Welcome to the British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference 2024.

The theme for 2024 event is “The Future of the Economy”.  Our work over the past year has sought answers to how Britain can boost sustainable economic growth, not just nationally but at local and regional levels.

Join us for informal networking before the event begins. Make use of the event App to connect with people and exhibitors in the networking area.  Simply use the QR code on the App to share your contact details and make a direct connection. 

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is delighted to be hosting its Global Annual Conference 2024. 

Let’s begin the day with an opening from our event facilitator, Clare Forestier. 

We’re looking forward to an amazing day ahead! 

Welcome: Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE, President, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Join this session to hear from BCC President, Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE as we begin our day at Global Annual Conference 2024. 

This year’s theme is “The Future of the Economy”. Our work over the past year has sought answers to how Britain can boost sustainable economic growth, not just nationally but at local and regional levels. We, along with our network of partners, and Business Council members, have developed a future vision for the UK economy, one that combines people, planet, and profit into a cohesive whole.

Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE

Martha is an entrepreneur, internet activist and, since March 2013, sits in the UK House of Lords as a crossbench peer. 

Martha was elected as President of the British Chambers of Commerce in October 2022. Alongside her Presidency of the British Chambers, Martha has served as Chancellor of Open University since 2014 and is the current Chair of WeTransfer. She is also a non-executive director of Chanel and, until its recent sale, Martha was a Director of Twitter. 

From 2009 to 2013 Martha was Digital Champion for the UK and helped to create the Government Digital Service – this team launched gov.uk transforming government service delivery. In 2013 Martha was awarded a CBE. 

Martha co- founded and chairs LuckyVoice, revolutionising the karaoke industry. Martha is a Patron of Day One Trauma, iamtheCODE, and Just for Kids Law. 

In 1998 Martha co-founded Europe’s largest travel and leisure website, lastminute.com with Brent Hoberman. They took it public in 2000 and sold it in 2005. 

Keynote Speaker: Shevaun Haviland, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)

The BCC is delighted to be hosting its Global Annual Conference 2024. This year’s theme is “The Future of the Economy”. 

Our work over the past year has sought answers to how Britain can boost sustainable economic growth, not just nationally but at local and regional levels. We, along with our network of partners, and Business Council members, have developed a future vision for the UK economy, one that combines people, planet, and profit into a cohesive whole.

This session is a must-attend as we launch our Future of the Economy Manifesto which sets out five priorities for immediate action to put in place the right policies and structures that will turn the fly wheel of the economy, so that business can step up and make the best of these opportunities.  

Shevaun Haviland

Director General of BCC since April 2021, Shevaun was formerly Head of Business Engagement at Number 10 Downing Street and was at the heart of Government in the Cabinet Office as Head of the Inclusive Economy Partnership.

Shevaun started her career in consultancy in London and New York. She then moved to the Walt Disney Company in strategic planning before joining Disneyland Paris, opening the second theme park. Shevaun then joined the agency world, running global accounts for Millward Brown, Mindshare and WPP.

Following this, she became a partner in a start-up digital innovation agency and venture builder, Independents United, where she also became an Advisor for the Danson Foundation. Most recently, Shevaun was the New Ventures Director for Avado, building new businesses in Edtech and founding the Academy of Digital Business Leaders.

Shevaun has a passion for business as a force for good. A Trustee of Barefoot College International, Shevaun also sits on the Boards of BCC, the Women of the World Foundation (WoW) and the International Chambers of Commerce UK (ICC UK).

Shevaun Haviland in conversation with Robert Begbie, CEO NatWest Commercial & Institutional and CEO NatWest Markets.

We are delighted to have NatWest as our headline sponsor for the 2024 Global Annual Conference. In this session, Shevaun and Robert will discuss the UK economy and the challenges and opportunities for UK businesses. 

Robert Begbie was appointed CEO of NatWest Commercial & Institutional in March 2024. He is also CEO of NatWest Markets which he has led since 2019. 

The Commercial & Institutional franchise supports customers ranging from entrepreneurs and start-ups through to multi-nationals and financial institutions. 

Robert has been with the Group for over 40 years and has extensive experience in treasury and capital markets. During his career, he has built successful capital markets businesses across fixed income, derivatives, asset management and cash markets and led teams in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US. 

After spending 20 years in our Markets business, Robert joined Treasury in 2009 where he was instrumental in transforming the Group’s balance sheet. In 2017 Robert was appointed as Group Treasurer with responsibilities for all aspects of Treasury and the management of the bank’s balance sheet. 

He holds an MBA from CASS Business School and is a former president of The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland (London Branch).

We are honoured to be joined by Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade in conversation with Rachel Sylvester, political columnist at The Times. 

Jonathan Reynolds is a British Labour Co-op politician who has also been Member of Parliament (MP) for Stalybridge and Hyde since 2010. He is currently serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Reynolds served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition and a Shadow Energy and Climate Change Minister from 2013 to 2015. He was a Shadow Transport Minister from 2015 to 2016 and a Shadow Treasury Minister from 2016 until 2020. He was Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2020 to 2021, and has been a front bench representative on the Labour National Executive Committee since 2020.

It’s time for a break!

The Networking Zone is an opportunity for delegates to meet existing and new contacts.  Join us as we showcase the best of British business, and the Chamber Network, from across the UK and around the world.

Join us for informal networking during this time and make use of the event App to connect with people and exhibitors in the networking area.  Simply use the QR code on the App to share your contact details and make a direct connection. 

In this session opened by our event facilitator Clare Forestier, delegates will hear from notable business and public figures and engage in thought-provoking discussion with colleagues from across the Chamber Network.

