Confirmed Speakers
Martin Spiller
Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship - Cranfield School of Management
Martin is a passionate and highly motivated commercially focused chief financial officer experienced non-executive director and senior lecturer with a specialism in SME growth, entrepreneurial finance and entrepreneurship.
He has a differentiated skill set being both a chartered accountant and barrister-at-law (non-practising) with a proven track record of delivering real improvements in business performance across a range of sectors and business types.
Martin is extremely enthusiastic and comfortable advising at board level as well as working as part of the team on the day-to-day tasks. He loves helping entrepreneurial ventures to grow by providing strategic financial direction and skills.
At Cranfield, he is the academic lead and programme director on the following programmes:
- Ready for Scale
- Ready for Net Zero Growth
- Growth Curve
- Climate Action Planning
- Business Exit Programme
And lectures on the following programmes:
- Business Growth Programme
- Help to Grow Management
- Energy Entrepreneurship (MSc)
- Entrepreneurial Finance (MSc, MBA and EMBA)
- Leading and Managing the Family Business (MSc, MBA and EMBA)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinrspiller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinrspiller
Claire Gavin
Founder - Innovations For Pets
Claire is a former Director of the UK’s leading pet care business, Pets at Home, where she spent 12 years in senior roles leading the strategic development of private brands, creative development and innovation.
Claire now harnesses her extensive buying, sourcing, marketing, NPD, strategic brand creation experience, and customer centric understanding to help other pet companies grow their business.
Her energetic and visionary entrepreneurial style, along with her proven track record with Pets at Home makes Claire a valuable and insightful pet retail consultant and advisor.
Claire Hunter
Founder and Owner of Claires Comfy Canines
Claire Hunter is the Founder and Owner of Claire’s Comfy Canines, the multi award winning, UKs number 1 Dog Day Care Business and newly lauched Hunters Dog Holidays.
Claire is a true pet industry professional who is passionate about animal welfare, high standards and helping others turn their passion for pets into successful businesses. In the last 15 years, Claire has built her business from the ground up with no investment which remains fully independent and financially secure.
Megan Niven
Senior Consultant - CACI
Megan is a Senior Consultant at CACI with a solid foundation in data analytics and research, her journey began over 10 years ago, where she delved into the intricacies of consumer behaviour and market dynamics. Her tenure in FMCG and Consumer Goods, particularly within the pet sector, has afforded her invaluable insights into the unique challenges and opportunities enabling her to support clients with navigating the evolving landscape.
Hannah Lyford
Expertise & Consulting Director - NielsenIQ
Hannah Lyford is an Expertise & Consulting Director at NIQ, and as such specialises in consumer panel data and how it can help shape successful FMCG marketing strategies. Working at NIQ, Hannah is uniquely positioned to provide both retailer sales metrics and consumer behaviour insights, creating the Full View of the marketplace.
With 10 years of FMCG industry experience working with a variety of manufacturers, she plays a key role in shaping leading edge, topical and insightful thought leadership helping clients navigate an ever-evolving landscape.
Hannah is often asked to share her views and insights across media channels and regularly presents at client forums.”
Deborah Lewis
Local Enterprise Manager - NatWest Group
Debbie is the Regional EcoSystem Manager for NatWest’s Enterprise team covering the Midlands and East of England – responsible for building and nurturing strategic relationships and regional stakeholder engagements. Entrepreneurial support is provided through a series of NatWest events, signposting and delivery of their 8 programmes to support businesses from idea-stage through to scale-up. Prior to this Debbie supported entrepreneurs with 121 coaching and programme delivery on the NatWest’s Accelerator– a 6 month intensive business programme to help scale-up stage (sector agnostic) business owners maximise their potential and overcome challenges.
An entrepreneur herself, Debbie successfully scaled and exited a chain of Hair and Beauty Salons before starting a career in coaching and is still involved in Salon Industry support organisations and is a passionate ambassador for Apprenticeships, Women In Business (including investment) and is a NatWest Climate Champion.
