Welcome to the Bath Business Conference 2026
Returning for its’ fifth birthday, the Bath Business Conference is Bath’s largest meeting of business minds! A day packed with engaging content, something that you can talk about at the dinner table and fun people meet.
What to expect
The Event
Programme
Speakers
Take a look at the full programme, designed to inspire, challenge and most importantly have fun!
Doors open, Marketplace open
Welcome
Panel Discussions (Choose One)
The Overnight Visitor Levy:
How can we make it work for businesses?
Human Creativity in the Age of AI:
Harnessing thoughtful intentional communication
Break
Parallel Workshops (Choose One)
Protect your business from Fraud and Scams:
Live demonstration and helpful take aways
The Owner’s Hat:
Which hat are you wearing today in your business?
What if you could slay a Dragon?:
Brand storytelling and authenticity
Rehabilitation to Elite Performance
Helping People and Organisations Thrive
11:45 -13:00 – Social Connections for Better Business with Dr Margaret Heffernan and Bath Rotary Club:
Why Relationships Drive Business Success
Lunch
Parallel Workshops (Choose One)
Reimagining Kingston Parade:
A What If Workshop
The Savvy Woman’s Guide to Retirement:
What’s next?
Supporting your Employees, Protecting your Business:
Changing employment laws and the view from the front line
Business Networking Mixer
Intimate and longer version of the morning session
Beyond the Leadership Models and Frameworks:
The key ingredients that drive success
Panel Discussions (Choose One)
A Winning Mindset:
From a sporting perspective
Bath in 2040:
AI predictions Vs strategic plans
Closing Session/Farewell
Drinks
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Doors open, Marketplace open | |||||
| 09:30 – 09:45 | Welcome | Explore Marketplace | ||||
| 09:45 – 10:05 | Quickfire Speed Networking with Luca Volentir | |||||
| 10:05 – 11:15 | The Overnight Visitor Levy How can we make it work for businesses? | Human Creativity in the Age of AI Harnessing thoughtful intentional communication | ||||
| 11:15 – 11:45 | Break | |||||
| 11:45 – 12:45 | Protect yourself from Fraud and Scams Live demonstration and helpful take aways | The Owner’s Hat Which hat are you wearing today in your business? | What if you could slay a Dragon? Brand storytelling and authenticity | Rehabilitation to Elite Performance Helping People and Organisations Thrive | ||
| 11:45 – 13:00 | Social Connections Matter with Dr Margaret Heffernan and the Bath Rotary Club Why Relationships Drive Business Success | |||||
| 12:50 – 14:00 | Lunch | |||||
| 14:00 – 14:50 | Reimagining Kingston Parade A What If Workshop | The Savvy Woman’s Guide to Retirement: What’s next? | Supporting your Employees, Protecting your business Changing employment laws and the view from the front line | Business Networking Mixer Intimate and longer version of the morning session | Beyond the Leadership Models and Frameworks: The key ingredients that drive success | |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | A Winning Mindset from a sporting perspective | Bath in 2040 AI predictions Vs strategic plans | ||||
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Closing Session/Farewell | |||||
| 16:30 onwards | Drinks | |||||
Luca Volentir
Founder of the Briefing Room
Bio
Luca Volentir brings people together. The interesting part is what happens next.
Les Redwood
Marketing Manager at Mogers Drewett
Bio
Les is a passionate and driven leader with over 20 years’ experience spanning business development, marketing, finance and project management. He helps businesses, charities and third sector organisations build the resilience and sustainability they need to thrive.
Ross Exton
Founder & Director of Watch & Learn Productions
Bio
Video and multimedia producer with 15 years of experience taking projects from concept to screen — creative, educational, and technical. Ross handles everything: design, production, editing, and publication.
MaC Bowley
Director of Watch & Learn Productions
Bio
Mac is a learning designer and visual storyteller with a decade of experience making technical content resonate — a computer scientist by training, an educator by accident, and a visual storyteller by force of will.
Dr Margaret Heffernan
CEO & Author
Bio
Dr. Margaret Heffernan produced programmes for the BBC for 13 years. She produced dramas and documentaries in radio and television and was the first producer to put Simon Schama on TV. She then moved to the US where she spearheaded multimedia productions for Intuit, The Learning Company and Standard&Poors.
Jane Moffett
Author & Director of Kangaroo Coaching
Bio
Executive coach and experienced facilitator with over 20 years’ experience of working with new parents during their transition to parenthood, as well as employees going through other transitions, Jane works with organisations in the UK and internationally.
Lucy Cotterell
HR Consultant at Mogers Drewett
Bio
Lucy has over 20 years’ experience in HR and worked at Director level for over 9 years for a regional Further Education College. Her experience includes responsibility for HR across all functions including Resourcing, Relations, Reward and development at both operational and strategic level.
Andy Collins
Founder of Carey Phoenix Life Coaching
Bio
A dedicated ICF-Improved Life Coach and Health & Wellbeing Professional with over two decades of experience in Recovery and Mindset Coaching, helping people turn hardship into strength and clarity.
