Leading the logistics team as Global Event Operations Manager, Gemma manages a complex portfolio of 35+ events per year; ranging from high profile sponsored conferences and exhibitions, annual/ awards dinners, breakfast briefings, keynote addresses and digital products – held nationally in the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The ACT Annual Conference attracts over 1500 delegates across 2 days and the ACT Annual Dinner 1500+ guests every year – staples in the association’s event calendar.

Prior to joining the ACT, Gemma gained experience working for publishing house Landor LINKS as Conference Manager looking after a diverse portfolio of national events in the planning and transportation fields including the much respected British Parking Awards.

Sally Beck is General Manager of Royal Lancaster London, one of London’s largest independent hotels, with 411 bedrooms, three restaurants and bars and some of the largest banqueting space in Europe.
Sally has led the team through an £83m renovation whilst keeping the hotel open and achieving entry in The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For over the last three years, voted for by her employees.

Sally and her team are passionate about giving back to the community. Now in its fifth year, Royal Lancaster London’s Community Consortium supports five charities within the local community. Sally works with local churches, the police, schools and residents to ensure that the chosen projects are supported fully and bring a meaningful difference to the local area as a whole. Together they help the homeless, work with The Clink Charity as well as Springboard and Hospitality Action.

Jackie has had over 30 years working in the UK hospitality industry, marketing and selling hotel group and venues, including Hilton, along with 9 years at the new Wembley Stadium, where she was part of the pre-opening and mobilisation team. She has first hand of experience of selling into the MICE, Corporate and Leisure markets, and has been an active member of several industry Associations serving either as a Board member or a founding partner.
Her current role as Head of Business Events for The Barbican involves her working across its vast portfolio of venues, continuing its growth and commercial success in the domestic and international business events market, whilst blending in with the artistic offer to create bespoke and memorable events for business clients, and at the same time connecting with the arts programmes.

A winner in the supplier/venue category of the UK Event Hot 50 Awards 2016 and 2017, Jackie is regularly featured in a variety of meetings and events industry honours lists. These include C&IT’s Venue Heads, where she has been voted 3rd in the UK, along with Event Management’s Event 100 Club where she was placed 18th out of 100. She has also been included in C&IT’s Power 50 – the most 50 most influential people in the UK Meetings and Event industry.

Tim Brennan started Caper and Berry in the 2005 and it has gone on to become one of the London and south east leading caterers of weddings, events and private parties. Over the last five years Caper and Berry has continued established its self in the London market with a listings at many of London’s iconic venues. Priding themselves on working with great producers, sourcing amazing ingredients with precision cooking and impeccable service – Caper and Berry offers an exceptional product to the London market.

Hesham Zakai is the Managing Director of TXF, a leading media and events company specialising in trade, commodity and export finance, with a global portfolio of 20 conferences. He has previously worked at the Special Reports team of the Financial Times and in the Press department at the European Parliament. He is also the former editor-in-chief of London Student, and has published essays on topics ranging from the history of the Middle East to the impact of technology on local British communities.

Sally Beck is General Manager of Royal Lancaster London, one of London’s largest independent hotels, with 411 bedrooms, three restaurants and bars and some of the largest banqueting space in Europe.
Sally has led the team through an £83m renovation whilst keeping the hotel open and achieving entry in The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For over the last three years, voted for by her employees.

Sally and her team are passionate about giving back to the community. Now in its fifth year, Royal Lancaster London’s Community Consortium supports five charities within the local community. Sally works with local churches, the police, schools and residents to ensure that the chosen projects are supported fully and bring a meaningful difference to the local area as a whole. Together they help the homeless, work with The Clink Charity as well as Springboard and Hospitality Action.