Louise Fawcett
Buying Manager at Jollyes - The Pet People
Highly experienced Retailer and Buyer, with over 14 years experience within the pet trade. Currently a Buying Manager at Jollyes The Pet Food People covering everything ‘cat’ related.
Louise has worked across a combination of Global branded suppliers, Entrepreneurs and private label suppliers.
Gemma Stocks
Founder & Owner - Herbal Dog Co
Gemma Stocks is the founder and CEO of Herbal Dog Co, a thriving business that has experienced impressive growth, turning over over one million pounds in just seven years. Now in its eighth year, the company continues to expand, with Gemma at the helm, leading with a passion for both business and the well-being of dogs.
Before founding Herbal Dog Co. in 2017, Gemma built a successful career working with international brands, where she honed her expertise in business management and strategy. Drawing from this experience, she took a bold leap to combine her professional skills with her deep love for dogs, creating a company that focuses on providing natural, high-quality products to support dogs’ health and happiness.
Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Gemma is deeply committed to her community. She is an active supporter of the Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter, demonstrating her dedication to animal welfare. Through both her business and personal efforts, Gemma continues to make a positive impact, using her platform to promote responsible pet care and enhance the lives of dogs everywhere.
Kirsty Skeates
Founder & Owner - Pet Biz Ai App
Kirsty Skeates is the founder of PetBizAI.app, a platform that helps pet business owners save time and grow with the power of AI. As a qualified Canine Rehab Specialist and former owner of a busy Canine Hydrotherapy Centre, Kirsty understands firsthand the challenges of running a pet business.
After successfully building and selling her own practice, she combines her deep industry knowledge with cutting-edge AI technology to create custom tools supporting small business owners, from streamlining admin to simplifying content creation.
Kirsty is passionate about making AI accessible, practical, and empowering for those who often feel overwhelmed by tech.
Mike Price
Founder and Managing Director of MPA Group
Mike Price founded MPA Group in 2007 after qualifying as an accountant some 25 years ago. Mike built his career around his passions; technology, working in finance and general management, though his career with Deloitte was cut short when he was hit by joy riders, resulting in spinal injuries which made a ‘normal’ job near impossible. In the 17 years since, Mike has grown MPA Group to a company of 75 staff and over £7 million turnover, growing the business through acquisition in 2023, and selling the business to employees through the establishment of the Employee Ownership Trust in 2024.
Mike is passionate about advising and supporting other entrepreneurs through their own journey, now acting as advisor and non-exec director to a number of UK businesses.
Lewis Stringer
Senior Manager, British Business Bank – East & South-East Midlands
The British Business Bank is the UK’s economic development bank. Our mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK, and to enable the transition to a net zero economy, by improving access to finance for smaller businesses. The Bank delivers a series of debt and equity programmes across the UK supported by almost 250 Delivery Partners. Lewis Stringer joined the British Business Bank in October 2016 and currently works in the UK Network Team for the Bank as a Senior Manager, covering the East & South-East Midlands and supporting demand-side initiatives, as well as the recently launched Midlands Engine Investment Fund II.
Shelley Nadler
Legal Director - Bird & Bird LLP
Shelley is a Legal Director in the Retail & Consumer team at Bird & Bird LLP. She works closely with businesses to develop the most commercially effective expansion models and routes to market. As a specialist franchise lawyer with over 30 years’ experience, she has worked for a number of household names in the retail and service sectors including Husse and Barking Mad in the pet sector. Shelley has advised start-ups and established brands on how to franchise their businesses both in the UK and internationally. She assists with setting up and management of franchise networks, drafting of franchise agreements and advising on franchise business sales. Shelley is recognised as an expert in franchising in the Legal Business Guide to Legal Experts. She has spoken at a number of national and international franchise conferences and has written a number of articles for the franchise trade press. |
Georgina Farmer
Associate - Bird & Bird LLP
Georgina is an associate solicitor in the Commercial law practice at Bird & Bird LLP, specialising in commercial contracts. She works with a diverse range of retail and consumer-facing businesses, from ambitious startups and SMEs to established multinational corporations. No matter where a business is on its growth journey, well-drafted, legally binding contracts are essential for mitigating risk, safeguarding operations and protecting key relationships with suppliers, service providers, partners and customers alike – That’s where Georgina adds value. She has extensive experience in drafting, negotiating and advising on a wide array of commercial agreements, including agency, distribution, manufacturing, warehousing and logistics contracts. She also supports businesses with tailored procurement and supply arrangements, within the UK and internationally. |
Pieter Erasmus
Senior Associate - Bird & Bird LLP
Pieter is a senior associate in the Intellectual Property transactional group in London at Bird & Bird LLP, where he focuses on advising on regulatory, commercial, and transactional matters. Pieter further advises on various product compliance matters relating to a wide variety of manufactured products and services provided on the UK and EU markets, including in respect of the pet sector.
