Allister Frost, Future Ready Mindset Expert
Allister Frost is a business transformation and growth expert, known for his passion for helping others thrive through change and uncertainty.
Felicity Hannah, Journalist
Felicity Hannah is a highly experienced, multi award-winning journalist, specialising in personal finance, consumer affairs and business.
Dr Paul Redmond, Leading expert in generational theory and employability
Dr Paul Redmond is an internationally recognised speaker, author, and thought leader on generational change, attention, and leadership in the age of artificial intelligence. One of the UK’s leading experts on the future of work, he helps organisations worldwide understand and respond to AI, automation, and demographic change in ways that directly impact leadership effectiveness and organisational performance.
As a former Microsoft leader, he seeks to inspire greater curiosity, imagination, and courageous collaboration to unlock continuous improvements, strengthen resiliency, and spark high-performance teamwork. He is the author of ReadyAlready and on a mission is to save more than a million working lives from the lethal complacency of the comfort zone.
She regularly presents several BBC radio programmes, including Money Box, Money Box Live, Wake Up To Money and You and Yours. She recently co-hosted the Big Green Money Show with Deborah Meaden. On top of those, Felicity is a regular business news presenter for Radio 4’s Today programme and co-presents a variety of programmes on Radio 5 Live.
She has made several investigative documentaries, including 3 episodes of Radio 4’s File On 4, Uninsurable Planet on Radio 4 and also the enormously successful recent series of the BBC podcast Understand: The Economy.
Felicity is regularly featured as an expert on other programmes, including Rip Off Britain, ITV’s Lorraine and BBC Breakfast.
Over her career, Felicity has written for The Times and Sunday Times, The Mirror, The Guardian and The Independent, demonstrating an ability to change her tone and style to suit numerous different audiences.
Felicity won ‘Broadcast Journalist of the Year’ three times in a row at the Headlinemoney Awards and each time the judges praised her warmth and engaging manner. To date, she has secured 10 journalism awards, six of those for her broadcast work.
A highly in-demand keynote speaker, Paul advises senior leaders, professional services firms, and global organisations on thriving in today’s multi-generational, AI-powered, attention-scarce workplace. His work focuses on a defining leadership challenge of our time: how leaders attract, protect, and direct human attention in a technology-dominated world.
Paul is a Director and Visiting Fellow at London’s City Literary Institute, one of Europe’s largest adult education colleges, where he also serves on the Board of Governors. Having held senior roles across leading universities, he has spent over two decades advising institutions, employers, and policymakers, guiding the careers of thousands of students and professionals.
His research spans Generation Z and Generation Alpha, ‘Zombie Jobs’—roles hollowed out by automation—inter-generational communication, workplace ‘technoference,’ and the growing global crisis of attention. His widely viewed TEDx talk on Zombie Jobs is a reference point in international debates on automation and employability.
A regular contributor to national media, Paul appears frequently on BBC radio and television and is known for combining rigorous research, sharp insight, and practical, board-level takeaways with a highly engaging speaking style. Since 2020 he has hosted a global webinar series that brings together businesses, HR professionals, and educational leaders worldwide to explore the future of work and talent.
He is the author of several influential books, including Future Proofing Your Career and The Graduate Jobs Formula. His forthcoming book, Fearlessly Human: Leadership and Attention in the AI Age, explores why mobilising attention is now a critical leadership skill.
In recognition of his contribution to public debate and professional practice, Paul was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
!
Peter Moore, Lolly Founder & CEO.
My mission is to take state-of-the-art tech into the hospitality and education sector and to make it both accessible and productive.
Piers Gibbon, Master of Ceremonies
Piers has 20 years’ experience on conference stages. He is enthusiastic about keeping events running on time and with intelligence, sensitivity and humour. He also loves bringing a sense of occasion and excitement to awards ceremonies.
Andrew Taylor, Head of Conferences, Warwick Conferences, Univerity of Warwick
Andrew Taylor is Head of Conferences at Warwick Conferences, where he leads the strategic development of conference facilities and guest experience.
Spent many years in senior roles at several tech companies, Vineyard owner, and lover of English wine!
