IMPACT ’26  Women Creating Value

Please inform [email protected] of any dietary requirements or allergies before Wednesday 4 March

After a powerful 2025 event, we’re back for International Women’s Day 2026, this time with a focus on Collaboration. 

IWD 26 theme is "Give to Gain", a campaign focused on forging gender equality through generous giving of time, knowledge, resources, and advocacy, emphasising that when people give, opportunities for women expand, leading to collective progress.

What to expect from the day: 

• Inspiring speakers and thought-provoking panels

• Lively collaborative discussion and fresh perspectives

• Unmissable networking opportunities

Event agenda

8:30 - 9:00 Arrival, Registration & Networking Coffee

9:00 - 9:05 Welcome & Opening Remarks - Sweena Badhan & Anwen Cooper

9:05 - 9:25  “Speaking Money" : ‘Why Every Leader Needs Financial Literacy’ - Mattioli Woods, Ernest Ibe

9:25 - 9:50 Keynote: Women Creating Value - Katie Keith

9:50 - 10:35 Panel 1: The Boardroom Return - How Women Create Value at Scale

• Josie Turi

• Fiona Murchie

• Claudia Yorath

• Deb Turner

• Caron Pollard

• Ula Ojaiku

10:35 -10:50 Comfort Break + Coffee

10:50 - 11:10 Give to Gain: Structuring your Ambition - Dr Blessing Enakimio

11:10 – 11:30 Mikado - Amanda Fitzgerald PR The Ultimate Door Opener!

11:30 - 12:00 The Future of Value Creation - Sweena Badhan in conversation with Guest Speaker Lyndsey Gallagher, Gallagher Group 

12:00 – 12:45 Networking Lunch

12:45 - 13:30 Panel 2: The Give-First Leader - Influence through Contribution

• Lydia McKeown

• Lesley Thomas

• Kat Lees

• Nicola Wise

• Louise Brown

• Debbie Waite

13:30 – 13:50 Interactive Session: ACCESS in Action - Give to Gain Edition - Blessing Enakimio, Ble Global

13:50 – 14:10 Comfort Break + Coffee

14:10 - 14:50 Panel 3 : Women Influencing Systems, Policy, wellbeing, customer experience.

• Orla Bance

• Helen Lawson

• Faith Abudu

• Pearl Mahama

• Mary Eniolu

• Ben Timms

14:50 - 15:10 Town Hall Discussions Q&A - Joe Milner

15:10 – 15:25 Charity - Kent Neuro Therapy Centre: Heidi Coleman - Kent Neuro Therapy Centre

15:10 - 15:25 Closing Remarks - Martin J Prentice

Join leaders, innovators, and changemakers for a day that champions progress, inclusion, and real-world action.

Let’s come together once again to collaborate and make 2026 a landmark year for women in leadership.

This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, gain game-changing insights and be part of the conversation.

IMPACT '26 hosted by the Kent IoD branch will be an event that will bring together Women across all sectors.

It will be a day where there will opportunities to learn from peers and learn from other professionals.

We will also be asking for fellow Male colleagues to attend.

See details of our inspirational speaker line-up here.