Event host
Dharshini David covers economics and trade for BBC News, on national and international TV and radio and online.
She was an economist in government and at HSBC before leaving the trading floor to cover financial news for the BBC in London and New York. She has also presented flagship business and general news programmes for Sky News. In 2020, she was appointed the BBC’s first Trade Correspondent.
Day One speakers and panellists
Professor Andy Pardoe is a leading expert in AI, and the founder and CEO of Wisdom Works Group. He also serves as Chair of the Deep Tech Innovation Centre at the University of Warwick. With over 20 years of experience leading global change programmes, Professor Pardoe specialises in delivering complex technical transformations.
Edwina Dunn OBE has been a pioneer in data science throughout her career. She is the former CEO/chair of consumer insights company and co-founded Dunnhumby (the data mining company behind Tesco’s Clubcard loyalty scheme).
Paolo Sbuttoni is a partner at UK law firm Foot Anstey. He regularly advises a wide range of businesses on digital transformation, AI, blockchain, data protection, cybersecurity, e-commerce and more.
Dr Zoe Webster, by her own admission “got into AI early” through reading sci-fi as a teenager and a formal education in computer science. For the past 20 years, she has worked in roles for Innovate UK, defence research group QinetiQ and BT, where she built and led an AI Centre of Enablement. Zoe now advises organisations on AI strategy and practice.
Day Two speakers and panellists
Iain Anderson FRSA is an expert in communications, global political risk, and public policy. He is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of H/Advisors Cicero and previously served as the UK Government’s LGBT+ Business Champion. Anderson co-authored A New Partnership with Business alongside Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. He is known for his deep expertise in navigating political landscapes and advising businesses on public affairs and corporate strategy.
Lord Mark Price is the founder of WorkL for Business, Chair of the Fairtrade Foundation, and former Minister of State for Trade and Investment. He was previously Managing Director of Waitrose and Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership.
Lucy Fisher is Whitehall editor of The Financial Times and also hosts the newspaper’s well-received Political Fix podcast. She is also the author of Emily Wilding Davison:The Martyr Suffragette and Women in the War: The Last Heroines of Britain’s Greatest Generation.
Michael Martins is a seasoned public affairs, communications, and public policy specialist with over 15 years of experience. He is the founder of Overton Advisory, which provides advisory and implementation services across sectors such as energy, FMCG, financial services, defence, and net zero.
