Thank you for joining us at our 2025 Global Annual Conference, “Where’s the Growth?”
A year on from an historic General Election, the conference will tackle the critical question facing businesses and the UK economy today: “Where’s the Growth?”.
With the backdrop of rising business anxieties, the conference will highlight the need for the UK government to present a clear, actionable vision for the future—one that actively supports businesses and fosters growth.
Acknowledging the need for both immediate action and strategic planning, the conference seeks to inspire thought-provoking discussions about how we move forward from the current economic landscape into a future of opportunity. By focusing on practical, forward-looking solutions, the conference will explore how policies and initiatives can better align with business needs, creating the right conditions for investment and growth.
As the UK faces these uncertain times, this conference will not only question where the growth will come from but also seek to find the answers, providing attendees with tangible insights into what the future holds.
Our speakers
Clive Myrie
Award winning journalist and broadcaster
Shevaun Haviland CBE
Director General
Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP
Leader of the Opposition
Andrew Bailey
Governor of the Bank of England
Thomas Woldbye
CEO, Heathrow
Leigh thomas
Vice President EMEA, Intuit
Robert Begbie
CEO, NatWest Commercial & Institutional
Eve Roodhouse
Director of Strategy & Policy, Local Government Association
James Phipps
Managing Director, Cokebusters Ltd
Baroness Martha lane fox cbe
President, British Chambers of Commerce
Cristoph Brem
Co-Founder, LevelPlane
Gregor Poynton MP
Labour Party Business Champion and Member of the House of Commons Select Committee for Business and Trade
Professor Jun Du
Centre for Business Prosperity, Aston University
Agenda
The following agenda is subject to change.
Welcome to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Global Annual Conference 2025.
Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE, President, The British Chambers of Commerce
In Conversation With: Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE, President, BCC, and Robert Begbie, CEO, NatWest Commercial & Institutional
Panel Discussion: “Where’s the growth?”
Moderated by Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE
Panellists:
- Ciarán Quilty, SVP, Intuit
- James Phipps, Managing Director, Cokebusters
- Christoph Brem, Co-Founder, LevelPlane
In Conversation With: Shevaun Haviland CBE, Director General, BCC, and Thomas Woldbye, Chief Executive Officer, Heathrow
Breakout 1 – Global Britain
Reshaping Global Trade: Can the UK diversify its links in key trading markets?
Brought to you by NatWest
Moderator: Chris Heyes, Commercial Director, UK India Business Council (UKIBC)
Panellists:
- Robert Begbie, CEO, NatWest Commercial and Institutional, NatWest
- Gregor Poynton MP, Labour Party Business Champion and Member of the House of Commons Select Committee for Business and Trade
- Professor Jun Du, Director for Centre for Business Prosperity, Aston University
- William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, BCC
Breakout 2 – Digital Revolution
Enabling growth through digitalisation
Brought to you by Intuit
Moderator: Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
Panellists:
- Leigh Thomas, Vice President EMEA, Intuit
- Wendy Shearer, Director of Partners & Ecosystems
- Emma Allen,
- Ben Martin, Policy Manager, British Chambers of Commerce
Breakout 3 – People and Work
Boosting access to an employable workforce
Moderator: Corin Crane, Group Chief Executive, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
Panellists:
- Stephen Evans, CEO, Learning and Work Institute
- Lisa Massey, HR Director at SOCOTEC UK & Ireland and member of BCC Employment Expert Panel
- Lauren Edwards MP, Chair of the APPG for Education and Skills +
- Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy, British Chamber of Commerce
Breakout 4 – Green Innovation
Unlocking low carbon technology deployment to drive growth
Brought to you by Heathrow
Moderator: Miranda Barker, Chief Executive of East Lancashire Chamber
Panellists:
- Nigel Milton, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer, Heathrow
- Martin Baxter, Deputy CEO, IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment)
- Stephen Allen, COO of isentra
- Dr Eoin Devane, Head of Carbon Budgets, Climate Change Committee
Breakout 5 – Local Economy of the Future
Devolution: Creating a business environment to support growth
Moderator: Dan Fell, Chief Executive of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce
Panellists:
- Eve Roodhouse, Director of Strategy & Policy, Local Government Association
- Akash Paun, Programme Director – Devolution, Institute for Government
- Rachel Laver, CEO Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce
- Jonny Haseldine, Head of Corporate Governance & Business Environment Policy, British Chambers of Commerce
LOCATION
Our Global Annual Conference 2025 will take place at the QEII Centre, London.
2024 Conference
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE 2024 CONFERENCE HERE
