IMPACT ’26 – Women Creating Value

Bringing together innovators, board leaders and changemakers from across Kent and beyond, the day will feature inspiring keynotes, thought‑provoking panels, collaborative discussions and meaningful networking. It’s a chance for business leaders to connect, learn from one another and champion real-world action.

Below, meet the speakers shaping this year’s conversation.

Book your ticket here!

Amanda FitzGerald: Amanda FitzGerald, known as Major Visibility, is a PR and AI Visibility strategist who helps women amplify their voice and authority. She created the 5 Stages of Visibility Blueprint and the AI Visibility Blueprint, and her team secures client features with outlets such as the BBC, Forbes and The Guardian. She is also the founder of the national Mutton March movement championing visibility for women.

Ben Timms: Ben Timms is Commercial Director at Hamilton Court, part of Nasdaq‑listed Marex, supporting a global client base across sectors. He leads the firm’s commercial strategy, driving revenue growth, strengthening client relationships and supporting organisations entering new markets or transforming their commercial operations to build stronger teams, better processes and sustained growth.

Anwen Cooper is Mission Director and Co‑founder of Thrivall, an award‑winning B Corp helping leaders build sustainable success. A speaker, author and strategist with 25+ years’ experience, she blends evidence and empathy to show how purpose‑led leadership drives performance. She leads a team of performance psychologists delivering programmes that strengthen mental fitness, resilience and high performance, and is a committed champion of women in business.

Caron Pollard is CEO of VUSA Global, an international business strategist driving cross‑border partnerships across the UK, EU, Africa and the GCC. She helps leadership teams build globally relevant, locally grounded businesses through strategic frameworks that support sustainable growth. A qualified digital marketing professional with additional credentials in M&A and intercultural communication, she advises organisations on executive strategy and digital approaches for cross‑border success.

Claudia Yorath is Chief People Officer at Brightstar Law, bringing over 20 years’ experience in professional services. She specialises in aligning people strategy with organisational goals, supporting mergers, change programmes and complex HR challenges while delivering both strategic and operational solutions. Passionate about building cultures where people and performance thrive, she focuses on engagement, development and progressive, people‑centred initiatives.

Deborah Turner is a chartered surveyor with 30 years’ experience across public and private sectors, advising local authorities and small businesses through her consultancy, Deborah Turner Ltd. She is the National Policy Lead for Women in Enterprise at the FSB and serves on the DWP Menopause Advisory Board. As Co‑Founder of Breakthrough Women, she champions visibility and support for working women through events, networks and targeted business guidance.

Debbie Waite is a leadership coach, strategist and speaker working with founders, CEOs and senior teams to strengthen performance and sustainable growth. Through her consultancy, Stronger Inside & Out, she helps leaders scale with clarity, authenticity and people‑centred strategy. She also leads Make It YOUR Business, a nonprofit supporting women to start and grow businesses. With 25 years’ experience across HR, leadership development and executive coaching, she’s known for her direct, insightful approach delivered with heart.

Dr Blessing Enakimio is a Chartered Change and Culture Consultant and founder of Blé Global, specialising in restructuring organisations for growth, integration and succession. She helps boards and executive teams become performance‑ready during periods of transition, using her 5Ws Framework of Organisational Culture and Structured Ambition Method to redesign work, leadership and culture for sustained enterprise value. She is a published author and international speaker advising leaders in the UK and globally.

Ernest Ibe is a Wealth Management Consultant at Mattioli Woods, building his expertise since joining in 2018. He developed a strong foundation supporting advisers across financial planning, including SIPPs, SSASs, retirement strategies and commercial property transactions. Driven to help high earners, SMEs and business owners achieve their wealth and retirement goals, he gained his Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning and is now working toward Chartered status.

Faith R Abudu is a dynamic leader with 15+ years’ experience driving strategic partnerships, social value and DEI across construction, housing and civil engineering. As Founder and Director of Diversity & Inclusion in Construction (DIIC), she champions greater representation of women, ethnic minorities and neurodivergent talent in the built environment. She also serves as Head of Business Development and Social Value at Prima Systems, supporting the delivery of sustainable, energy‑efficient infrastructure.

