marshall’s expertise covers every link in the value chain. His reputation for aligning culinary creativity with commercial acumen ensures that F&B concepts are not just memorable, but also sustainable and profitable.

A hospitality focused entrepreneur dedicated to creating neighbourhood led eateries that bring communities together. With more than 17 years of experience opening, building, and operating venues across central London, he has developed a strong reputation for shaping welcoming, locally rooted concepts that prioritise warmth, accessibility, and genuine hospitality. The portfolio spans bakeries, coffee shops, gastropubs and wine bars each designed to feel integrated into the fabric of their surrounding area. Grounded in innovation and service culture, Ankur’s approach centres on understanding the needs of local guests and elevating everyday dining experiences. With a passion for people and thoughtful design, he continues to champion neighbourhood restaurants that celebrate community, comfort, and quality.

A purpose-led marketing lead with a strong focus on building brands rooted in community, culture and commercial clarity. As Head of Marketing at Boxcar and The Italian Greyhound she leads brand strategy and communications across two hospitality businesses known for their neighbourhood-first approach and emphasis on quality, experience and connection. With over six years of experience spanning hospitality, events and lifestyle brands, India’s experience is grounded in collaboration and commercial awareness and her approach centres on thoughtful storytelling, meaningful partnerships and campaigns that feel authentic - shaping brand narratives that resonate with both loyal local audiences as well as new, un-tapped customers.

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 MBE 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.

Krishnan Doyle founded COREcruitment Ltd in 2005 after an international career in luxury hotels management. 

COREcruitment has grown over the years to become one of the leading international recruitment consultancies with hubs in the UK, North America, Europe, South Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand for the APAC region.  

COREcruitment's specialist consultants are experts in all sectors within the service industry, 
from hospitality, catering, leisure, retail, food management, IT, head office & support roles 
but also, with its dedicated Executive Search and NED division, providing both permanent and interim management recruitment solutions.

In early 2023, COREcruitment became the first UK recruitment agency to be certified as LGBT+, accreditation given by OutBritain, the UK’s First LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce.  Furthermore, Krishnan Doyle sits on the Pride in London Community Committee.  

“DE&I is something that is very, very close to our hearts at CORE” – Krishnan Doyle

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.

Peter is the UK CEO of TRISON, leading the transformation of physical spaces into digitally immersive environments for global hospitality, retail, and leisure brands.

TRISON delivers 360° digital solutions, combining consultancy, creative design, innovative hardware and software platforms, and robust technical expertise to redefine how brands interact with their audiences. Under Peter’s leadership, the team focuses on creating seamless digital ecosystems that enhance experiences and deliver measurable value.

With a passion for innovation, Peter drives the integration of technology, data, and creative solutions to shape environments that inspire and perform. His commitment to collaboration and long-term partnerships reflects TRISON’s mission to make the extraordinary possible.

A marketing leader with a background in growing brands across food and hospitality, Keyana is currently spearheading the UK expansion of Dave's Hot Chicken, the cult US brand known for its Nashville style hot chicken and viral following. The Dave's UK launch became one of the most talked-about brand entries in recent years- with TikTok-fuelled hype, three-hour queues and sustained buzz that captured the attention of Gen Z and beyond.

Before joining Dave's, Keyana held a number of brand and marketing roles across fast-paced, high-growth businesses, with a focus on building culturally relevant strategies that connect with real people.

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. 

Dan Brookman is the CEO & co-founder of Airship.co.uk and useToggle.com, hospitality tech platforms focused on increasing customer visit frequency and loyalty through Airship, and delivering pre-visit revenue through Toggle. He has over 30 years of experience in hospitality, having started his career serving pints in Sheffield before buying and converting a derelict swimming pool into a 600 capacity live music venue aged 23.

Dan took over the reins at Airship in 2018 when the company was in distress. He repositioned the business from a full service agency to a SaaS platform. In 2019 the business raised £500k of private equity investment to scale its products and build out the team. They accelerated through the pandemic, raising a further £750k to support growth. 

Airship & Toggle grew 600% in 3 years, and in October 2022 sold the business to Zonal, one of the leading hospitality technology companies in the UK. Dan remains as CEO of the business and is now on the exec board at Zonal.

