Speaker Group: Programme Page

Piers Linney is an entrepreneur, investor and business commentator whose career spans law, banking, technology and venture capital. A former ‘Dragon’ on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, and co-founder of Implement AI, he is a leader in innovation, business growth and strategy, and the potential of artificial intelligence in the future of work. He also co-hosts The Implement AI podcast. Starting…
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Steve Hughes is Group CEO of Coventry Building Society Group, leading a purpose-driven £90bn financial services group serving 4 million customers. Since joining Coventry in 2020, he’s transformed it into the UK’s second-largest building society and spearheaded the landmark acquisition of The Co-operative Bank in 2025. With over 15 years at board level – including CEO of Principality Building Society and…
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Lucy Rigby KC MP was appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 6 September 2025. As City Minister, the Economic Secretary is responsible for financial services policy, reform and regulation, engagement with the financial services sector, personal savings policy, debt and reserves management policy, financial sanctions, and countering economic crime. She was previously Solicitor General between December 2024 and September…
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Sarah has been the FCA’s Deputy Chief Executive since June 2025. The new role has been created to reflect the FCA’s expanding remit. As Deputy Chief Executive, Sarah will also support the FCA’s increasingly international focus, given it’s role supporting UK growth and competitiveness. Sarah joined the FCA in June 2021 to jointly lead the supervision, Policy and Competition division. Sarah…
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The Rt Hon. Jim Murphy, former UK Cabinet Minister and Founder and Executive Chair, Arden Strategies A member of His Majesty’s Privy Council, Jim served as a Labour MP for over two decades. He held multiple ministerial portfolios, including as Minister for Europe and Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform. He went on to serve as Secretary of State for…
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Sarah Harrison joined the BSA as Chief Executive in December 2025. Sarah is an experienced chief executive with over 30 years in strategic leadership roles as a public servant, working both for regulators and the government. Her previous roles include Chief Operating Officer at the Cabinet Office, Chief Operating Officer at the former business department (BEIS), Chief Executive of the…
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Charlotte Gerken is Executive Director for UK Deposit Takers Supervision and is responsible for the supervision of around 600 deposit taking firms, including over 400 mutuals (building societies and credit unions).   Charlotte also chairs the PRA’s main executive committee taking decisions on supervision, policy and risk issues, and is a member of the Basel Committee for Banking Supervision. From 2020…
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Dame Debbie Crosbie joined Nationwide as Chief Executive Officer in June 2022. Since then, she has developed the Society’s new business strategy, created a new Purpose, and refreshed its brand, marketing and member rewards. Since Debbie’s appointment, Nationwide has acquired Virgin Money to become the first mutual group to offer business banking services, and it is now the second largest…
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