Meet The 2026 Speakers

Isabelle Gormezano Marks is the Marketing Director at East London Liquor Co. With 10 years of experience across consumer insights, advertising and drinks innovation under her belt, Isabelle’s expertise lies in emerging brands that challenge established assumptions of the marketplace. Having previously led the marketing at Small Beer before joining East London Liquor Co. her focus in No & Low and New World Whisky brings tried and tested knowledge of building brands that command new market share on limited budgets. Isabelle also runs STILTS, a power-up network designed for challenger brand teams that swivels the spotlight off founders and puts it onto the people who are building their brand with them in what are often unstructured and high pressured environments.

Susannah Schofield OBE is the Director General of the Direct Selling Association, the industry body for direct-to-consumer (D2C) retail in the UK. Prior to this, she spent 18 years at Royal Mail, culminating in her holding the Board-level role of Commercial & Innovation Director, where she led a team of 300. A passionate advocate for women and young people in business, Susannah was awarded an OBE for her work in this area in the 2015 Queen’s Honours List. She continues to champion women in business, and is a regular speaker on the importance of flexible working and portfolio careers. As well as being a published author (of business strategy book Mind the Gap), Susannah has lectured for The University of Kent and City, University of London, and also served as an advisor to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).