Today, Airship & Toggle serve 800+ UK hospitality brands, delivering over 1 billion emails and generating £120 million in gifting revenues, in 2024 Airship underwent a £500k transformation with a new lightning fast tech stack and the rollout of the V1 of their AI Insight tool, Flight Assist.

Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur and mentor. He's an investor and NED in Joli, the creator platform and El Tab, the drinks subscription app.

Dan leads the behavioural science practice within Ogilvy Consulting London, looking after clients from the public and private sectors. He is a Practitioner, Speaker and Writer on the creative application of behavioural science to the world's stickiest challenges. Joining the practice at its commencement in 2012, he has worked on over 80 of the world’s major brands & organisations.

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.

Afroditi was founded in 2002 in a garage in South London. Founder and product designer Afroditi Krassa brought a radically new approach to hospitality design that led to the creation of some of London’s most iconic projects. From itsu to Dishoom, the holistic and conceptually driven approach has defined categories for clients spanning ultra-luxury hotels such as Mandarin Oriental, Rosewood and One&Only, cinemas and clubs, celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal, iconic bars and leading restaurant groups. Two decades, 200 projects and 40 design awards later, the studio operates across three continents, working with governments, developers and hospitality leaders to reimagine the way we consume hospitality experiences.

Laura Vana holds a MSc in Food Innovation and Health from Copenhagen University where she found her passion in gastrophysics and sensory science. Her topic of research has been about developing methods to educate children about the taste of food. 

At the moment she is working on establishing the sensory education method in kindergartens and elementary schools at the national level in Estonia. In addition, she is leading the research and development in the best restaurant group in the Baltics- Siigur Restaurants. 

Sam has spent the past decade building, running or scaling various hospitality tech businesses. From being part of the founding team at Wireless Social, to being Airship & Toggle’s Chief Commercial Officer for four years, prior to their sale Zonal.
In 2025 he launched Candid Hospitality, in partnership with his co-founder Nick Holroyd-Doveton; a platform set to revolutionise hiring in hospitality. He also runs a training academy to help upskill sales & marketing teams within other hospitality suppliers. 
From integrated ecosystems, and pivoting products - to navigating the ever changing landscape of our sector, Sam has experienced the good, bad & the ugly of hospitality technology.

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.

Ewa Turney is a Senior Product Manager at Mitchells & Butlers, leading the Digital Accelerator and Partnerships value streams. She works across guest-facing digital experiences, marketing, digital platforms and operations, focusing on how new products and emerging tools like AI can make everyday interactions smoother for guests as well as restaurant and corporate teams. Her work supports millions of guest interactions each year across all 17+ M&B brands, including the partnerships and integrations that enable bookings, delivery, marketing journeys and digital services — alongside close collaboration with tech start-up Guestwise on new product development.
With a background in eCommerce, SaaS and product innovation, Ewa brings a practical, commercially minded approach to adopting new technology. She is particularly interested in how AI can enhance the guest experience while keeping hospitality feeling human.

Naddy Onions is the Marketing Director for Brava Hospitality, home of renowned restaurant brands, including Prezzo Italian and now Jamie’s Italian. Naddy is responsible for driving brand strategy, demand and commercial growth across multi-site restaurant businesses. With extensive experience in brand repositioning, integrated campaigns and customer-led growth, she translates strategy into measurable results at scale. Naddy  is known for balancing creativity with commercial rigour, building brands that resonate with guests while delivering strong performance for operators. Her work spans new openings, rebrands, partnerships and digital transformation, always with a focus on driving covers and long-term brand value.

James Metcalfe is Sales and Marketing Director at Urban Pubs & Bars, leading sales, digital, and marketing strategy across one of London’s fastest-growing hospitality groups. A senior marketing executive with a proven record in driving growth and brand innovation across hospitality and FMCG, James previously served as Marketing Director at Stonegate Group, delivering an award-winning retail media platform and new concept development across 700 venues. Earlier at Diageo, he held leadership roles in customer marketing, sales, and brand strategy — notably for Guinness. Experienced in insight-led planning and commercial partnerships, James brings deep expertise in value creation within the drinks and leisure sectors. His perfect afternoon is watching the Six Nations in the pub with a pint of Guinness.

