PM Forum Annual Conference 2026
Frontline confidence
Bridging insight, intelligence, and impact
London | 07 October 2026
Frontline confidence:
bridging insight, intelligence, and impact
From the boardroom to the client meeting, professional services thrive on confidence. Richard Kline reminds us that “Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control.” Yet knowledge gaps inhibit preparation and undermine confidence every day.
These knowledge gaps include lack of clarity over real client needs, invisible competitor priorities, vague strategy, unclear differentiation, low visibility of expertise, and poor understanding of client psychology. The consequences are board‑level: poor profitability, lack of strategic direction, lost pitches, weak positioning, missed media and policy opportunities, and reputational dilution.
As guardians of strategic intelligence, marketing and BD professionals have to play a vital role in:
- Sourcing reliable evidence to fill knowledge gaps
- Sharing the Board’s vision and plan for the business
- Briefing the frontline on trends, challenges & opportunities linked to specific client needs
- Ensuring that the firm’s website has good content discoverability and avoids an accumulation of low‑quality material
Marketers’ contribution equips boards with clarity over strategic alignment and competitor priorities, increases buy in to the strategy across the firm, improves service delivery through identifying and surfacing credible internal experts to brief those in the frontline, and ensures that clients can distinguish between firms with deep expertise and those producing high‑volume generic output.
The outcome is a boost to frontline confidence – leading to more client instructions, optimal growth and improved retention – and greater respect for marketing’s contribution to the business.
Richard Chaplin
Founder & Chief Executive
200
Attendees
30
Years of experience
26
Stellar speakers
The countdown to the conference has started!
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
8:30am
Networking breakfast and registration
9:25am
Chair’s introduction
Charlotte Green
9:35am
Keynote
Confidence is preparation: why marketing must lead the charge
Ruxandra Radulescu
10.15am
Fight Club: Confidence matters more than expertise
The debate concludes with a live audience vote, encouraging participation and energy.
PRO: Rachel Holmes
CON: Susie Pugsley
UMPIRE: Leor Franks
10:55am
Coffee break
An opportunity to meet the sponsors, catch-up with old friends and make new ones.
11.25am
CMO Panel
The unsung heroes: marketing as the guardian of strategic intelligence
Julie Mortimer
Paul seymour
Jenni Montgomery
MODERATOR: Ian White
12.05am
Morning Breakout Sessions
O
The psychological value of high confidence levels
Neha Sawjani
A
Mapping your firm’s blind spots
Clive Webb
B
From data to decisions
Andrew Hedley
C
Confidence playbook
[For senior marketers]
Richard Chaplin
1:05pm
Lunch break
An opportunity to meet the sponsors, catch-up with old friends and make new ones.
02.00pm
AI panel: Artificial intelligence or artificial confidence?
The panel explores when AI builds confidence (speed, clarity, prediction) and when it erodes it (over-reliance, loss of authenticity)
Bernard Savage
Lee Curtis
Natasha Tucker
MODERATOR: Darshi Gillies
03.00pm
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
O
Relationships that impact confidence
[Clients, Experts, Board, Marketers, Platforms]
Meirion Jones
A
Mapping your firm’s blind spots
Clive Webb
B
From data to decisions
Andrew Hedley
C
Confidence playbook
[For senior marketers]
Richard Chaplin
3:40pm
Tea break
An opportunity to meet the sponsors, catch-up with old friends and make new ones.
04.00pm
PM Forum update
Richard Chaplin
04.10pm
The rise of the confident firm
How aligning AI, marketing, and leadership transforms confidence into growth. Includes findings of the 2026 marketing benchmark
Alastair beddow
4:50pm
Chair’s closing remarks
5:00pm
Conference close
How to Book
Eligibility
The conference is open solely to members of PM Forum, the Strategy & Marketing Group of the Managing Partners’ Forum, and ICON APAC. Marketing Leader workshops are reserved for members of the Strategy & Marketing Group of the Managing Partners’ Forum and other marketing directors of similar seniority at PM Forum member firms.
There is no charge to attend the conference for those based outside the UK and Ireland. PM Forum membership is corporate by country so you may already be eligible to attend – just ask.
Click here to find out more about becoming a member.
Our Sponsors
Book your place now
FAQ
Substitutes and cancellations
Up to 29 August 2026: Full refund minus £95 (plus VAT)
cancellation fee.
No refund after 29 August 2026.
Cancellation
Cancellations must be made in writing.
Substitutes are welcome.
PMI reserves the right to cancel
with no liability beyond refund of fees paid
Further information
+44 (0)20 7786 9786
pmf@pmint.co.uk | www.pmforum.co.uk | www.mpfglobal.com
Testimonials
“What a fantastic day, every presentation was engaging. I have come away very inspired and with lots of tools to put into place at my workplace.”
“The PM Forum Conference is the leading industry event for all aspirational markters.”
“Spending time with those who challenge and support your thinking always makes for a fun, informative, and engaging day.”