Meet The 2026 Speakers

Darren Sanderson-Williams has been General Manager with Specsavers since March 2024. He was previously the Global Head of Leasing for Impress where he led site selection, negotiation and legals to lease in all seven markets. Darren is the Founder of Williams Harding Consulting working with start-ups, expanding and distressed businesses, primarily in retail and hospitality, but also outside of these sectors. In addition, he is Non-Executive Chairman of men’s skincare company Scrubd and a Trustee at Action 4 Youth. Darren has formerly held senior roles in several retail and hospitality businesses, including Hotel Chocolat and Unilever. He currently holds two ambassadorial roles, including Schools Role Model for Stonewall, and fundraising and awareness for Target Ovarian Cancer. Williams Harding also partners with a Bulgarian dog rescue centre.

Erol Ayvaz is the Co-Founder and CEO of Serve First, a customer experience platform helping businesses turn feedback into meaningful action. With nearly 20 years in technology, SaaS and customer experience. His past experience spans across Head of Enterprise for Northern Europe at Asana, Enterprise Sales Director at Fourth, and VP of Strategic Relations at Market Force Information, where he worked with enterprise customers across mystery shopping, audits and survey programmes. Alongside his technology career, Erol operated 12 Papa John’s and SUBWAY franchise locations, employing over 100 staff and gaining first-hand insight into the challenges frontline teams face every day. At Serve First, Erol champions AI-led insight using customer data, operational experience and audits, encouraging SMEs and enterprises to improve retention, revenue and recommendations. Backed by Mercia, Pembroke and Tiny.vc, Erol is focused on helping businesses scale with purpose.

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).

Graham Johnston is Owner & CEO of Kitchens International. Prior to this role, leading timber expert, Donaldson Group, appointed Graham him as CEO of its Retail and Distribution division in September 2022. Graham joined the Donaldson Group from ASDA where he was senior director of omnichannel customer support, running a large UK and international operation alongside delivering a technology and cultural transformation programme to provide an innovative customer experience for millions of customers, across multiple channels. He also spent a decade at Hutchison 3G UK (Three), where he was most recently head of omnichannel, responsible for the creation, deployment, and delivery of a strategy to provide best-in-class customer experience across online, app, retail, contact centres, and indirect channels.

Shetal Bhatt is the Global Head of Digital, Loyalty and Customer Engagement at Costa. She has extensive experience in digital, loyalty and CRM leadership, data management, and Martech implementation, having held national and international roles at SSE Energy Customer Solutions, Sixt, Alshaya, Engine, Subway, Shell, British American Tobacco, and Philips. 

Steven Kainth has worked at the cutting edge of retail and digital marketing for over 20 years, working with brands such as Ray Ban, Google, Mercedes, Omega Watches, Prada and Samsung. He has an incredible knowledge and deep understanding of how digital technologies are being used to engage consumers and advance humanity and is considered by many as their ‘go to AI guru’. It’s the insight gained working with brands such as PlayStation, Meta and Microsoft that has resulted in him developing a groundbreaking project, Lunaria, an online city that’s a cross between a department store for tomorrow and an interactive media service. It aims to reduce real world carbon emissions and is where visitors can discover planet conscious products and services. Lunaria’s mission is to build an advanced online community that uses product discovery tools and interactive media. The city will soon feature a digital health clinic where users will be able to self-administer media-based medicines.

Nick King, as the Insight Director at Auto Trader, analyses and interprets the trends in consumer adoption of technology and what this means for manufacturers and retailers. By doing so, can demonstrate strategies for customer acquisition and retention through digital and traditional offline channels. He has a particular focus on best practice in digital retailing today; how to stand out in digital marketplace – what are successful retailers doing today to win and; what will be the must have technologies – AI, VR, augmented reality.

Russ Danks is currently Chief Innovation & Comms Officer at PureGym, He was previously Managing Director at Laine Pub Co, where he belived in cultivating an inclusive and motivational workplace environment that provides every team members with a safe space. Prior to that Russ was the Marketing & Strategy Director of Punch Pubs & Co, before taking over as the new MD of its Laine Pub Company division in April 2023.

Ed Duggan joined Fishpools in the summer of 2013 as their CFO & Commercial Director, where he has built a considerable multi-site retail finance, commercial and operational skill set in businesses of varying size and complexity. He currently has responsibility for all aspects of finance, brand & communication strategy, online development, plus marketing. He started his career as a member of the Tesco Graduate Scheme, working his way up to more recently as Finance & Commercial Director for Furniture Village and is now at Fishpools.

Shannon Osman is the Head of Retail at Footasylum, responsible for leading store strategy and operations across the UK. Since joining the business she has focused on driving growth, empowering teams, and championing a people-first approach to retail leadership.

With 16 years of experience at Lush, Kasey Swithenbank has dedicated her career to reimagining retail and championing high streets as vibrant, experiential destinations. Starting as a Sales Assistant in Lush Cardiff in 2010, she went on to manage the store by 2012, and later  stepped into a leadership role as a UK&I Retailer in 2017. Now, as Head of Retail for the UK & Ireland, Kasey oversees more than 100 Lush shop managers, driving innovation and growth across the business. She is passionate about the power of retail to create lasting memories, believing that Lush shops are more than just places to buy products, they’re spaces where customers connect with people, experiences, and the company’s values. Whether through immersive shopping, spa treatments, bespoke parties, or tailored consultations, she is committed to elevating what it means to shop on the high street. Beyond the physical retail strategy, Kasey is a strong advocate for equitable leadership
practices, whilst her focus remains on delivering exceptional experiences for both customers and staff while ensuring Lush’s retail presence continues to evolve and inspire.

Janis Thomas is the Chief Marketing Officer at Clothes Doctor, a fast-growing UK wardrobe-care brand built for people who invest in their clothes and want them to last. She was previously the Managing Director at Look Fabulous Forever (LFF), the innovative DTC cosmetics and skincare brand designed to meet the needs of older women. Janis is an expert in driving digital marketing to deliver increased revenue and profitable growth in eommerce and subscription businesses. Previously responsible for leading eCommerce and marketing at LFF, Janis has grown diverse brands from Birchbox to Playboy. She has held senior consumer marketing roles in eCommerce, digital media and entertainment businesses.

John Magill brings over 20 years’ expertise in creating exceptional retail environments, driving product‑merchandising innovation, and elevating digital experiences. His career includes influential roles at EE and Sky, where he helped shape next‑generation store formats, reimagined customer journeys, and advanced omni‑channel transformation. Recognised for uniting deep customer insight with forward‑thinking design, John develops standout retail concepts and brand‑evolution strategies that set businesses apart. He is dedicated to crafting transformative customer experiences that unlock new growth opportunities and position brands as true market leaders.

 

Pim Vellenga is an accomplished leader in Operations Management and Strategic Programme Development, currently working on the physical expansion at Emma Sleep. He is skilled at translating visions and strategies into reality through pragmatism and analytical thinking. Pim has coached various startups in their physical and offline operations, getting their products to the customer. He was responsible for the physical operations expansion of VanMOOF.