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.

Jonathan has over 15 years of experience as a data-led thought leader and consumer insights expert. Before joining Dojo, he spent more than a decade working with some of the world’s leading global retailers and brands. At Dojo, he established and led the insight function for six years, laying the foundations for a data-driven approach across the business. He now leads Dojo’s Data Products division, developing market-leading data and insights solutions that help customers make smarter, revenue-generating decisions.

Oliver Cousins is the Strategy Director at Screen Pilot - the newly formed hospitality agency born from London-based creative agency Ignite and Denver-based performance specialists Screen Pilot. His career has spanned brand identity design, creative advertising, media planning and integrated marketing agencies. He believes that the most powerful advantage for brands isn’t budget or technology, but the ability to reframe problems in ways that make human behaviour suddenly make sense.

Laura Vana holds a MSc in Food Innovation and Health from Copenhagen University where she found her passion in gastrophysics and sensory science. Her topic of research has been about developing methods to educate children about the taste of food. 

At the moment she is working on establishing the sensory education method in kindergartens and elementary schools at the national level in Estonia. In addition, she is leading the research and development in the best restaurant group in the Baltics- Siigur Restaurants. 

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.

Kat Schofield studied Psychology & Marketing at UEA before starting her journey with a fast-paced social media agency placement. It was here that a passion for brand marketing was firmly established. Her hospitality career began at Greene King, in their original home of Bury St Edmunds. She held a series of roles including marketing assistant and trade marketing executive in the buying team before finding her true home within the brand team for Chef & Brewer and moving further north. 

In 2018, Kat joined Marston’s to lead marketing for Pitcher & Piano, a role that quickly expanded to encompass full responsibility for the group’s premium brands, including The Lost & Found, Foundry Project and Revere Pub Company. Since then, she has continued to build a broad and diverse career across a number of well-respected hospitality businesses in the UK: Revolution Bars Group (now The Revel Collection), Gusto Italian and Parogon Group. Career highlights include building the first subscription loyalty scheme in hospitality, re-branding the much loved Revolucion de Cuba and expanding Willow, Parogon's Mediterranean concept.

In January 2026, Kat was appointed to the newly created role of Sales & Marketing Director at Permanently Unique, overseeing a portfolio of premium brands including Tattu, Louis and Fenix. The business is continuing its growth trajectory following a successful launch in Dubai, with two new restaurant openings planned this year. 

Hospitality has been a defining part of Kat's life since working in her mum’s café age 13 and she is passionate about championing women as they progress and achieve their career ambitions. Now over a decade into her career, Kat brings extensive experience in building high-performing teams, repositioning brands and delivering bold, disruptive marketing campaigns that drive commercial growth.

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.

Bjarke Just Nielsen is CEO and founder of Norrlyst Koncernen, a Copenhagen-based restaurant group redefining hospitality through data-driven operations and close collaboration with some of the industry’s leading chefs. He opened Restaurant Norrlyst in 2019 driven by passion and a desire to create something distinctive. Since then, the group has grown from one restaurant to 20 locations in just a few years.
Each restaurant within Norrlyst is developed as a standalone concept, with a clear identity and long-term relevance. Bjarke works closely with top chefs to ensure creativity and craftsmanship thrive within a structured, scalable framework. By applying analytical thinking to areas such as pricing, capacity, and demand — inspired by industries like aviation — Norrlyst has built a model where data supports decision-making without compromising soul or hospitality. In June 2025, Restaurant Udtryk received a Michelin star just 41 days after opening, making it the fastest Michelin-starred restaurant in Nordic history.

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.

Sara McKennedy is Managing Director at Coco di Mama, the UK’s leading Italian-to-Go brand. Since joining the brand in 2018, she has overseen the brands growth strategy that started with expanding their flagship cafes in Central London in 2019, and then post-Covid expanding to 140+ nationwide delivery kitchen locations in 2021, and most recently launching their Italian deli retail range into 2,000+ supermarkets. The brand has been recognised with a collection of Great Taste awards, QSR Media Awards and Sammies retail awards. Sara has 15+ years’ experience across hospitality, FMCG, start-ups and social enterprise. She is an alumni of the Marketing Academy and Marketing Week Mini MBA, and a non-executive director of Well Grounded.

