Annual Conference 2019
Jo Swinson
Liberal Democrats Leader
New speaker
Powerful insights to solve business challenges
Unrivalled networking. 1500 senior leaders from business, politics and media
Expert speakers: from political leaders to CEOs from leading brands
Watch the highlights from
the CBI Annual Conference 2018
Confirmed speakers include:
Liberal Democrats Leader
Chief Executive Officer, NHS England
Chief Executive, Hampton-Alexander Review
Archbishop of Canterbury
Chair, Doteveryone and Co-Founder, Lastminute.com
VP Manufacturing, Nissan UK
CEO BBC Studios and Chairman, Creative Industries Council
CEO, Be the Business
CEO Designate, RBS
CEO, Diageo
Chief Economist, Bank of England
Former Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
CEO, Microsoft UK
CEO, Just Eat
President, CBI
VP, CBI, Founder of Cobra Beer
Chief Executive, Hays plc
Director-General, CBI
CEO, Bupa Global and UK
Senior Managing Director, Accenture Strategy
Chief Economist, CBI
Co-Founder, Decoded
18 November 2019 at InterContinental London - The O2 - sessions include:
11:20
The UK is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan economies. How can we ensure the UK plays to its strengths and remains a go-to destination for investment post-Brexit? What do we need to do to retain existing investors and attract new ones?
This session will explore the key factors that foreign investors consider when deciding to do business in the UK.
15:35
Ensuring equality of opportunity for all regardless of social status, gender, ethnicity and region is imperative to a prosperous society.
This session will discuss the role that business can play in breaking down barriers to equality, in proactively promoting diversity and embedding real cultural change within organisations.
16:15
One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. The social conversation around mental health and the role that business can play in supporting employees dealing with this is growing but there is still more to do.
This session will address the role of senior leaders in promoting good mental health, how business can play a part in prevention through creating the right culture and what business can to do equip the next generation entering the workforce with resilience skills to manage their health and wellbeing in the workplace.
11:45
Compared to the rest of the G7, the UK is still under-performing when it comes to productivity. Addressing the productivity gap is key to the future prosperity of society but its a complex and multi-layered issue which needs a holistic approach.
This session will start with an overview of the key drivers of productivity and will then focus on education and skills as one of the crucial areas where business can make a real impact.
Arrive at the InterContinental London - The O2 and collect your badge
Digital Transformation can often be bewildering for companies of all sizes. This seminar will help you to navigate the challenges and opportunities you may face when attempting to harness innovation in an increasingly disrupted market - from embracing transformation in larger enterprises to tackling resourcing and demonstrating return on investment for SMEs and mid-markets. Our expert speakers will give practical insights on how you can support digital transformation covering issues such as understanding your business environment and the appetite for change, how to leverage technology to your advantage and how to secure employee buy in.
Speakers:
Felicity Burch, Director of Digital & Innovation, CBI (chair)
Jon Wrennall, Chief Technology Officer, Advanced
Philip Hoare, President, Atkins
Sarah Mann, Head of Programmes, Design Council
Sponsored by Advanced
Businesses need to collect data on diversity and use it to understand the barriers and challenges that people face in the workplace. With the third round of gender pay gap reporting in April 2020 and the likelihood of ethnicity pay gap coming into force soon it is clear that there is no silver bullet to approaching the challenge of closing pay gaps. This session will discuss some of the key questions for business to address. Panellists from across the business sectors will share their experience of what has worked well and what lessons can be drawn from overcoming obstacles internally. The session will discuss what can and should be done to narrow the pay gaps and how to use data effectively to track progress.
Speakers:
Matthew Percival, Director, People and Skills, Employment Law and Employee Relations, CBI (chair)
Yvonne Smyth, Group Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Hays
Sarah Churchman OBE, Director, Chief Inclusion, Community & Wellbeing Officer, pwc
Denise Wilson OBE, Chief Executive, Hampton-Alexander Review
Claire England, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, JLL
Sponsored by Hays
The need to act on climate change is clear and business will play a fundamental role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The Government has set an ambitious net-zero emissions target for 2050, putting the UK at the forefront of climate action. This creates significant investment opportunities, but government policy needs to support its ambitions, and create the right environment to enable business to invest in new technologies. Industry speakers will share their views on the shift to low-carbon power, transport and heat, and the CBI will share its analysis on the policy milestones for the coming decade.
Speakers:
Tom Thackray, Director of Infrastructure, CBI (chair)
Dr Pauline Lawson, UK Head of Political Affairs and Communications, Uniper
Baroness Brown, Vice-Chair, Committee on Climate Change
Ed Syson, Chief Safety and Strategy officer, Cadent
Sponsored by Uniper
John Allan CBE, President, CBI welcomes all delegates to the 2019 CBI Annual Conference.
