Sessions
State of the nation: Learning from the past to shape the future
Imagine stepping into a room where the echoes of history are not just remembered but actively shaping the conversations of today. xCHANGE opens by exploring how the lessons, triumphs, and missteps of the past inform the cultural and political changes we see now. Dominic will set the stage by asking: How do historical patterns inform our responses to today’s challenges? How do they shape our ambitions for tomorrow?
Speaker:
Dominic Sandbrook
Historian, writer and broadcaster
State of the nation: Is the UK still internationally important?
Entrepreneur, investor and policy leader Debbie Wosskow joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on the UK’s business landscape. From AI Growth Zones to the Mansion House Compact, we’ll explore how the UK is positioning itself for innovation and investment and what it will take to stay competitive. Debbie will share insights on capital flow, government collaboration, and the gender investment gap, offering a clear-eyed view of the risks and opportunities shaping the future of UK plc.
Speakers:
Debbie Wosskow, OBE
Multi-exit entrepreneur and Co-Chair of the UK’s Invest In Women Taskforce
Jo Farmer
Joint Managing Partner
Lewis Silkin
Maximising opportunity: Innovation – do it or die
Innovation is the heartbeat of growth. For thousands of years, humans have innovated. But is that about to change? In this session, we’ll explore how businesses are reimagining products, processes, experiences and business models to stay ahead in a world of constant change. From autonomous vehicles, robotics, and mobile connectivity to AI and digital marketplaces, we’ll spotlight breakthrough examples and ask: Will AI invent inventions? Is regulation a barrier or a catalyst to innovation? How will IP strategies unlock new value and how? Where are the opportunities and how do you commercialise them?
Join us as we unpack how disruption can be transformed into opportunity and why innovation is now the blueprint for growth, resilience and relevance.
Speakers:
Carolyn Jameson
Chief Legal Officer
Airalo
Gabe Pereyra
Co-Founder
Harvey AI
Tobias Hooton
Founder
Stelia
Maximising opportunity: Navigating a fragmented world
Business is at a crossroads. As geopolitical shifts reshape global trade, mobility and regulation, companies face rising friction and uncertainty. This panel explores how businesses are adapting to a more fragmented landscape - where financing, supply chains, and cross-border operations are under pressure. From tariffs and sanctions to data, IP and investment controls, we’ll unpack the new rules of global business and ask: How do you stay agile, compliant and competitive when the map keeps changing?
Speakers:
Jacqueline de Gernier
Executive Vice President
GWI
James Greenfield
Co-Founder
Koto
Chris Macfarlane
Regional Deputy General Counsel
Peloton
Faye Cottingham
VP and General Counsel, Europe and Global Supply Chain
Bacardi-Martini
Duran Ross
Dispute Resolution Partner
Lewis Silkin
Francesa Ainsworth
Corporate Partner
Lewis Silkin
Rethinking what matters: New Codes of Value
As the world changes, so do our definitions of value. Economic pressures, shifting perceptions of quality, and the relentless pace of life are all challenging traditional value systems. We’ll explore how businesses can respond to a growing sense of unfairness and unmet expectations, and how they can redefine value in ways that resonate with today’s consumers and employees and how only those who align with these emerging value codes will thrive.
Speaker:
Alice Crossley
Senior Foresight Analyst
Future Laboratory