Theme: Tackling Adversity, Embracing Change

The event theme is ‘Tackling Adversity, Embracing Change’. A diverse line-up of speakers will be sharing a talk based on their own interpretation of this theme with some of these reflecting Warrington’s diversity, innovative minds and strength of spirit.

Daresbury Park
3300 Daresbury Park
Halton, Warrington, WA4 4HS
United Kingdom

Carlos Munez

Director

Carlos is one of the last Peruvian adoptees to come to the UK. Having grown up in Bolton and Cheshire he’s acquired an obscure accent! Carlos is pursuing a career in Design Management. It’s an opportunity and achievement of a lifetime considering his aspirations at age 15 were far less than this. Since Carlos met his wife at 16 their partnership has grown stronger every year. They’ve travelled the world and motivated each other through their studies. They renovated their first home at 24 and had a DIY wedding at 25. Carlos is now a father of two and absolutely loving life. Carlos has daily contact with his birth family in Peru. He and his wife set up Peru Interiors to share the talent and craft of his family and local makers in their community. They are all learning, sharing and consider us a good example of an Anglo-Andean business. The business has the power to change lives.

Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee

Wellbeing Expert, Positive Psychology Practitioner, Academic and GP

Amrita is a strong believer in enabling people to harness their potential to grow, thrive, and flourish. With a focus on promoting healthier work-life practices, she supports people through the cultivation of individualised, unique wellbeing strategies and has focused her research and work in fulfilling this passion. Amrita is committed to fostering positive discussions on discrimination and marginalisation. She actively challenges the current climate and advocates for equity in personal and professional settings. As the Co-Chair of the Disabled Doctors Network, she plays a crucial role in promoting equality. Recognised as an expert in her field, Amrita has made appearances on BBC News, participated in podcasts, webinars, panel discussions, and International Conferences. She has also contributed to articles published in BMJ and has had her research published in The British Journal of Health Psychology.

Jo Tosh

Retired Principal Lecturer and Adult Nurse

Jo Tosh is a former cardiology nurse and principal lecturer who now blogs and campaigns for Parkinson’s. Jo was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when she was just 47 years old. Now 55, she has recently undergone a surgical treatment called deep brain stimulation (DBS). Jo’s journey to DBS was documented through a mini-series by Parkinson’s which was nominated and awarded the People's Choice Award at the 2023 Smiley Movement Charity Film Awards. In 2022, Jo was recognised for her work at the Inspiring Women Awards where she was awarded the Mo Mowlam Award and the Inspiring Others Award. Following her surgery, Jo now spends her time raising awareness of Young Onset Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s and DBS through her social media, presentations and keynote speeches. Based in the North East of England, she has two daughters, a large loving family and an amazing group of friends who support her.

Karl Perry

Copywriter & Coach

Karl describes himself as a bang average bloke who grew up in Humberston, a small village near Grimsby in north east Lincolnshire. He now lives in a similarly small village in south Manchester. Karl is a freelance copywriter, author and a qualified personal and business coach specialising in helping clients overcome their limiting beliefs and growing their confidence. Along the way he’s also set up a promotional marketing agency, a property development company, and an event management agency. Excepting for a brief 11 minute interlude when he left the planet during May 2019, Karl is very active and enjoys road cycling, hill hikes and country pub lunches. He has completed a number of coast-to-coast challenges and has cycled from London to Paris. Karl is married to Karina and they have two grown-up sons. Karina is the key reason why those 11 minutes didn’t extend to forever. Karl will always be eternally grateful for her composure that day.

Lester Barr

Consultant Surgeon, Co-founder & Honorary President of Prevent Breast Cancer

Lester Barr MBE has been a consultant surgeon specialising in breast cancer for over 25 years. He has published over 100 papers on breast cancer and surgical oncology. In 1997, he co-founded the charity Prevent Breast Cancer, a research focussed grant-awarding body, which funds research into prediction, prevention and screening strategies for breast cancer. Lester continues his work with the charity as a researcher and trustee. In 2007, Lester was part of the team that built the world’s first purpose-built Breast Cancer Prevention Centre within the Nightingale Centre in Manchester, UK.

Louisa Herridge

Business and Writing Coach

Louisa is a business, writing and Positive Psychology coach, author and speaker. She has overcome many adversities in life, including domestic abuse, debt, and living with chronic pain, which led to depression and major back surgery. She is a solo mum to her daughter. Louisa left a successful 16-year English teaching career in 2021 to prioritise her and her daughter’s mental health and created a new path in life. She followed her passion and purpose to write, inspire and empower others. Louisa lives a busy life juggling running a business and adventures with her ‘mini-me’. She is a motivational speaker and runs courses, masterclasses, VIP Accelerator days and group events coaching women in business to believe in themselves. She is a three times best-selling author and also coaches women to use their stories of overcoming adversity in book collaborations, two of which have become bestsellers in the UK and the USA.

Nicola Wood

Director

Nicola describes her job as ‘a hairdresser for one day a week and the rest of the week she tries to change the world for people with cancer and hair loss’. As a woman living with rheumatoid arthritis, one of the side effects of her medication was hair loss. Following a breast cancer diagnosis at age 36 and discovering poor services for those with hair loss, she researched the wig industry and started a second multi award-winning business, The Wonderful Wig Company. All profits are re-invested to boost support services for underserved communities. Nicola created a purpose-built support studio for people with medical hair loss and cancer and became one of the UK’s most qualified experts in her field - all whilst going through cancer treatment. Nicola and her team have supported over 10,000 people - including 1,200 children. She also founded the non-profit Inclusion Hair Network and runs a team of voluntary community hairdressers visiting hospitals and hospices around the North East.

Robert Dixon

AI Consultant and Educator

Robert is a seasoned business leader and respected academic. He excels in strategic management, specialising in AI applications for business. With 25 years' experience in both SMEs and blue-chip firms, and over a decade in MBA education, Robert merges theory with practice, delivering cutting-edge insights and preparing both professionals and senior executives for the AI revolution. Robert is Unit Leader of the Strategic Management MBA Programme at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is co-founder of Dixon Humphreys - AI Capability Partners: Consultancy and Training, founder of DixonSpace Enterprise and Innovation Centre in Greater Manchester, and co-founder of ResearchBuddy.app

Sue Evans

Director

Sue specialises in improving performance through people and process, supporting business leaders to embed the skills and culture of continuous improvement, and enabling improvements in productivity, quality and customer experience. In her early career, Sue delivered operational excellence and transformational change for international organisations. In leading such programmes, Sue experienced a fair amount of stress – and it wasn’t always useful! She learned that we don’t always do what’s good for us, even when we recognise that what we’re doing isn’t working. Sue founded the FAST Pathways Academy, which has supported thousands of people by stopping repetitive worries, improving sleep, building resilience, confidence and creative problem-solving. She has changed mindsets and behaviours, resolved repeated absence, prevented resignations, and equipped people to stay at their most resourceful, even under pressure.