Fiona Murchie is Founder and Managing Editor of Relocate Global and Think Global People, drawing on 25+ years in media at the intersection of global mobility, leadership and international education. She leads platforms that provide trusted insight for employers, mobility professionals and globally mobile families, and runs international education fairs connecting parents and schools worldwide. Through Think Global People and Think Global Women, she champions future‑fit leadership, collaboration and gender equity, while the annual awards programmes recognise excellence across global mobility and international education.

Helen Lawson is the founder and trainer at Wellbeing Training Solutions, delivering evidence‑based intrapersonal, interpersonal and leadership skills training across sectors. Known for her warm, rigorous and highly interactive approach, she helps people build transferable skills that strengthen confidence, relationships and performance. Her work supports individuals and organisations to navigate complexity, enhance engagement and create sustainable, people‑centred impact.

Joe Milner, CEO of Brighstar Law. With years of legal experience, Joe wants to see law done differently.  He believes that by encouraging authenticity rather than grey suits, our team can build stronger relationships with clients and colleagues.  This commitment to genuine connection, combined with a focus on simplicity and accessibility, has been the foundation of Brightstar Law and will continue to define its approach.

Josie Turi is a Wealth Management Consultant at Mattioli Woods, originally beginning her career in hospitality before moving to London and earning a degree in Accounting and Finance. She now helps clients build strong, sustainable financial futures through personalised strategies that bring clarity and confidence to their long‑term goals. Passionate about financial education for women and younger generations, she brings curiosity, creativity and a people‑centred approach to her work.

Kat Lees is a Chartered Environmentalist and Chartered Waste Management Consultant with over 20 years’ experience across the resources, waste and built‑environment sectors. As Co‑Founder and Director of KaNect Limited, she advises developers, design teams and public bodies on waste strategy, circular economy integration and planning policy. A former Associate Director at AECOM, she is known for her strategic insight and ability to deliver compliant, value‑driven solutions. Kat chairs the CIWM London & Southern Counties Committee, mentors emerging professionals and champions inclusivity as an ambassador for DIIC.

Katie Keith is the Founder of KK Collective, an award‑winning business leader and international speaker focused on advancing women in business. With 25+ years’ experience in global business and finance, she is known for creating high‑trust communities and for her Circle Methodology, which challenges traditional approaches to growth. She frequently speaks on Give to Gain, drawing on her experience leading global networks where contribution, trust and reciprocity drive meaningful commercial outcomes. Katie brings practical, real‑world insight into how connection shapes opportunity, influence and long‑term value in modern business.

Lesley Thomas is an Executive Coach and founder of The Money Confidence Academy. She supports senior leaders and organisations to strengthen judgement where financial decisions carry real consequence, drawing on entrepreneurial experience, governance roles and executive coaching practice. She holds a Master’s degree in Executive Coaching and Mentoring and is a podcast host and an Amazon No.1 bestselling author.

Louise Brown is a globally experienced HR and people‑strategy leader with over 20 years in financial services and human capital. A trusted advisor to Boards and executive teams, she has led major transformation programmes across EMEA, the Americas and APAC, strengthening culture, performance and organisational resilience. She has held senior roles at HSBC and UBS, with global responsibility for people reporting, governance and operating model change. Louise is Chair of City HR and a Trustee of Neurodiversity in Business, advocating for inclusive leadership and equitable workplaces.

Lydia Mckeown is the Managing Director and Founder of We Do Marketing Ltd, a Kent-based agency that partners with ambitious UK business leaders to deliver strategic, results-driven marketing. One of only 3,000 professionals in the UK to hold Chartered Marketer status, Lydia brings over 14 years of experience, combining forward-thinking digital insight with big-picture strategy.

