This event is for Chamber members only and is a full day event including lunch. If you’d like to speak to us about membership please contact [email protected].
Due to limited numbers, please note that there are only 1-2 free spaces available per organisation. As requested, if more than 2 people from each organisation would like to attend it is possible by purchasing extra tickets at £30+VAT.
Now in its fourteenth year, the Chamber Inspiring Women in Business Conference aims to inspire and connect women in business across the North East of England with this annual event as part of our Inspiring Women in Business programme of events.
The conference will feature speakers from business and public life in the North East highlighting the success stories of women in business in the region, and tackling the issues that will help ensure the role of women in our business community continues to accelerate in the years to come.
The event will be held at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham and has limited numbers. This event is Sponsored by PD Ports
Agenda:
09:30 Registration, networking and refreshments.
10:00 Welcome from our Chamber President and host, Deb Walton, CFO Palintest
(Including information on the Inspiring Women in Business Awards 2026)
10:10 Kay Carrick, Chair of Chamber Women’s Leadership Forum (Update on the work of the Chamber Women’s Leadership Forum)
10:15 A word from our sponsor, PD Ports
Michelle Robson – Global Chief People and Compliance Officer, PD Ports
10:45 Kathryn Meadows – Fourth generation owner, Nicholson’s Butchers
11.10 Introductions around table – everyone on each table introduce yourself to others around the table (10 mins)
COFFEE BREAK and networking
11:35 Panel – Workplace Equity. Hosted by Deb Walton
Michelle Robson – Global Chief People and Compliance Officer, PD Ports,
Andy Broadbent – Principal and Chief Executive, New College Durham
Jessica Gwaringa – Founder & Managing Director of Moonrise 24hr Recruitment
Sam Rennison KPM – Former Chief Superintendent, Northumbria Police
12:10 Interactive activity
12:25 Meg Hardiman – Development and Marketing Officer, Community Foundation North East. Winner of Chamber Business Award Rising Star Award 2026 – member of Future Leaders programme.
12:50-13.45 LUNCH and networking
13:45 Dr Birju Bartoli, CEO, Northumbria NHS
14:10 Breakout rooms – choose one of our Interactive workshops (45 mins):
Workshop 1 - Sam Rennison KPM – former Chief Superintendent, Northumbria Police Founder of The Experience Effect
Women Who Rise: Seeing Barriers Through New Eyes. From Police Constable to senior leader and New Year’s Honours recipient, Samantha shares how lived experience shaped meaningful organisational change — including understanding the impact that making small changes can have on representation and culture. This interactive workshop invites participants to rethink how they attract and retain talent through a modern lens, exploring whether roles are hired for nostalgia or genuine current requirements, the value of behaviour‑based interviewing, and the onboarding signals that create true belonging. Attendees will leave with practical insights on how small changes — seen through new eyes can transform culture and help women rise.
Workshop 2 – Lucy Philipson, Senior Lecturer and Course Lead Sustainability Business Specialist, Teesside University
Charging your leadership battery.
15:00 Alexandra Knight – Founder, STEMAZING
15:30 Close
Speakers include:
Michelle Robson FCIPD is Chief People and Compliance Officer for PD Ports
PD Ports, as the gateway for trade in the North, connects global markets to Teesside and beyond by delivering safe and effective port and supply chain solutions for customers.
Michelle’s role includes executive responsibility for a whole host of functions across the business, from Health and Safety, HR, internal culture and learning and development, to security and business resilience.
She also oversees many of the company’s interactions with the wider Tees community, from communications and community relationships, to leading PD Ports’ push for net zero operations, as executive lead on the sustainability strategy.
PD Ports is also the Statutory Harbour Authority for Teesport and the Port of Hartlepool (a 12 mile stretch of the River Tees, and a three-mile section into the North Sea), with a legal duty to safeguard the river and its users. Michelle is accountable for the leadership of the Harbour Office team who manage vessel traffic on the river, as well as the Harbour Police, an independent, privately funded force covering the port area.
With a strong leadership background covering over 20 years in the oil and gas industry in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, as well as shipbuilding, manufacturing and engineering, Michelle has a proven track record of delivering people strategies that achieve clear business results. Prior to PD Ports, she was Global Chief People Officer at Indicia Worldwide, having also held leadership roles at AEMA, Formica Group Europe and Amec Foster Wheeler.
She is a true advocate for helping young people achieve their potential, encouraging ambition and making sure they have the training and opportunities they need to succeed. She is currently a Trustee of the High Tide Foundation, an independent charity committed to improving opportunities for young people aged 11-16 through real-life work experiences and life-changing programmes.
Dr Birju Bartoli
Chief Executive, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Birju has worked in Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT for over 20 years in a number of different operational and corporate roles before becoming Chief Executive.
