The annual IPA Talent & Diversity Conference curates thought leadership and best practice around talent, inclusion and representation, considering both who makes up our industry and the creative output that results.
This year's conference is an important statement as it reaffirms the UK advertising industry’s commitment to inclusivity and positive representation to both its talent and consumers while exploring the connection between intentional storytelling and measurable, future-proof business growth.
Conference welcome
Leila Siddiqi, Director of D&I at the IPA, opens the IPA Talent and Diversity Conference 2026, showcasing thought leadership and best practice in the talent landscape.
Introduction
Xavier Rees, Group CEO, AMV BBDO and Chair, IPA Talent Leadership Group outlines the theme that will frame and guide the conversations throughout the morning.
The Altogether Different Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
Jennifer Carey, Director of Marketing, Media & Effectiveness, Amy Jenkins, Sales Leader, Luke Moore, Sponsorship Senior Lead, Channel 4
Fresh eyes on a shifting industry
Karen Martin, CEO, BBH London, IPA President, Ella Frost, Client Executive, iProspect, Arjet Doniku, Senior Digital Analyst, Anything is Possible
Rethinking media for culturally relevant brands
Melda Simon, UK Lead - Unstereotype Alliance, UN Women, Tobi Oredein, CEO & Founder, Black Ballad, Bonita Samuels, Inclusive Planning & Culture Lead, Essence Mediacom
IPA iList insights: Cracking the talent code in 2026
Julian Douglas, Group CEO, VCCP, Claire Hollands, CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sally Keane, Director of Sales UK, Spotify, Harjot Singh, Global Chief Strategy Officer, McCann
Tradition meets transformation: Inside The Guardian's strategy
Nicola Kemp, Editorial Director, Creativebrief, Imogen Fox, Global Chief Advertising Officer, The Guardian
Representation redefined: How inclusive marketing drives business growth
Carly Avener, CEO, Leo UK, Sharon Jiggins, VP Managing Partner, 23red, Hannah Pain, Marketing Director, McDonald's, Kate Peers, Head of Campaigns, Sport England
The museum mindset
Sir Tristram Hunt, Museum Director, Victoria and Albert Museum, Aline Santos, former Global Chief Brand Officer and Chief DE&I Officer at Unilever
The power of diverse communities in driving creativity
Michael Brown, Senior Managing Partner, UM Worldwide, Charlotte Ford, Partnerships Lead, Diversity Media Sales, Pip Jamieson, Founder and CEO, The Dots, Amee Wilson, Creative Strategist, TikTok