Lyndsey Gallagher is Group CEO of Gallagher Group and a senior leader in the UK construction sector. After an unconventional start- overcoming 78 interview rejections and becoming the first woman to graduate with First‑Class Honours in Construction Management from the University of Kent – she has built a reputation for practical, people‑focused leadership centred on clarity, inclusion and developing talent. A strong advocate for young people and women in construction, she also serves as a Kent Ambassador, Enterprise Advisor to schools, and construction lead on employment boards supporting prison rehabilitation. Lyndsey is a Fellow of the CIOB, Co‑Chair of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, a recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, and Construction News Inspirational Woman of the Year 2024.

Mary Eniolu is the Founder and CEO of Can Do Academy, a CPD‑accredited training and development company empowering individuals and organisations to enhance performance, productivity and well‑being. After 15 years running her law firm and over a decade delivering leadership and personal development programmes, she now blends coaching, mentoring and training to help clients build the beliefs and behaviours that drive meaningful results. A speaker, author, podcast host and certified Maxwell Leadership coach, Mary is known for her engaging, inspiring style and her ability to motivate audiences toward transformational action. Her clients range from SMEs to major organisations including NatWest and Dow, united by her mission to enhance performance and enrich lives.

Nicola Wise has run her own training and development business since 1993, supporting people to build skills through workshops, coaching and mentoring. She began her career on the Harrods Graduate Scheme, progressing to department controller before moving into senior retail management and later becoming a Director of Oxford Summer Schools. After working as a training consultant in Bristol, she launched her own business during the 1993 recession and has since worked in 15 countries with delegates from over 70 cultures. A respected international expert in training and mentoring, she is also an NLP Master Practitioner, LAB Profiler and active supporter of UK charities. Alongside her global work, she is committed to helping women in Kent grow successful businesses.

Orla Bance is Managing Director of CCR3 Academy, leading a forward‑thinking training provider and professional network that uses the CCR3 suite of tools to deliver high‑impact coaching and consulting, with a strong focus on Emotional Intelligence for SME success. With over 15 years’ experience as a qualified accountant and company director, she specialises in improving performance, efficiency and profitability across sectors.

She is also Founder and Director of Alchemy Business UK Ltd, supporting sustainable growth in the construction and redevelopment industry, and Finance Director at RDG Engineering, guiding the firm’s financial strategy and governance. As a Liveryman and committee member of the Worshipful Company of Constructors, Orla champions excellence, professional development and empowerment across the construction sector.

Pearl Mahama is a senior customer experience and transformation leader with over 20 years’ experience supporting global organisations across banking, payments, insurance and technology. She has been at the forefront of transforming customer experiences for leading brands including American Express, Barclaycard, Temenos and Gen Digital, specialising in CX initiatives that drive retention, loyalty and operational efficiency. As Co-Founder of SentricityCX, Pearl leads customer-centric design and CX programmes,
helping organisations translate CX ambition into measurable commercial and customer outcomes.

Uloaku (Ula) Ojiaku is the Founder and CEO of Mezahab Group, a global advisory helping leaders and organisations adopt AI responsibly, ethically and inclusively through strategy, education, implementation and governance aligned to organisational goals. She is the IoD Kent Ambassador for Engineering & Technology, a member of Women in AI, a Forbes Council Member and Contributor, and a WIMBoard Fellow. Certified in the independent audit of AI systems, she contributes to the development of AI governance standards across public and private sectors. Ula holds an MSc in Computer Science from UCL and a BEng in Electronics Engineering from UNN, and hosts the Agile Innovation Leaders podcast, featuring conversations on AI, strategy and innovation.

Sweena Badhan is the Chair of the Institute of Directors Kent Branch, leading a team of 12 Ambassadors who support and connect members across the county through events, workshops and roundtables. An experienced Business Development Director, she brings expertise in marketing, strategy and commercial growth, having held senior roles at Ernst & Young and Kent County Council. A champion for women in leadership and a well‑known connector in the business community, Sweena also serves on the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership Board and is an active speaker and role model within the region.