Peter Rolliston
Business Coach and Partner at tPS Coaching
Bio
Peter has built and run his own businesses (some successful, others… let’s just call them character-building). He’s led large teams and multi-million-pound budgets, as well as worked wonders with tiny ones — across sales, marketing, training, strategy, and culture change. Whatever the challenge, chances are he’s tackled something like it before.
Robert Delius
Associate Director at Stride Treglown
Bio
An architect and Head of Sustainability at Stride Treglown. His work centres on placemaking and distinctiveness, shaped by his Masters research into ‘Lococentric architecture’, and includes the RIBA competition-winning ‘Waters of Bath’. He’s passionate about creating places with a measurably positive impact on climate, ecology and people.
Steve Fuller
Co-Founder of The House
Bio
Steve helps business and brand become a force for good, inspiring leaders to imagine a brighter, more purposeful future for their organisations.
Gemma Griffin
Director at Macgregor Smith Landscape Architects
Bio
Gemma is a Director at Macgregor Smith, an award-winning landscape architecture practice, and a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute.
Richard Godfrey
Founder and CEO of Rocketmakers
Bio
Richard is co-founder and CEO of Rocketmakers, where he leads a team of passionate, talented software engineers, architects, designers and project managers who build award-winning solutions for innovative, growth-focused companies.
Ellie Leiper-Gill
Landlady of The Grapes and BID Board Director
Bio
Ellie has been landlady of The Grapes since 2019. Before that, she spent ten years in town centre management with her own consultancy, and six years running Love Your Local Market, a national campaign involving 1,200 markets across the country.
Zsike Peter
Strategic Narrative Copywriter and Founder of Vampire Digital
Bio
An ex-journalist, Zsike Peter is a strategic narrative copywriter and the founder of Vampire Digital, a boutique agency specialising in premium LinkedIn authority-building for founders, investors, and academics. With over wo decades of experience, she helps thought leaders craft magnetic brands rooted in intellectual sovereignty.
Chris White
Director of the Cyber Crime Resilience Centre
Bio
Chris moved from a career in computing into the Police in the mid-90s, working across several technology-focused roles within the Police including Prevent Sergeant with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. He’s now Director of the Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East, working to protect organisations from fraud and cybercrime.
Charles Brindley
Founder of Active Thinking
Bio
Charles leads Active Thinking, a specialist design agency that puts customers at the centre of design in high-footfall buildings and spaces — cutting complexity and cost while boosting revenue and experience at scale. Clients include Heathrow, Network Rail, the 2012 Olympics, Eurostar and Bath Abbey.
Meg Carter
Executive Director Sustainable Communities at Bath and North East Somerset Council
Bio
Meg Carter is an experienced local government leader who has delivered complex programmes across children’s, adults’ and regeneration services. She’s passionate about championing the voices and work of local authorities.
Kathryn Davis
CEO of Visit West
Bio
Kathryn is a highly experienced professional in the visitor economy, with more than 20 years’ experience in destination management, marketing and development. She brings a broad range of skills spanning business development, strategy, marketing, partnerships and planning across both the leisure and business sectors, and across consumer and trade activities.
Lynne Fernquest
CEO of Bath Rugby Foundation
Bio
Lynne quest spent 30 years as a journalist before becoming CEO of Bath Rugby Foundation, where she now applies that same storytelling drive to changing outcomes for young people. Under her leadership, the Foundation blends sport, education, and mentoring to tackle the opportunity gap facing children across the UK, giving them confidence, skills, and pathways to independence.
Lizzie Heffer
Creative and Community Lead
Bio
Lizzie is a Creative & Community Lead working across events, arts, charity and fashion. After a career in senior marketing leadership, she now hosts and shapes people-led experiences that bring communities together around culture and purpose — chairing panels, speaking on identity and lived experience, and working as an ambassador and creative lead for charities.
Mark Blackman
Director of Leadership Together
Bio
Mark has spent 30+ years turning around organisations in crisis and building strong leadership across education, charity and local government. A DfE-registered External Expert, he believes leadership should never be lonely.
Paula Green
Partner at RWK Goodman
Bio
Paula has over 20 years’ experience advising on contentious property matters, acting for property owners, occupiers, and developers across the Hospitality, Leisure, and Retail sectors. She provides strategic, commercially-minded advice, focused on resolving disputes efficiently and cost-effectively.
Paul Roper
Councillor and Bath BID Board Director
Bio
Paul Roper is the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Kingsmead and Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development at Bath and North East Somerset Council. He represents the council on several regional bodies, including the West of England LEP and Visit West.
Ruby Southard
Student at Bath Spa University
Bio
Ruby is a Business and Management student with hands-on experience across marketing, social media strategy, and 18 months in project management. She works with intention — communicating clearly and quickly, staying organised, and adapting fast while taking ownership of her work.