Toby Herbert is Head of IT at Hall & Woodhouse, one of the UK’s oldest breweries, overseeing an estate of circa 150 pubs and restaurants across the south of England. With technology front and centre, Toby is spearheading a no-stone-unturned transformation of systems and processes, drawing on 20+ years' experience in hospitality tech, including seven years as IT Director at the luxury hotel group Rocco Forte Hotels. He brings a pragmatic, guest-led perspective on how technology not only supports operations but drives better decisions and measurable commercial outcomes.

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.

Sophie Clarke oversees UK operations for Popmenu, a leader in restaurant marketing technology that helps thousands of restaurants drive traffic, increase orders, and build lasting guest relationships.

With over 10 years of experience in digital growth strategies as well as hands-on experience as a General Manager in Brighton pubs, she brings a blend of operational and technology expertise to support scaling restaurant brands.

After scaling his flagship restaurant, Cawsburger, to £1M+ annual revenue in its first year, Charlie Wood-Jones has become a leading voice in hospitality digital strategy. By mastering the Popmenu ecosystem, he turned a local favourite into a digital powerhouse, proving that the right tech stack is essential for modern scaling. Now a sought-after Digital Marketing Consultant, Charlie works with hospitality and leisure brands to build high-conversion digital funnels. He specialises in helping enterprise operators move beyond 'awareness' and toward measurable, technology-driven growth.

Dan Brookman is the CEO & co-founder of Airship.co.uk and useToggle.com, hospitality tech platforms focused on increasing customer visit frequency and loyalty through Airship, and delivering pre-visit revenue through Toggle. He has over 30 years of experience in hospitality, having started his career serving pints in Sheffield before buying and converting a derelict swimming pool into a 600 capacity live music venue aged 23.

Dan took over the reins at Airship in 2018 when the company was in distress. He repositioned the business from a full service agency to a SaaS platform. In 2019 the business raised £500k of private equity investment to scale its products and build out the team. They accelerated through the pandemic, raising a further £750k to support growth. 

Airship & Toggle grew 600% in 3 years, and in October 2022 sold the business to Zonal, one of the leading hospitality technology companies in the UK. Dan remains as CEO of the business and is now on the exec board at Zonal.

Today, Airship & Toggle serve 800+ UK hospitality brands, delivering over 1 billion emails and generating £120 million in gifting revenues, in 2024 Airship underwent a £500k transformation with a new lightning fast tech stack and the rollout of the V1 of their AI Insight tool, Flight Assist.

Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur and mentor. He's an investor and NED in Joli, the creator platform and El Tab, the drinks subscription app.

Matt Preisinger has been active in the hospitality industry for over 20 years.  He initially started with mixing drinks at some of the best cocktail bars in the world, and then went on to managing larger events, festivals and private events sales before specialising into marketing roles. Having spent 5 years at All Star Lanes and 9 years at Brewhouse & Kitchen, Matt has led on a number of award-winning initiatives, is passionate about brand-building and has a strong track record of working in fast-paced and exciting founder-led businesses.

Alan Armstrong is the founder of Spaceman Marketing, a consultancy specialising in the hospitality sector. With over 25 years’ experience in both operations and marketing across various national pub and bar groups, Alan helps hospitality brands grow through insight-driven strategy, creative activations, gamification solutions, and customer retention. Alan won the RMI Best Launch Campaign 2024 for his work with Circe’s Rooftop in Waterloo.

Mark Warburton is the founder behind Cow & Sow, applying lifelong hospitality roots to build the brand. By 21, he had become managing director of his family’s OHH Pub Company. After successfully selling part of that business in 2021, Warburton conceived the idea for Cow & Sow during lockdown. He launched the first site in Queen Square, Bristol, in January 2022, and has since led the brand’s expansion to Clifton and most recently Birmingham, establishing Cow & Sow as a respected name in the UK steakhouse sector.