He is the Master of Ceremonies for The University of Warwick graduation ceremonies and is passionate about the power of education to improve our world.
Piers has a degree in Human Sciences from Oxford University, he has presented live political discussion radio shows and many hours of documentary adventure television for the National Geographic Channel (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, Cannibals of Papua New Guinea and The Witchdoctor Will See You Now…and Channels 4 and 5 (Jungle Trip and Tasting History series).
He is the author of the book Tribe: Endangered Peoples Around The World.
He is a BAFTA voting member thanks to those TV shows, and his narration of over 200 hours of documentaries on the BBC and Channel 4/5
More details and videos on his website
He has been instrumental in driving a more sustainable approach to refurbishment, balancing environmental impact with cost, return on investment, and high-quality outcomes. Warwick Conferences road map encompasses the wider to sustainability. Andrew is particularly interested in practical solutions that reduce waste while enhancing the longevity and performance of conference spaces.
Sioned Cash, Interim Director of Staff and Student Accommodation, University of Warwick
Sioned Cash is the Interim Director of Staff and Student Accommodation at the University of Warwick, where she leads a large, multi-disciplinary service responsible for over 7,000 on campus staff and student bedrooms, campus wide cleaning operations and key student-facing services.
Tim Woodman-Clarke, Head of Operations for Residences and Campus Cleaning Services, University of Warwick
Tim Woodman-Clarke is Head of Residences and Campus Cleaning Services at the University of Warwick, where he leads operational delivery across a large and diverse residential portfolio, including campus accommodation and cleaning services.
Becca Hayhurst, Head of Resident Experience & Wellbeing, Unite Students
Becca Hayhurst is Head of Resident Experience & Wellbeing at Unite Students, the UK’s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. An experienced student services practitioner, Becca has spent 20 years supporting students’ living and wellbeing experience in UK Higher Education.
With almost 20 years’ experience across both higher education and the commercial accommodation sector, Sioned brings extensive expertise in operational delivery, large-scale asset management and strategic planning. She is responsible for a significant multi-million-pound operation and is focused on maintaining service quality and student experience while navigating the challenges of ageing infrastructure, investment priorities and an increasingly complex operating environment.
Sioned holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and has a strong focus on continuous improvement and delivering effective, resilient services at scale.
With over 30 years’ experience in the higher education sector, Tim brings extensive strategic and operational expertise, having held senior leadership roles focused on student accommodation, residential operations and service delivery. His career includes significant experience at Nottingham Trent University prior to joining Warwick, where he has continued to lead large-scale services supporting thousands of students living on campus.
Tim has a strong track record in driving service improvement and enhancing the student experience, with a particular focus on operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and the effective management of complex, high-volume environments. He is experienced in leading change across estates and accommodation services, balancing day-to-day operational demands with longer-term strategic priorities.
Alongside his professional role, Tim has also contributed to the wider education sector through governance and trustee positions, reflecting a broader commitment to supporting education and community development.
At Unite Students, Becca has led on the innovative student wellbeing framework Support to Stay, aligned with university processes, and introduced a 24/7 student assistance programme to provide clinical support for residents. Having relaunched the business’s Resident Ambassador programme and CARE customer service principles, she has delivered record student satisfaction scores for care and support.
Having worked for both sides, Becca is an expert on aligning university and PBSA wellbeing processes. Her knowledge of best practice and holistic approaches that work at scale, combined with her resident experience know-how, make her an inspiring addition to any HE sector agenda.
Phil Lewis, Sales Director, Unite Students
Phil oversees all sales channels at Unite Students, including University Nominations, the International and Virtual Sales teams, as well as the Divisional Commercial Managers.
Barry Anns, Chief Executive Officer, Kinetic
Barry Anns is Chief Executive Officer at Kinetic, where he sets the strategic direction and holds accountability for delivering value across the full customer journey — from product ambition through to customer outcomes.
Rob Johnstone, Head of Product, Kinetic
Rob Johnstone is Head of Products at Kinetic, where he leads the product vision, strategy and roadmap across Kinetic's software portfolio for higher education and hospitality — with a focus on building products that solve real operational problems and create lasting value for the communities Kinetic serves.
