MEET THE 2025 SPEAKERS

Maria Hollins is Chief Executive of Ann Summers, and over the past four years, has been responsible for leading the turnaround and growth of the iconic multi-channel retailer as it continues its mission to empower all. Originally joining Ann Summers as a commercial consultant in July 2018, Maria was appointed Joint Managing Director in February 2019 and sole Managing Director in February 2022. In July 2023, it was announced she would step into the role of Chief Executive. Starting her career at Arcadia, Maria has more than 30 years’ experience working within the retail industry and has previously held Board positions at both ASOS and House of Fraser.

Helen Dickinson leads the team and sets the strategic direction of the BRC. She joined in January 2013 and has been working with retailers for over 25 years. In 2016 she was awarded an OBE for Services to Retail. Helen is passionate about diversity and inclusion in retail, acting as the BRC’s Social Mobility Commission ambassador; participating in the Timewise Innovation Unit, looking to support more flexibility in jobs, particularly at senior levels; supporting the Everywoman Retail Ambassadors Programme; and having previously been the Chair of Working Chance, a charity helping women offenders find employment. Helen believes retail can make a strong contribution to communities, and is also on the advisory board for Pennies, a charity which offers digital charity boxes to businesses. Helen was previously UK Head of Retail at KPMG, driving and developing the retail practice and leading relationships and audits for many clients.

Sharaz Khan is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience across sales, operations, finance, and customer service in diverse roles and industries. Currently serving as Retail Operations Manager at New and Lingwood, he oversees logistics, store processes, and customer service strategies, driving operational efficiency and enhancing customer experiences across international locations. His prior roles include Store Manager at Reiss, Menswear Department Manager at Selfridges, and extensive tenure at Harvey Nichols, where he excelled in operational, financial, and departmental leadership roles.

Shereen Ritchie has 25 years of experience in everything hospitality, PR and construction and is a leader with a difference – she believes that business success involves balancing operational and commercial considerations with human ones. Her approach has helped her to turn around enterprise performance, routinely beat budgets, and create and launch a new digital business in just three weeks. As the former UK Managing Director of LEON, she led the brand through its most successful, as well as its most challenging time. Prior to this and after a stint in PR and Construction. she ‘returned home’ to hospitality and joined Las Iguanas where she grew the business and supported the sale of Las Iguanas to Casual Dining Group. Shereen has just been promoted to CEO of the independent London bakery brand, buns from home. The brand that was born during the pandemic has taken the city and social feeds by storm. With ques around the block morning, noon and night, the rapidly growing brand is not only expanding its bakeries but launching into retail and cookbooks.

Nathaniel Wade is one of the co-founders behind Wakuda, known for his role in unlocking growth for African and Caribbean brands through eCommerce. Nathaniel’s strategic insights have driven Wakuda’s award-winning success, making him a trusted figure in fostering growth for diverse and culturally rich businesses.

 

Tracey Powers is the Sales Director for Avon UK. She joined the business in 2019 and in recent years has helped to oversee one of the UK business’ biggest transformations to date, navigating it from a single-channel, direct selling business to an omni-channel organisation which offers product via retail, social selling, marketplace, DTC and franchise – alongside its traditional and much-loved brochure. Throughout the transition, Tracey has ensured that high-touch beauty remains at the brand’s core and the strategic shift still fully supports and empowers female entrepreneurs to achieve success. Tracey started her career in management consultancy before taking Board positions in the recruitment sector. After having her children, she built a successful direct selling business of her own with US jewellery and accessories brand Stella&Dot. This has given her first-hand insight into and experience of the opportunities and challenges the sector can bring.

Scott Taylor is Executive Director of Marketing for American Golf – the largest golf retailer in Europe. Passionate about digital marketing, he has been on the board of American Golf since 2021 – driving their success as an omnichannel business. He has more than 18 years of experience in marketing and customer relationship management with some of the UK’s largest retailers. With top-level experience in digital marketing, customer loyalty, data insight and creative brand management, Scott has worked with many major brands including Selfridges, Ted Baker, Arcadia and Uniqlo. An LGBTQ+ advocate, Scott is also the host of The Rainbow Roundtable which features guests to celebrate and discuss all things LGBTQ+ within retail.

Emma Thackray is the co-founder of Hip Pop, a brewer of functional gut lovin’ drinks. Since inception, Hip Pop has experienced exponential growth, with its range of vegan, low-sugar and non-artificial kombuchas and living sodas stocked by retailers including Booths, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and most recently, 280 Sainsbury’s stores – the brand’s largest commercial listing to date. The alternative beverage brand was awarded a total of 5 stars across 4 of its fermented living culture drinks at this year’s Great Taste Awards – the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme – in addition to being shortlisted for ‘SME Emerging Business’ at the Food & Drink Federation (FDF) Awards 2023. Emma was also recently selected to join Insider Media’s ‘North West 42 under 42’ list for 2023 – an annual campaign which profiles 42 people from the region who are excelling in heading up businesses, aged 42 and under.

Susannah Schofield OBE is the Director General of the Direct Selling Association, the industry body for direct-to-consumer (D2C) retail in the UK. Prior to this, she spent 18 years at Royal Mail, culminating in her holding the Board-level role of Commercial & Innovation Director, where she led a team of 300. A passionate advocate for women and young people in business, Susannah was awarded an OBE for her work in this area in the 2015 Queen’s Honours List. She continues to champion women in business, and is a regular speaker on the importance of flexible working and portfolio careers. As well as being a published author (of business strategy book Mind the Gap), Susannah has lectured for The University of Kent and City, University of London, and also served as an advisor to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Jo Causon joined The Institute of Customer Services as its CEO in 2009, where she has driven membership growth by 150 percent and established the UK Customer Satisfaction Index as the country’s premier indicator of consumer satisfaction, providing organisations with an indicator of the return on their service strategy investment. Jo focuses on demonstrating a clear link between employee engagement, customer service strategies and organisational performance. Working across the public, private and voluntary sectors she provides strategic advice to Boardrooms to raise the standards of service provided by UK organisations and to provide evidence of the connection between customer satisfaction and operational efficiency and profitability.