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Amy Cole
Associate - Bird & Bird LLP
Amy is an associate solicitor in the International Business-to-Consumer team at Bird & Bird LLP. She has vast experience in advising consumer brands on all aspects of consumer compliance issues, particularly in relation to advertising and marketing laws and regulations. Amy regularly works with household consumer brands on sales, pricing and marketing strategies, as well as online consumer user journey compliance. She also has experience in supporting clients engaging with advertising regulators on marketing campaigns.
Amy advises clients on the launch of online marketplaces and platform compliance considerations, as well as providing support with both B2B and B2C commercial contracts, including loyalty programmes, subscription contracts, terms and conditions, sponsorship agreements, influencer contracts, talent agreements and other varied service agreements.
Amy also advises regularly on the upcoming subscription contract changes under the DMCC Act and helps client’s assess current level of compliance with the upcoming legislation changes.
Thomas Hooper
Senior Associate - Bird & Bird LLP
Tom is a brand protection lawyer at Bird & Bird LLP helping businesses build, exploit, enforce and rationalise portfolios of trade mark and design rights around the world. Tom also handles related disputes and contentious proceedings to protect and defend the valuable brand rights of businesses. With over 12 years’ experience in IP and brand protection and a particular interest in the pet sector, Tom advises clients with everything from the adoption of new trade marks and designs, clearing them for use in the marketplace and selecting the most suitable registration systems, to handling any disputes that may occur, whether opposition or invalidity/cancellation actions, bad faith proceedings, infringement, or related settlements. Tom’s practice covers enforcement of IP rights in the UK, Europe and in most other territories globally, particularly the US, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and Asia
Amrit Sami
Investor - Mercia Ventures
From studying engineering, I love learning about complex systems, and nothing is more complicated than a start-up! I spend a lot of time going deep into the product. Companies that succeed are those that have built a support network. I want to bring the best out of the founders and build that community to help them thrive.
I’ve always been a dreamer. Growing up in a scientific household, I was immersed in the latest scientific developments, and it wasn’t too long after hearing about them thinking about the impact on society. I went to the University of Bath to study Chemical Engineering to help bring innovation to the masses. I worked at the University of Oxford, GSK, and RWE as an engineer.
My interest in finance grew. In my free time, I got involved with the world of start-ups, helping them with technical development, strategy, and fundraising. During lockdown, I made the jump to VC work at Symvan Capital, where I led six investments and sat on the board of companies.
I joined the team at Mercia in 2023, where I focus on software and Deep Tech opportunities. Outside of my time in Mercia, I’m an active angel investor and co-host a podcast series called What’s the Problem?
Jolian Howell
Co-Founder Animal Health Angels
Jolian is a graduate in Medicinal Chemistry and has over 30 years’ experience in the animal health sector with several leading pharma companies including MSD, Zoetis, Pfizer, Novartis and Leo Animal Health in a variety of commercial positions both in the UK and the EU. Beginning his career in animal health sales with Leo, moved into a portfolio marketing role at Pfizer. Following the creation of a central European function at Pfizer, relocated to Paris to take on the newly created role of European Brand Team Leader. Since 2007 he has led teams at a European level and been a member of the European Business Unit leadership team, working in a variety of European marketing and strategic planning positions across multiple species sectors, to bring new medicines from clinical trial development to a pre-launch, and subsequently to full commercial launch. In 2010 he led the integration process between the Pfizer and Fort Dodge equine business units, supporting local countries to develop operational teams and establish a business unit portfolio. Following a return to the UK in 2014, Jolian led the marketing and technical team at MSD that oversaw the launch of a novel innovation in the ectoparasiticide sector. Jolian is currently Chief Commercial Officer and board member of Carus Animal Health, a company backed by a leading Japanese animal health manufacturer that seeks to develop novel technology for application in the animal health sector through investment, licensing and acquisition. Alongside this he is a fellow co-founder of the Animal Health Angels, a group that strives to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector and in supporting and connecting early stage companies with investment, collaboration and mentorship.
