Hugo Sugden is an entrepreneur and executive advisor, and the Chairman and Co-Founder of Wynden Stark Group. With extensive expertise in corporate development and executive advisory, he helps organisations tackle complex challenges and scale effectively. Hugo co-founded GQR in 2009, a leading international talent acquisition firm, expanding its operations across banking, finance, technology, life sciences, and healthcare. His leadership in talent strategy and business growth has transformed the recruitment landscape and established him as a thought leader in the industry.

Mark Beal-Preston is a partner and the Chief Commercial Officer at Talent Journey, focusing on market strategy, commercial development, and operational excellence. With over 20 years of experience, Mark has led high-growth businesses and founded a successful accountancy firm acquired by the UK’s largest private equity-backed professional services group. He drove record-breaking sales and business growth, earning recognition for his strategic leadership and ability to build high-performance teams.

With over 20 years of dynamic experience in Sales and Sales Management, Craig is a proven leader in the recruitment sector, having excelled for 15 years in fast-paced agency environments. A consistent top biller, Craig has a remarkable ability to inspire and lead teams of over 30, driving exceptional performance and operational excellence. His strategic insight into sales and operational management has resulted in transformative growth, with a particular focus on process innovation, performance enhancement, and international business expansion. Craig’s comprehensive skill set empowers him to architect sales strategies that achieve targets and foster sustainable, long-term growth in competitive markets.

With 18 years of expertise in Talent Acquisition, Rob has transformed recruitment strategies for multiple organisations by successfully leading large-scale hiring initiatives across diverse industries. He is an authority in designing and implementing cutting-edge recruitment technologies, including on-premises and cloud-based solutions such as CRMs and ATSs. Rob's commitment to establishing IT best practices has enabled organisations to leverage innovative technology to optimise recruitment processes, resulting in scalable and efficient talent strategies. His data-driven approach ensures that recruitment efforts are strategically aligned with organisational goals, delivering hires and high-impact talent that drive business success.

Laura is a marketing innovator with 7 years of experience specialising in digital engagement strategies that drive exceptional results. Her expertise in LinkedIn optimisation and customer experience (CX) has enabled her to create compelling marketing campaigns that resonate deeply with target audiences. With a unique background in recruitment and global marketing, Laura excels at merging insights from both fields to develop strategies that capture attention, build lasting customer loyalty, and drive conversion rates. Her commitment to data-driven marketing ensures that each campaign is fine-tuned for maximum impact, empowering brands to thrive in an evolving marketplace.

Rich is a distinguished Learning and Development (L&D) consultant with a decade of experience that has revolutionised performance outcomes across various sectors. His innovative approaches to L&D have consistently driven substantial ramp-up, retention, and revenue increases, establishing him as a sought-after advisor in the field. As a founder himself, Rich intimately understands the entrepreneurial challenges and has successfully implemented impactful interventions across Life Sciences, Legal, Tech, and Financial Services in the UK, EU, and Australia. His outcome-focused mindset ensures that every initiative he leads delivers exceptional return on investment, empowering organisations to realise their full potential.