Governance and Leadership Summit

For over a decade, Dean has immersed himself in the elite worlds of hostage and kidnapping negotiation, behaviour profiling, interrogation, undercover influence and neuroscience and mapped how elite practitioners approach high-stakes communication and influence differently to everyone else. He now teaches these ridiculously effective tools, techniques and mindsets to business leaders and teams all over the world, and in 2026 published the ‘Elite Practitioner Club’ App so we can all take our sales, negotiation and leadership capabilities to elite levels.

Jo Salter is a leading keynote speaker represented by the Champions Speakers Agency.

Dr Jo Salter MBE BEng (Hons), MBA, DA (h.c.), a trailblazer in aviation and leadership, is celebrated for her historic role as the first female fast jet pilot in the Royal Air Force. Flying the formidable Panavia Tornado, she joined the RAF at 18 and rapidly ascended through the ranks, ultimately becoming a Flight Lieutenant of the 617 Squadron. Beyond her military achievements, Jo has profoundly impacted the Air Cadets, inspiring future generations in the armed services. Her transition to the corporate world saw her excel in various leadership roles, including her current position as the Director of Global Transformative Leadership at PWC.

An accomplished author, speaker and educator, Jo’s insights on resilience, leadership and overcoming adversity resonate deeply at events ranging from intimate briefings to international conferences. Her life’s journey, marked by determination and excellence, continues to inspire and educate, reflecting her profound commitment to empowering others.

Professor Simon Haslam provides expert help with strategic decision-making and strategy facilitation. He is a Chartered Director with over 20 years experience as a consultant and facilitator and works with around 500 senior leaders and directors each year. He owns the consulting firm FMR Research Ltd whose work has been cited in the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments, and founding editor of the academic publication, the Management Consulting Journal.

He is a Visiting Professor at Durham University Business School and also teaches at post-graduate level at other business and management schools. He is Strategy Programme Lead for the Institute of Directors and runs workshops on business strategy at different international locations for a range of senior leadership teams, with recent assignments in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Talita has over 28 years of corporate experience working for globally established brand like Ford Credit Europe Bank Plc, BMW, KPMG and Investec Bank. Talita has the blended experience of a Chief Financial officer (CFO), Chief People Officer (CPO), transformation agent, leadership consultant, coach and trainer. Talita became a Chartered Director in 2013 and fellow of the Institue of DIrectors in 2015 and is also a fellow of the ICAEW.

Talita is the former CFO and CHRO of BMW UK Ltd. and BMW Financial Services Ltd. and has led and implemented award-winning cultural transformation programmes in multiple industries. Talita has worked with boards in the UK and Germany to improve their working practices, shift culture and improve strategic change programmes. Talita left full time corporate life in 2016 to pursue a portfolio career and published her first book – ‘The Authenticity Dilemma Resolved©’.

Tessa is an internationally experienced leadership consultant, non-executive director, and executive coach who has founded an independent leadership consulting practice.​

Tessa holds a BSc Psychology, First Class Honours, and a Masters in Occupational Psychology, both from Queen’s University, Belfast. She is a Chartered Psychologist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She is a practitioner with the Health Promotions Council (UK) and an ICF Accredited Coach. She is Vice Chair of the Queen’s University, Belfast Foundation and serves as a Non-Executive for the Mount Charles Group and as a Board member for the City of Derry International Choral Festival, SistersIN, and Catalyst.​