Douglas Ure
CEO of Business West
Bio
Douglas joined Business West from Marsh McLennan, a global professional services firm, where he held various leadership positions in the UK and Asia. Douglas’s experience includes leading high-performance teams and developing strategic partnerships across both the private and public sectors. He has advised clients on risk, strategy and transformation.
Fiona Monk
Interim Head of Projects and New Business at Citizens Advice BANES
Bio
Fiona is a specialist level in debt advice and training.
Cassie Wilson
Pro Vice Chancellor (Student Experience and Sport) at University of Bath
Bio
Professor Cassie Wilson is Pro-Vice Chancellor (Student Experience) at the University of Bath, overseeing student support, engagement and employability. Her research focuses on optimising athletic performance and understanding movement variability in sport — exploring how elite athletes push the limits of human capability, and what this means for both performance and injury prevention
Tim Hollingsworth OBE
Professor in Practice (Sport) at the University of Bath
Bio
Alongside his University role Tim is Vice Chair of ParalympicsGB and a Trustee of Commonwealth Games England. In a previous 20 year career in sport he was the Chief Executive of Sport England, the Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association (including for the London 2012 Paralympic Games) and the Chief Operating Officer at UK Sport. Before this he had a number of roles in business including at Granada Media and the Confederation of British Industry.
Dimitri Coutya MBE
Paralympian
Bio
Dimitri is a three time Paralympian and an eight time Paralympic medallist, including double Paralympic Champion from Paris 2024. He is a four time world champion and 5 time European Champion.
Craig Fletcher
Director of Revenue & Sales at Apex Hotels
Bio
Craig Fletcher is Director of Revenue and Sales at Apex Hotels, with nearly three years of leadership in revenue management driving revenue optimisation and profit growth. His work focuses on strategic, data-driven solutions across forecasting, pricing, and operational alignment.
Chris Davies
President, Rotary Club of Bath
Bio
A widely experienced corporate communications and public relations leader, Chris is the current President of Bath Rotary. A former Bath BID board member, charity trustee, school governor — and current Bath Rugby season ticket holder — he is a firm believer in the power of partnership to unlock new possibilities and deliver lasting positive impact.
Alicia John
General Manager – Activity at Bath Recreation
Bio
Alicia is General Manager – Activity at Bath Recreation, a local charity that provides and supports spaces for sport and physical activity across the city. A former high-performance athlete and University of Bath student, she now focuses on connecting people and organisations, and on what sport can teach us about leadership and helping people thrive.
Lindy Wright
Artist at Bath Artists’ Studio
Bio
Lindy has had ceramics selected by The Design Centre and featured in a Channel 4 documentary. She has exhibited widely including at The Royal Society of Portrait Painters and The Royal Drawing School and recently took part in SkyTV’s Portrait Artist of the Year. She’s a member of Bath Artists’ Studios and Bath Society of Artists.
Professor Marion Harney FHEA
Associate Dean, Education, Faculty of Engineering and Design
Bio
Marion is Professor of Building and Landscape Conservation at the University of Bath, Associate Dean for Education in the Faculty of Engineering & Design, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster. She chairs the City of Bath World Heritage Site Advisory Board and is a leading expert in heritage conservation, historic buildings, cultural landscapes and World Heritage Sites.
Louisa Oldfield
Development Manager at Mentoring Plus
Bio
Louisa has over 20 years’ experience in fundraising, business development and events across the charity, corporate and third sectors. At Mentoring Plus, she works with donors, partners and stakeholders to help young people build confidence, develop skills and thrive in education or employment.
Ellie Rymer
Bath Community Kitchen
Bio
Ellie is a baker with many years’ experience in catering – including running her own cake business – as well as in PR and Communications. Ellie attended Le Cordon Bleu bakery school in London and is a specialist when it comes to making delicious sweet treats! She now uses all these skills to help BCK achieve its goals
David Rowlands
Bath Rotary Club
Bio
David began his career in accountancy before transitioning into training and human resources as an experienced facilitator, coach, and management trainer. Formerly Head of Training in a major public sector organisation, he now owns a training consultancy and serves as Programme Director for Coriolis Learning Studio, delivering solutions for major clients including Bosch, Nintendo, UNICEF, and UK Government departments.
The Bath Business Conference
The Bath Business Conference is more than just your average business conference! Well known for being a day packed with interesting conversation but also some surprises along the way.
Why attend?
Spend some time with 200 brilliant business minds all from Bath and the surrounding areas. Get to know your community, share ideas. You never know who you’re going to meet!
Who’s behind it?
The Bath Business Improvement District (BID) an independent, not-for-profit, business-led initiative working to create the environment for businesses in Bath to succeed. Our vision is to make our collective investment in Bath a driving force for a vibrant city, which is appealing to customers, potential investors, staff and visitors and will ensure the city’s success for many years to come.
Who’s it for?
The Bath Business Conference is for everyone!
Thank you to our incredible sponsors!
