PM Forum Annual Conference 2026
Frontline confidence
Bridging insight, intelligence, and impact
Cavendish Venues, The Minster Building, 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
21
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
Leor Franks
9:35am
Keynote
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
10.15am
Fight Club: Confidence matters more than expertise
The debate concludes with a live audience vote, encouraging participation and energy.
PRO: Karen Snell
CON: Susie Pugsley
UMPIRE: Keith Hardie
CHAIR OF JUDGES: Charlotte Green
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
Marketing and BD leaders are best placed to thread the needle between competitive differentiation and client psychology; They become the only people in the room who understand what competitors are doing AND what clients care about; That puts them in front of the Board and gives them a seat at the table; As a result, they can confidently expect greater respect for their contribution to the business.
Ed FitzGerald
Jenni Montgomery
Paul Seymour
Amelia Stirling
12.05am
Morning Breakout Sessions
O
The psychological value of high confidence levels
Topics include: Identifying cultural barriers within organisations; Reviewing psychological safety and inclusion; Exploring leadership through the equity lens; Building resilient leaders and teams
Gwen Alexander
Harah Chon
A
Mapping your firm’s blind spots
Blind spots can include real client needs, invisible competitor priorities, vague strategy, unclear differentiation, low visibility of expertise, and poor understanding of client psychology. Explore how best to research and analyse the knowledge gaps that are holding back your firm.
Clive Webb
B
From data to decisions
Strategy is a three-stage framework – input, matching and decision – designed to generate and select the best long-term actions based on data – organisational goals, resources, and external conditions. Explore how best to influence and enhance the strategy process at your firm.
Derek Klyhn
C
Confidence playbook
[For senior marketers]
Marketing and BD experts are far more likely to be invited to the top table once there is recognition that they are the only people who understand what competitors are doing AND what clients care about. Work with peers on a practical playbook to increase your impact and influence as a board level marketer.
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)
Alastair Banks
Lee Curtis
Bernard Savage
Natasha Tucker
03.00pm
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
O
Relationships that impact confidence
[Clients, Experts, Board, Marketers, Platforms]
Relationships with clients, experts, management teams and colleagues significantly shape self-confidence through a reciprocal, long-term feedback loop. Positive, supportive relationships enhance self-worth, while toxic, controlling, or insecure relationships often erode it. Explore how best to manage conflict, express needs, and build trust.
Meirion Jones
A
Mapping your firm’s blind spots
Clive Webb
B
From data to decisions
Derek Klyhn
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
Keynote
Confidence is preparation: why marketing must lead the charge
Ruxandra Radulescu
4:50pm
Chair’s closing remarks
5:00pm
Refreshments
6:30pm
Conference close
MEET THE SPEAKERS
We will be joined by a world class lineup of speakers who will share their expertise and knowledge in a day of learning and development. An invaluable source of insights and inspiration.
Gwen Alexander
Gwen Alexander brings experience in policy, governance and sustainability, supporting organisations to build and evolve sustainability functions. They have helped embed community engagement and place-based approaches into business strategy, particularly in innovation-led development settings. Gwen focuses on practical sustainability approaches that move beyond compliance into real impact.
Alastair Banks
Alastair co-founded digital marketing agency Optix Solutions at 19 while studying at the University of Exeter. Today, Optix is a leading UK agency with 20 staff and clients including the Met Office, University of Exeter, Pearson Languages, the NHS and London Business School. He also speaks across Europe on digital trends and generative AI.
Alastair Beddow
Alastair Beddow is Managing Director of Meridian West and a respected adviser on the strategic and commercial issues affecting professional services, B2B firms and client relationships. He began as a teacher before moving into consultancy, drawing on those classroom skills. He works with firms across Europe, North America and Asia on growth, CX and insight campaigns.
Richard Chaplin
Richard Chaplin is Founder and Chief Executive of the Managing Partners’ Forum, PM Forum and Centre for Professional Services Research. A super-connector with a global network, he helps members address strategic, leadership and operational issues, curates valuable insights, and represents the sector through research-backed engagement with Government.
Harah Chon
Harah is a designer, researcher and educator, currently directing the MBA at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. She develops programmes and workshops at the intersection of design and business, with a focus on systems thinking and strategy design. At Wonder, she applies creative frameworks to women’s health and leadership.
Lee Curtis
Lee Curtis is co-founder of Legal Engine, building AI agents that act as digital colleagues inside law firms. After 20 years in legal business development, he founded the business to turn lost insight from conversations into useful commercial output. His work focuses on where AI builds confidence, where it creates false confidence, and what guardrails build trust.