The UK is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan economies. How can we ensure the UK plays to its strengths and remains a go-to destination for investment post-Brexit? What do we need to do to retain existing investors and attract new ones?
This session will explore the key factors that foreign investors consider when deciding to do business in the UK.
Compared to the rest of the G7, the UK is still under-performing when it comes to productivity. Addressing the productivity gap is key to the future prosperity of society but its a complex and multi-layered issue which needs a holistic approach.
This session will start with an overview of the key drivers of productivity and will then focus on education and skills as one of the crucial areas where business can make a real impact.
In an ever-changing world, with the current political climate and issues including the rise of protectionism, importance of understanding China’s role in the global economy, and trust in institutions, CBI’s Chief Economist, Rain Newton-Smith, Director of Campaigns, John Foster and Head of Group, Beijing, Guy Dru Drury will be on hand to discuss Britain’s changing relationship on a global scale.
The session will include the latest insights on the political and economic impact of long-term challenges such as climate change, intergenerational fairness and an ageing population. They will be ready to answer your burning questions and encourage you to join the conversation and share your views in this interactive session.
Speakers:
Tania Kumar, Senior Policy Adviser, Infrastructure & Energy, CBI (chair)
Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Economist, CBI
John Foster, Director of Campaigns, CBI
Guy Dru Drury, Chief Representative China NE SE Asia, CBI
Cutting-edge technologies from Artificial Intelligence to Robotics have the potential to transform businesses and enhance the UK’s international competitiveness. From early detection of financial fraud to identifying the right job candidates, the benefits to employment, growth and exports are clear and will depend on tackling challenges and harnessing opportunities from increasing employee diversity to boosting board-level buy-in.
This dynamic session will discuss how a bold and responsible use of ground-breaking technologies could change the way the UK does business.
Business has a huge role to play in addressing the major problems society faces today. Whether it’s investing in low carbon innovation to tackle climate change or devoting resource for improving the mental as well as physical health of employees or embedding equality in the corporate culture, business can and should make a difference to society.
In this address, delegates will hear how going the extra mile can impact the lives of people, the prosperity of the UK and the health of the planet.
Ensuring equality of opportunity for all regardless of social status, gender, ethnicity and region is imperative to a prosperous society.
This session will discuss the role that business can play in breaking down barriers to equality, in proactively promoting diversity and embedding real cultural change within organisations.
One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. The social conversation around mental health and the role that business can play in supporting employees dealing with this is growing but there is still more to do.
This session will address the role of senior leaders in promoting good mental health, how business can play a part in prevention through creating the right culture and what business can to do equip the next generation entering the workforce with resilience skills to manage their health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Widely accepted as the single most important issue facing society today, Climate Change is at the forefront of the minds of business leaders and features prominently on the board agenda.
What progress has happened in the decade since the Climate Change Act and what can business do to expedite a low carbon future?
All delegates are invited to join a drinks reception following the conference.
Other networking opportunities:
For the first time ever, the CBI LGBT+ Network is bringing together LGBT+ business leaders and straight allies to celebrate progress on equality in the workplace. Join us at the Clipper Bar to show your support for fairness in the workplace – whatever your gender, sexuality or background. Places are limited and RSVP is required. To sign up for the LGBT+ reception, click here.
InterContinental London, The O2, 1 Waterview Drive, London, SE10 0TW
Rooms are available at the Intercontinental 02 on Sunday 18th and Monday 19th November at the best available rate.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is a global organisation headquartered in the UK, with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including Holiday Inn®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts , Hotel Indigo® and Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants. More than 375,000 people work across our hotels and corporate offices globally.
Nearest underground station: North Greenwich (Jubilee Line)
Nearest pier: North Greenwich
Thames Clipper (river boat)
Destination: InterContinental London O2
Emirates Air Line
Greenwich Peninsula
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The CBI hosts business conferences and networking events across the country, find an alternative event…
Providing the perfect setting to network and make lasting connections in a relaxed setting. With inspiring speeches or thought provoking panel sessions. They are perfect for entertaining your business contacts to help you strengthen your important business relationships.
Across the country, the CBI hosts a diverse range of engaging and thought-provoking full and half day business conferences. All are open to CBI members and non-members. Attendees will learn, share ideas, and network. Review each conference to find out more about the topics we'll be covering this year.
All our Peer Networks encourage the sharing of brilliant ideas, best practice and learning from others. They bring together senior leaders with their peers who share their job role but work in a different sector. This combination can provide enlightening solutions to common problems.