Our speakers and panels sessions include: 

• Dame Amanda Blanc, CEO, Aviva
• Lady Nicola Mendelsohn CBE, Head of Global Business Group, Meta
• The Future of Work: AI, digital change and employee wellbeing in partnership with Drax, Microsoft and Simply Health 

We are delighted to be joined by the Lady Nicola Mendelsohn CBE, Head of Global Business Group, Meta  in conversation with Shevaun Haviland, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce. 

This session will be introduced by Thomas Woldbye, Chief Executive Officer, Heathrow.

Nicola Mendelsohn is the Head of Global Business Group at Meta, where she leads the company’s relationships with top marketers and agencies for all of our family of apps as well as global partnerships and engineering.

Nicola previously served as Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa for Meta – a role she held since 2013. In 2019, Nicola founded and launched the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation, a charity focused solely on raising funds to help the thousands of people living with Follicular Lymphoma to live well and get well. Nicola also serves as a Board member of The MMA and is an Ad Council member.

Prior to joining Meta, Nicola worked in advertising for over 20 years working at BBH, Grey and Karmarama. Her previous roles include serving as a Non -Executive Director of Diageo from 2014 – 2023, first female President of the IPA (the UK advertising industry trade body), Trustee of The White Ribbon Alliance, Chairman of Women’s Aid Development Board and President of WACL) She was also a Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, member of the UK government’s Digital Economy Council and Co-Chair of the UK Government’s Creative Industries Council. Previously, she served as a director of Cosmetic Executive Women and The Fragrance Foundation in the UK.

In 2015, she was awarded a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the creative industries in the UK. Her greatest joy in life comes from her husband Jon and her four children Gabi, Danny, Sam and Zac.

The Future of Work:  AI, digital change and employee wellbeing 

Moderated by Alex Veitch, Director of Policy and Insight, BCC

This session will be introduced by Richard Gwilliam, UK BECCS Programme Director, Drax

Panellists include: 

• Rhiannon Bearne, Policy & Representation & Deputy CEO, North East Chamber
• Simon Clements, Director of Talent, Drax
• Hugh Millward, Vice President, External Affairs, Microsoft
• Paul Schreier, CEO, Simplyhealth

We are delighted to welcome Dame Amanda Blanc DBE, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aviva, as a keynote speaker at the British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference 2024.

This session will be introducted by Louise Kingham CBE,  Senior Vice President, Europe & Head of Country, UK, bp plc.

Amanda Blanc is the Group CEO of Aviva, the UK’s leading insurance, wealth and retirement business.  Amanda is also HM Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter Champion; Co-Chair of the UK Transition Taskforce, which is developing a gold standard for private sector climate transition plans, and is a Non-Executive director of BP plc.  Amanda was awarded a Damehood in the King’s New Year Honours in January 2024. 

It’s time for lunch! Join us for informal networking during this time and make use of the event App to connect with people and exhibitors in the networking area. 

See more information in the Breakout Sessions tab. Registered attendees can book these sessions via the Event App. 

• 13:40 (UK time) People and Work: In partnership with Simplyhealth

• 13:40 (UK time) Local Economy of the Future: In partnership with NatWest

• 13:40 (UK time) Green Innovation: In partnership with Heathrow

• 14:40 (UK time) Digital Revolution

• 14:40 (UK time) Global Britain: In partnership with BP 

Please note that some of these sessions are running concurrently. Make sure you do not register for sessions taking place at the same time.

It’s time for a break!

The Networking Zone is an opportunity for delegates to meet existing and new contacts.  Join us as we showcase the best of British business, and the Chamber Network, from across the UK and around the world.

Join us for informal networking during this time and make use of the event App to connect with people and exhibitors in the networking area.  Simply use the QR code on the App to share your contact details and make a direct connection. 

We are delighted to welcome you back for our afternoon session, opened by our event facilitator, Clare Forestier as we look forward to hearing from: 

• Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for Business and Trade
• Sarah Howard MBE, Chair of British Chambers of Commerce

We are honoured to be joined by Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for Business and Trade in conversation with Rachel Sylvester, political columnist at The Times. 

This session will be introduced by Sarah Howard MBE, Chair, British Chambers of Commerce.

Kemi Badenoch was appointed Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade on 7 February 2023. She remains Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade on, which she was appointed to on 6 September 2022, and Minister for Women and Equalities for the Equality Hub, which she was appointed to on 25 October 2022.

Previously she was Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities between 16 September 2021 and 6 July 2022. She was Minister of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Equality Hub between 14 February 2020 and July 2022.

She was previously Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from 13 February 2020 to 15 September 2021 and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education from 27 July 2019 to 13 February 2020.

As the BCC Global Annual Conference 2024 comes to a close, we are honored to have Sarah Howard MBE, Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce, deliver the final address.

Join us for an inspiring conclusion that sets the stage for the year ahead, fostering a sense of unity and purpose within the global business community.

Sarah Howard MBE has a long history in the Chamber Movement and is a great advocate for the power of business for good. Sarah became Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce in 2019, is a Past President of Suffolk Chamber and sits on the board of the London Chamber. In challenging times for business, she has supported the BCC and international network’s growth and is working with her teams to ensure they support the growth and prosperity of our members.

She has a particular interest in skills development and bringing more diversity into the Boardroom and is currently working closely with Neurodiverity in Business. She was awarded the MBE in 2015 for her work on skills development for young people.

With a background in management consultancy, Sarah has worked for high profile organisations including JP Morgan and KPMG. She chairs Codikoat, a rapidly expanding British Biotech startup which is taking their unique antiviral, antibacterial technology to domestic and international markets.

She is also the Chair of Abbeycroft Leisure, a large not for profit Leisure Trust and is a Governor at West Suffolk College and a Member of Suffolk Academy Trust.

Thank you for joining us at Global Annual Conference 2024!