Having joined Unite in 2011, Phil has held several senior leadership roles, including Head of Operations for the North, Central, and South regions. In 2020, he transitioned into a central support role and became part of the newly formed commercial team, where he has been instrumental in shaping sales strategies for each city.
Barry's focus is on ensuring Kinetic is solving real problems in higher education and hospitality, and that the business model is sustainable enough to keep investing in those solutions at the pace the sector needs. He works closely with the board, the leadership team, and Kinetic's largest strategic customers to understand where the market is moving and where Kinetic can lead — believing that getting those relationships right is what creates genuine competitive advantage.
Kinetic is part of the Volaris Group Education, Cultural and Arts portfolio, and Barry sees that permanent capital ownership as fundamental to what Kinetic can offer the sector. The financial stability it provides means continuous reinvestment in product and capability so customers can depend on Kinetic being here, evolving and improving over decades, not just the next funding cycle.
Before joining Kinetic, Barry built a track record across multiple C-suite roles in EdTech and software, with particular experience in scaling businesses, executing turnarounds, and driving international growth. His leadership philosophy is grounded in data-driven decision-making and a genuine commitment to developing people and building cultures where teams can do their best work.
Rob has spent over 20 years at Kinetic, progressing from frontline support through to product leadership. That depth of experience gives him an unusually grounded understanding of how the software works in practice and what customers actually need from it: something that shapes everything from how his team builds, to how they listen.
He is a strong advocate for customer-led product development, and his team has spent the past year running on-site workshops and conversations with university catering and accommodation teams to ensure new development is anchored in real-world challenges. Rob is also an active voice on the role of AI in product management and believes the most important skills in the discipline remain fundamentally human: knowing what problem you're solving, understanding your customer, and having the discipline to know what not to build.
Rob holds a Product MBA and is a qualified Mental Health First Aider, reflecting both his commitment to continuous development and the kind of team culture he works to foster at Kinetic.
Rachael Lee, Membership Director, Academic Venue Solutions
Rachael Lee is Managing Director of RBA & Partners, a specialist consultancy supporting hotels and academic venues with business development, growth strategy and unlocking new opportunities. With over 25 years in the hospitality and events sector, she is known for combining commercial focus with a strong belief in doing business in the right way.
Sam Glenister-Batey, Deputy Director of Commercial and Business Development, University of Leeds
Sam Glenister-Batey is Deputy Director of Commercial and Business Development at the University of Leeds, bringing a strong background in conferences and events to his leadership of income growth, commercial strategy and the wider campus experience.
Robert Kingham, Director - Head of Advisory, Student First
Robert has over 25 years’ experience in the property industry and for the last 15 has specialised in providing strategic estates advice to the Higher Education sector. He is a Chartered Management Consultancy Surveyor with particular experience in on-campus student housing partnerships, business cases, estate strategies, option appraisals, feasibility studies, capital funding bids, learning environments and space planning.
Since launching her business in 2017, Rachael has built a reputation for helping venues navigate a changing market with practical, strategic insight. She currently leads the management and development of Academic Venue Solutions, driving both commercial performance and a strong, connected membership community within the academic events space.
Her earlier career includes a decade at Warwick Conferences, University of Warwick, where she led a team of 30 and delivered against a £25m sales target. In 2022, she secured the Academic Venue Solutions management contract in her own right, reflecting both her track record and industry standing.
Alongside her commercial work, Rachael is a board director at Wivenhoe House, University of Essex, and a qualified Mental Health First Aider. She actively champions wellbeing within the events industry, creating calm spaces at events and advocating for a more balanced, supportive working environment.
With more than twenty years of commercial leadership across higher education, sport, museums and heritage, he has held senior commercial events roles at the Royal College of Music, Historic Royal Palaces, the Science Museum Group, West Ham United and Chiswick House & Gardens. Sam is also Vice-Chair at Academic Venue Solutions.
Robert has advised 50+ universities in the UK and internationally, and 30+ Further Education Colleges, as well as local authorities, NHS trusts, museums, developers and investors.
Sarah Ead, Head of Insight, Global Student Living
Sarah has nearly 20 years of professional research experience, including within the UK’s largest media agency. She has been instrumental in designing and running many studies for both commercial and non-commercial clients including major UK and international brands.