Bob Hanson
Partner - Pets Around the World
Bob Hanson has many years experience as a strategy consultant in the pet industry. He is the European Partner of PAW Pets Around the World, a global consultancy focusing on helping pet brands and companies achieve their growth goals by helping build their business globally
Peter Roy
Managing Director (UK) - Nutriment
Peter oversees The Nutriment Company’s’ UK operations and strategic initiatives, with a strong focus on expanding our market presence and strengthening our businesses: Aniforte, Bulmer’s, The Dogs Butcher, Totally Natural Pet Products, Nutriment, Nova, Natural Instinct and Your Pet Nutrition. I’m committed to driving innovation in the UK pet trade, I hope to support retailers in their growth and success, working closely with them as partners. Additionally, we will look at further acquisitions to bolster our market position and service offerings – bring new opportunities to our consumers and retail partners across the UK.
Rachel Duffy
Commercial Director - Naked Dog
Rachel has spent her career working with small brands – building equity, loyalty, and sustainable consumer led growth. She has particular experience managing channel strategy to ensure that all brand activity is mutually additive and meets consumer and retailer needs.
Central to building any brand is Passion – and Rachel is not short of that when it comes to dogs! She cut her teeth in the pet industry working with AATU and Barking Heads, but now provides commercial leadership at Frozen Raw Dog Food Manufacturer NDFD (home of NAKED DOG).
David Brown
Co-Founder - By Teddy
David is the founder of By Teddy, a modern dog brand built at the intersection of personal style and pet lifestyle. With a career spanning Unilever, Danone, and Wagamama, David brings global expertise in brand building, ecommerce, and disruptive innovation to the dog industry.
At By Teddy, David has led the charge in crafting a premium, insight-led product and brand experience that resonates with today’s design-conscious dog owners.
David successfully launched By Teddy into Pets Corner stores nationwide and has sold out multiple product collections online, proving the power of a strong digital sales strategy backed by consumer insight.
Scarlett Trillia
CEO - Porter Labs.
Scarlett Trillia is a career long entrepreneur and industry agnostic startup operator. She invested in Porter Labs and took over as CEO in early 2024 based on her bright vision for the future of pet tech and applied machine learning.
Scarlett was raised internationally, excelled as a student and researcher at Northeastern University, founded a successful coworking space, and has assisted countless business owners from the earliest stages of ideation up to Series B growth for big tech. She spent many joyful years training, and learning from, her own dog Luz.
Liz Stout
Marketing Comms Director at marketing agency - Nobull.
A former national newspaper journalist, Liz has clocked up over 20 years of experience working in the consumer and B2B media space. A strategic creative communicator with a commercial eye and an obsession for pets, she now helps transform excellent ideas into multichannel marketing strategy.
Clayton Payne
Founder - Pet Business Disruptors Podcast
Clayton Payne is the host of Pet Business Disruptors podcast, the pet industry podcast with the most weekly downloads through podcast channels. The podcast has been the number one pet podcast in more than 10 countries and has charted in more than 40 and offers innovative brands a platform to tell their story as well offering advice on every aspect of the industry from industry leaders.
Clayton has more than 30 years experience in the pet industry and has run and built distribution networks in the US and EU.
Nigel Baker
CEO - Pet Industry Federation (PIF)
Nigel joined the Pet Industry Federation in December 2012 and has more than 30 years’ experience in the pet trade, bringing considerable commercial experience from the senior positions he has held in pet food manufacturing and supplier companies.