Ed FitzGerald
Ed sits on RPC’s Operations Board and leads the firm’s brand, marketing and business development activity. With 20 years in the legal sector, he has led award-winning brand and marketing projects and supported senior leaders through crises, acquisitions and international openings. His experience spans professional services, government and publishing.
Leor Franks
Leor is Chief Commercial Officer at Kingsley Napley and a member of its Management Board and Senior Leadership Team, leading revenue growth and profitability across brand, business development, planning, communications, digital and marketing. He has over 25 years’ experience in legal, accounting and consulting firms, and also holds several board roles.
Charlotte Green
Charlotte facilitates growth in law firms and helps partners and lawyers be more confident at winning work, retaining clients and enhancing overall client experience, bringing to bear (almost) 30 years’ experience in BD, marketing and communications.
Keith Hardie
Keith has led communication, marketing, and business development teams globally. A winner of multiple awards, he now consults for law firms, while also spearheading the PM Forum’s expansion into Continental Europe and the Americas.
Meirion Jones
Meirion Jones has spent 35 years in senior professional services roles, advising on strategy, client service, sales, and technology innovation. After in-house roles at firms including Coopers & Lybrand, Allen & Overy, Lovells and Reed Smith, he founded his consultancy and now helps firms embed the mindset and behaviours needed to deliver on client promises.
Derek Klyhn
Derek is a Principal Consultant and founding Partner at PSFI, helping leaders of professional services firms achieve their goals. He specialises in strategy, profit enhancement, business development and strategic marketing. He has worked with leaders from over 200 firms and previously held senior roles at EY and Mazars.
Jenni Montgomery
Jenni has built her career across strategy, business development and marketing in both private partnership and corporate environments. After starting at Barton Willmore, she spent 19 years building its marketing team and brand, later leading its integration into Stantec. She now leads Growth Strategy and Business Development for Stantec’s UK Infrastructure team.
Susie Pugsley
Susanne, known as Susie to those close to her, is a passionate and pragmatic business development and marketing specialist in professional services. She founded Pugsley Sidwell Business Development in 2009 and has supported law, accountancy and niche firms of all sizes. She is known as a problem-solver and change manager who helps firms achieve their growth goals.
Ruxandra Radulescu
Ruxandra Radulescu is the CEO of Within International, an Advisory and Creative Agency working with global organisations in professional services. With expertise in international relations, business, and neuroscience, she specialises in change management and behavioural analysis, advising C-suite executives and supporting their organisations and brands in adapting to change, executing effective pitches, and achieving successful outcomes.
Bernard Savage
Bernard Savage’s career spans blue-chip firms including Procter & Gamble and Shell, followed by Eversheds and the launch of Tenandahalf. Since 2005, Tenandahalf has helped more than 200 professional services firms grow through strategic and tactical support, training, coaching and client research across the UK and internationally.
Paul Seymour
Paul Seymour is Chief Marketing Officer at Bishop Fleming, with strategic responsibility for marketing and business development across the firm. He advises on growth, brand, markets, sectors and relationship management, and oversees delivery across the business. He brings more than 25 years’ experience across professional services and related sectors.
Karen Snell
Karen Snell is Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer at Kennedys, leading the firm’s global strategy for client development, brand and market positioning across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia Pacific. With nearly 30 years in legal and professional services, she is known for commercially focused growth leadership.
Amelia Stirling
Amelia Stirling is Chief Markets Officer at Burges Salmon, leading marketing, business development and client experience strategy. As a Strategic Board member, she helps shape market position and growth. With senior roles at Osborne Clarke and Clifford Chance, she brings extensive legal sector experience and a focus on innovation, collaboration and client-centric marketing.
Natasha Tucker
Natasha Tucker is a British-Canadian professional with over 20 years’ experience across professional services, industries and global markets. She helps firms grow revenue and strengthen client relationships through LegalTech. Working at the intersection of IT, compliance and business development, she ensures technology supports both legal and commercial goals.
Clive Webb
Clive is Head of Business Management in ACCA’s Policy and Insights team, focusing on finance leaders, technology, sustainability and transformation. He has led research on the CFO’s shift to a more value-centric role and on future career paths in the profession. A qualified accountant, he has Big Four audit and consulting experience.
How to Book
Eligibility
Click here to find out more about becoming a member.
Our Sponsors
Early Bird discount
Valid till 30 June
£675+VAT (£810)
For the members of PM Forum, Profile, Managing Partners’ Forum, and ICON APAC
After 30 June
£795+VAT (£954)
For the members of PM Forum, Profile, Managing Partners’ Forum, and ICON APAC
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.”