Melissa Browne, CUBO Chair and Acting Director of Campus Services, University of Kent
Melissa has worked within the student accommodation sector since 2009 and has gained invaluable experience within the Private and HEI sectors. Melissa is the Acting Director of Campus Services at the University of Kent, having been in post since 2022.
Sarah McLoughlin, Head of Learning and Development, TUCO
Sarah McLoughlin is Head of Learning and Development at TUCO, leading L&D initiatives that support catering and hospitality professionals across higher education.
Since joining GSL, she has taken leadership in the development of our major research projects across the HE and student accommodation sectors and is currently Head of Insight at the Global Student Living Index - the world’s leading student insight platform and performance improvement tool for both university and private student accommodation providers.
For the last three years, GSL have worked in collaboration with CUBO on thought-leadership projects to support the industry in driving up standards and enhancing their understanding of the student experience. Sarah will be giving you a preview of some of the key findings from our latest report, which draws on the wealth of rich data and trends from the GSL Index and focuses specifically on the impact of the resident life experience on the student experience.
This is the third report GSL have produced in collaboration with CUBO following our 2023 report “Future Proof” profiling different international student cohorts and last year’s ‘Closing the Gap report’, which took a deep dive into the experiences and needs of a number of potentially vulnerable student cohorts.
She has extensive experience gained in managing both in-house and 3rd party contract staff, with direct strategic and operational management responsibilities, including managing Soft Services Contracts, New Builds, Mobilisation and Refurbishment Projects, Capital Investment works, Third Party Lettings/Commercial Summer Lettings and Outsourced and Inhouse Catering.
Melissa has been a member of various Senior Leadership Teams throughout her career. As a trained life coach Melissa has focused her career on the importance of investing and developing people to create effective, diverse and happy working environments which will allow teams to ‘thrive’ and achieve organisation goals and objectives. She specialises in Leadership development, building training programmes, managing teams through organisational change, promoting Culture and EDI initiatives within organisations whilst meeting commercial objective and targets.
Melissa's vision for her role at CUBO is to create a CUBO L&D framework that supports the goals and ambitions of the CUBO members. Working actively with current and new members to create impactful training and mentoring opportunities for leaders and their teams which will add value to organisations and the people within them.
She specialises in creating practical, engaging development opportunities, from study tours and industry collaborations to leadership programmes and skills training. Sarah is particularly passionate about connecting people, sharing ideas and bringing global food, retail and hospitality trends back into the sector to inspire innovation and excellence.
Nicola Mellor, Head of Contracts, TUCO
Nicola has responsibility for TUCO’s annual spend of over £160 million and manages the contracting team. Legal compliance and value for money are key to the role as is stakeholder engagement; ensuring that our members views are represented in each agreement.
James Mathers, Franchise Relationship Manager, Unitemps
James Mathers is the Franchise Relationship Manager at Unitemps, where he oversees franchise operations and drives collaboration across the organisation's university network.
Clive Singleton, Head of Conference and Event Catering, Warwick Conferences, University of Warwick
Clive is a results-driven hospitality leader with an extensive career and experience over 40 years managing high-volume hotel, university events and large-scale catering and events.
Nicola is also responsible for the following frameworks: Design & Installation, Hot Beverages. She is also the Responsible Procurement representative, and has regional responsibility for the Scotland region.
Based at the University of Warwick hub, James acts as a strategic partner to internal teams and external university stakeholders, ensuring operational excellence, compliance, and network growth.
With an extensive background in recruitment and human resources, James specializes in talent acquisition, branch management, and stakeholder engagement. Prior to his current role, he served as the Branch Manager for Unitemps at Staffordshire University, where he successfully aligned student employment initiatives with local economic needs. He also brings valuable commercial recruitment expertise from his previous tenure at Hays.
Currently working as the Head of Conference and Event catering for Warwick Conferences at the University of Warwick, where they cover and specialise on all forms of conferences and events, which in turn brings a wide and imaginative cross section of customers and catering requirements. Wrapped inside the role is the Internal catering for staff and students with a whole world of budget driven catering as well as high profile bespoke events and requirements. All of this while aiming to achieve key guest satisfaction, financial targets, the world of Food Health & Safety compliance and the ever-increasing world of dietary and allergen requirements
Known for a leading approach to management, Clive excels at developing high-performance teams and fostering a culture of exceptional service as well as anything is achievable, you just have to find the right solution (there is always one).
