Conference Facilitators

Andrew Neil

The Daily Mail called Andrew “The titan of broadcasting, famed for his interrogation of the powerful, and The Times said: “The ultimate test for assessing whether a party leader was fit to be Prime Minister is to put them in front of Andrew Neil for forty minutes, the most forensic interviewer in broadcasting.” With wry humour added to genuine insight and an enviable network of business, economic and political connections, the publisher, businessman and broadcaster considers the plots, policies and personalities making the news. 

Justin Webb

Before he joined the Today programme Justin was the BBC’s first North America Editor. He also co-hosts the BBC podcast Americast, and writes about the USA for the Times. In his speeches on US affairs, he ranges from Joe Biden’s administration back through Trump to Obama, who he interviewed during his time on the election trail. He talks about leadership and leaders in the UK and US, with stories from behind the scenes at Today and in the corridors of power. 

John Pienaar

Before he joined Times Radio, John was BBC Deputy Political Editor, covering the Westminster beat for all TV and radio outlets. As well as insights and anecdotes from Parliament and broadcasting, he has speculated on what might happen if we were to select governments by means of reality television.

Emily Maitlis

Emily co-hosts the daily podcast The News Agents, with Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall. She was previously the lead anchor on Newsnight and has written a personal examination of the world of broadcast news in Airhead: The Imperfect Art of Making News. 

Louise Minchin

Since leaving the breakfast TV sofa Louise hosts Her Spirit Podcast to inspire women everywhere to live a healthier, happier life. She has also appeared as herself in Spooks and Torchwood, competed in Celebrity MasterChef, and represented Britain at the World Triathlon Championships.

Robert Peston

Robert Peston is ITV's Political Editor, as well as the presenter of the channel's flagship politics show Peston, where he covers the latest developments in Westminster and beyond. He's also co-host of the podcast The Rest is Money alongside Steph McGovern, where they explore stories from the world of business and finance. He has won a number of awards for his work - including Journalist of the Year, Specialist Journalist of the Year and Scoop of the Year (twice) from the Royal Television Society.

Sameena Ali-Khan

Sameena is the lead news presenter covering the East and West Midlands. She also anchors ITV Weekend News, has made films for Inside Out, and interviewed Prince Philip. 

Clive Myrie

Before he took on the weekend news and BBC quiz, Clive reported from eighty countries. He has also presented Panorama’s The Virus vs the Vaccine, been a panellist on Have I Got News For You, and made a brief appearance in the Alan Partridge film Alpha Papa.

Steph McGovern

Steph went from Black & Decker engineer to BBC Breakfast business reporter and co-presenter before presenting her own Channel 4 show and co-hosting The Rest is Money podcast with Robert Peston. She also fronted Watchdog, Pocket Money Pitch, Made in Great Britain, and Shop Well For Less - covering all aspects of real life business and economics. In the process she’s been trained in lean production, explained monetary and economic policy, and danced an impromptu Irish jig live on air.

Georgie Barrat

On TV Georgie is part of the Gadget Show team and a regular tech correspondent. Away from reviewing the latest apps and devices she considers the implications for business and society of developments in the digital world, the changing expectations of the next generation of employees, and how to encourage more women to work in tech.

Priya Lakhani

Priya is the founder and CEO of CENTURY Tech, the award-winning education company that aids the implementation of AI and machine learning in classrooms. She is part of the AIDecoded team on the flagship BBC programme The Context, sharing her insights into tech and business. 

Marverine Cole

Marverine is an award winning journalist and broadcaster. She has appeared on many of the UK’s most watched and listened to broadcasters, including Sky News, 5 News, BBC 5 Live and BBC Radio 4, and has joined the presening team at Good Morning Britain.