She is a scientist by background and has significant experience of working alongside clinicians to develop services that result in both improved clinical outcomes and also efficiencies. The drive for continuous improvement across all services, informed by real time patient and staff experience is a key factor that drives the board and all parts of the organisation.
She is a strong advocate of both the patient and staff voice when looking at improving services. She is committed to ensuring that all staff, whatever their background have the opportunity to develop personally and professionally and are made to feel part of the Northumbria family.
Lucy Philipson, Senior Lecturer and Course Lead Sustainability Business Specialist, Teesside University
Lucy Philipson is a Senior Lecturer in Responsible Leadership at Teesside University International Business School and an experienced leader with over 20 years' experience across higher education, business and the not-for-profit sector.
Before moving into academia, Lucy served as Chief Executive of the international children's charity COCO, leading organisational growth, strategic partnerships and social impact initiatives. Today, she teaches and supports professionals to develop leadership practices that create positive change within organisations and communities.
Drawing on a career spanning leadership, sustainability, organisational development and social impact, Lucy brings practical insights and real-world experience to her work. She is committed to helping people build confidence, realise their potential and lead with purpose.
Having successfully navigated leadership roles across different sectors and stages of her career, Lucy understands the challenges many women face in stepping into leadership. She is passionate about helping women build confidence, recognise their strengths and embrace opportunities to lead with authenticity and impact.
Alexandra Knight – Founder, STEMAZING
Alex is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Fellow of the Women’s Engineering Society. After a career of over 15 years in Industry working in engineering consultancy and innovation, she founded STEMAZING – a social enterprise dedicated to inspiration and inclusion in STEM.
She is also a TEDx speaker and appeared on multiple television programmes as an engineering expert for Prime, Channel 5 and Curiosity Stream to be more visible as an engineer promoting a positive message of engineering to the public (TEDx Talk “Why Visibility, Courage and Sex Matter in Engineering” has 370k views so far on TED YouTube channel).
Kathryn Meadows – Owner, Nicholson’s Butchers
Fourth-generation owner of Nicholson Butchers. Has transformed the family business through modernisation, strategic investment, and a focus on her team and community. Under her leadership, turnover has doubled, the shop renovated, and operations streamlined. As the first female Chair of the Q Guild of Butchers, she champions innovation, inclusivity, and industry support. A passionate mentor, Kathryn inspires others to see butchery as a rewarding career. Her proudest role is being mum to twin girls, showing them the value of hard work, creativity, and purpose.
Meg Hardiman – Development and Marketing Officer, The Community Foundation
Won the Rising Star award at the Chamber Business Awards 2026. Currently on the Chamber future leaders programme and has made an outstanding impact at Community Foundation North East in just one year. Through her enthusiasm, initiative and strong relationship-building skills, she has become a trusted advisor, expanded professional networks, influenced major regional events and transformed the foundation’s digital strategy. Meg does a lot of work with the north east women and girls fund and her potential to drive lasting impact across the region is clear.
Sam Rennison KPM – former Chief Superintendent, Northumbria Police. Founder of The Experience Effect
Winner of the Inspiring Woman in Business Award at the Chamber Awards 2025.
Samantha began her policing career at 20 and spent three decades in roles that included specialist firearms, public order command, organisational change and leading response policing. Alongside the operational work, she focused on improving and promoting pathways for women into roles traditionally seen as more attractive to men, challenging long-standing assumptions about who steps forward and who gets seen. Her contributions to firearms, organisational change and supporting women were recognised in the New Year’s Honours with the King’s Police Medal. Continuing her commitment to fairness and female representation, Sam founded The Experience Effect – a consultancy that helps organisations understand how recruitment, onboarding and early cultural signals influence womens attraction to roles, confidence and long-term retention.
Event sponsored by PD Ports
Owner and operator of Teesport and the Port of Hartlepool, PD Ports plays a critical role in facilitating the nation’s trade, operating in 11 locations across the UK, giving essential access to global markets. We provide our importing and exporting customers with end-to end supply chain services so they can move and store their goods where they need them to be – including road and rail freight services and a range of warehousing facilities, as well as port services.
We are the largest port in the North East of England and the UK’s sixth largest - and the only major port in England to handle more exports than imports.
We are also the Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Tees, responsible for its maintenance and providing safe navigation for the thousands of vessels that visit its waters every year.
Dress code: We don’t stipulate a dress code at our events, but we’d recommend you dress like you’re going to meet new clients. The most important thing is that you're comfortable.
Behaviour & Conduct: Our events create an inclusive space for individuals and organisations to meet where we expect all our attendees to behave with courtesy and respect, to both each other and Chamber colleagues.
If you have any queries please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
Inspiring Women in Business Awards are now open - for more information and to enter click here Inspiring Women in Business Awards 2026