Mark Ralph, Head of Food, Warwick Conferences, University of Warwick
Mark Ralph is the Head of Food for Warwick Conferences at the University of Warwick, where he oversees culinary and catering operations across major campus venues, including the Scarman, Radcliffe, and Arden conference centres.
James Ellerby, Senior Consultant, Russell Partnership Collection
James is an experienced hospitality practitioner and consultant, with over 20 years’ experience in the industry. After graduating with a degree in Hospitality Business Management, James developed a management career within food and beverage and has worked for, and with, a variety of hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Jonathan Perry, Head of Franchise Development, Co-op Franchise
Jonathan has a 30 year career in convenience retailing with Co-op, he has held a variety positions including Head of Format Design and Development and now Head of Development for the franchise business. He has a wealth of experience and insight to share.
With a career rooted in culinary excellence, Mark previously served as the Head Chef at the Brandon Hall Hotel & Spa and completed his formal training at Stratford-upon-Avon College.A passionate advocate for sustainability within the events industry, Mark champions local and sustainable catering practices, actively prioritizing regional suppliers to reduce transport emissions. Beyond the kitchen, he is dedicated to mentorship and community engagement.
Prior to joining Russell Partnership Collection, James established his own consultancy business, working with a variety of independent and national hospitality, education, and care organisations to review their operations and processes and successfully supporting business improvements across a range of functions.
Since joining the Partnership, James has worked closely with leading universities, the NHS, local government, hotels, and independent food businesses, to review and develop catering strategies, develop new food concepts, and manage new outlet design projects. James has also written, developed, and delivered training programmes for leading international hotel, travel, and leisure operators.
Qualified to master’s level in Organisation Development and Consultancy, James is currently furthering his education through studying a part-time PhD exploring success and failure in new restaurants. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is an experienced university lecturer in hospitality management.
Simon James, Founder & CEO, CampusLife
Simon sets the direction for CampusLife and leads its partnerships. Under his watch, the company has grown its reach considerably, with a real focus on shaking up how universities handle student accommodation communications and residential life.
Mike Ritchie, Digital Director, CampusLife
Mike leads operational strategy at CampusLife. He knows ResLife technology, compliance and student engagement platforms inside out, and has worked with 85+ universities across the UK, Australia and North America to rethink how they communicate with students throughout their time at university.
Hannah McCawley, Partnerships Manager, CampusLife
Hannah brings years of sector experience to her partnerships role at CampusLife. She works with universities and residential operators across multiple markets, building the kind of relationships that help institutions find student communication solutions that actually fit.
He's got deep sector knowledge across student housing, residential operations and technology, and he's driven by one thing: helping universities give their students a more meaningful, personalised experience.
Mike's a regular on the conference circuit, speaking on student communications, the student experience and how the right technology can build real community in residential settings.
She gets the realities of residential life, and that understanding shapes how CampusLife delivers genuine value for the people it works with.
Isaiah Fapuro, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, LSE
With 15 years’ experience in marketing, communications and placemaking, Isaiah has a passion for creating insightful strategies, memorable experiences, and meaningful connections with diverse audiences.
Manish Shah, Director of Operations, Gather + Gather
Manish Shah has over 25 years’ experience across the hospitality sector within both the public and private sectors, spanning in-house operations and outsourced catering models. Over the past decade, he has led the award-winning food operations at King’s College London and Royal Holloway University of London, alongside serving on the TUCO Board.
Charlotte Thwaite,
Sustainability Manager Universities, Gather + Gather
Charlotte has over 13 years of experience in the food industry, in roles including operations, sales and production with a particular expertise in sustainable supply chain management, packaging reduction and food waste management. She has built sustainable innovations for councils, universities, charities and SME’s, focusing on increasing operational and financial efficiencies through implementing more sustainable practises.
His work spans retail destinations, hospitality, entertainment and higher education, delivering culturally relevant storytelling and commercially driven campaigns across London and the UK. Isaiah currently leads marketing and communications for the Residences and Catering Division at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Currently Operations Director for the Universities sector at Gather & Gather, Manish oversees a portfolio with a turnover exceeding £40 million. He is passionate about driving innovation across food, technology, and sustainability, ensuring services remain future-focused, commercially strong, and market-leading. Recognised for building resilient, high-performing teams, Manish is committed to developing talent and delivering client-centric solutions tailored to the higher education sector.
A strong advocate for collaborative partnerships, Manish actively supports the LUPC/SUPC Framework and is a proud Platinum Sponsor supporter of CUBO, contributing to sector-wide thought leadership and advancement.
As well as having a thorough background in projects around sustainability, she has also co-ordinated the Covid supply-chain response for the UK's biggest meal kit delivery company, managed over 400 caterers and restaurants on a delivery platform and helped develop the new food strategy for Manchester as part of a diverse career.
Charlotte is the Sustainability Manager for the Gather and Gather Universities where she works with clients to implement their sustainable food goals alongside Gather & Gathers Net Zero targets. This includes focuses on carbon, disposable and food waste reduction initiatives as well as positive procurement and carbon labelling practises.
Sarah Djuric, CUBO Residence Life Group Lead and Residence Life Manager, University of Leeds
Sarah Djuric is an experienced professional in residence life management, currently serving as the Residence Life Steering Group Chair at CUBO College and University Business Officers since October 2024, and as the Residence Life Manager at the University of Leeds since May 2022.
Anca Sticlaru, Marketing and Communications Manager, London School of Economics
Anca is the Marketing and Communications Manager at LSE.
Anca oversees the communications strategy for halls of residence and marketing for campus catering and retail.
Ashley Wright, Director of Business Development, Kinetic
Ashley Wright is Director of Business Development at Kinetic, responsible for driving growth and building long-term partnerships across the higher education, PBSA and hospitality sectors.
Previously, Sarah held similar managerial roles at Dalhousie University and Wilfrid Laurier University, where responsibilities included providing 24/7 support to a large student body, enhancing living environments, and promoting staff and student development. Sarah began a career in student wellness and outreach with roles at the University of New Brunswick and Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society. Academically, Sarah holds a Master of Education in Student Affairs from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies from the University of New Brunswick.
She specialises in data‑driven and student-focused digital engagement in higher education at LSE.
Ashley brings an unconventional background to his commercial role. Before joining Kinetic, he spent over a decade as a teacher and senior leader at a school. The skills that made him effective in that environment- curiosity, discipline, an engineer's instinct for how things work, and a genuine investment in the people in front of him- turn out to translate remarkably well into building partnerships in a complex sector.
Since joining Kinetic in 2022, Ashley has built a reputation for combining strategic thinking with exceptional attention to detail, and for prioritising relationships over transactions. He is known for advising customers with integrity, including when that means recommending a different path. That approach has made him one of Kinetic's most trusted voices in the market, and someone colleagues and customers alike describe as raising standards wherever he works.
Clare Ody, VP of Brand and Partnerships, Kinetic
Clare Ody is VP of Brand and Partnerships at Kinetic, with responsibility for the PBSA sector and brand, marketing and partnerships across EMEA. She is the winner of the Best PBSA Leader award at the 2025 Class Foundation Best in Class Awards.
Professor Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor, University of Warwick
Clare brings over 20 years of experience across PBSA, student accommodation and hospitality, including senior operational and customer experience leadership roles at Unite Students and Liberty Living. She joined Kinetic having spent a decade as a Kx customer herself, giving her a perspective on the platform and the sector that is genuinely hard to replicate. That lived experience as an operator informs everything from how she engages with customers to how she thinks about what the sector needs next.
Known for her energy, breadth of capability and instinct for what matters to the people she works with, Clare is one of the most recognisable voices in UK PBSA. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, holds an ILM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Organisational Leadership, a Practitioner's Certificate in Data Protection (GDPR), and a BA (Hons) from Bournemouth University. Outside of Kinetic, she is a trustee of The Ellis Edwards Foundation, a children's bereavement charity.
