Thursday 27th February 2025 : 1pm – 4pm
The Trinity Room, Trinity Square, Hull, HU1 1RR
Turning strategic vision into measurable value
Welcome the next instalment of Rise & Thrive, where we celebrate feminine business leadership and focus on addressing the unique challenges women face in accessing finance. This is an event where ambitious businesswomen and professionals can share knowledge and build meaningful relationships over afternoon tea.
Keynote speaker
Helen Gibson MBE
International Business Entrepreneur, NED and Speaker
Helen was awarded her MBE by the queen for services to international trade in 2022 and her company was named Best Small Business in the UK at the Family Business Awards in 2017.
A registered Keynote speaker, Helen is a Mentor for the Cherie Blair Foundation Women in Business programme and a regular speaker for the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, a UK Export Champion and a University Lecturer. She was also appointed as a delegate to represent the UK at the UN Women Commission on the Status of Women in 2024.
Panellist
Jo Fleming
Corporate and External Affairs Executive
With over 20 years of corporate experience, Jo is a results-driven business leader specialising in commercial and operational growth within innovative technology-focused organisations.
Jo’s track record reflects a consistent ability to establish and execute commercial strategies that drive substantial revenue growth and operational excellence within start-up or private equity backed organisations.
Named as one of the Top 20 Most Inspirational Business Leaders in both 2020 and 2021, Jo has received numerous accolades, including the Women in Business Award, which underscores her commitment to excellence and leadership in the field.
Panellist
Janet Grant
Leadership and Resilience Coach, The Better People
Janet is a Chartered Accountant and leadership resilience coach specialising in stress and resilience coaching, business and finance training and leadership development.
She has significant experience working across many companies and industries, from SMEs to multi-nationals including BAE Systems, Pets at Home and Janssen Pharmaceutical. She also works with not-for-profit organisations in Charities and Further Education. A RQi resilience practitioner affiliated with Kirros, plus an ILM accredited coach Janet’s people development work includes resilience, feedback skills, personal brand, change management, leadership skills and behavioural profiling.
Janet enjoys using her coaching, resilience and business finance experience to support people and deliver their goals and potential.
Panellist
Jo Barnes
Managing Director, Sewell Estates
Jo is Managing Director of Sewell Estates, a multi-disciplinary group spanning construction, facilities management, consultancy, data mapping/intelligence and property investments, headquartered in Hull but working across the UK. A Chartered Director, Jo is also a Director on a number of partnership boards, including the education and regeneration vehicle Hull Esteem, the joint venture behind the £200m Yorkshire Energy Park development, Hull Eco Park Limited, and the Humber Freeport Board. She has over 30 years of experience working in property and regeneration across the North of England and Scotland and has led the Sewell team through the move to becoming part employee owned, securing a Queens Award for Enterprise for work in social mobility and maintaining our Sunday Times Best Places to Work position in 2024.
Panellist
Vicky Doyle
Founder, Lemonclean
Vicky Doyle is Founder of Lemonclean, a leading sustainable commercial cleaning company.
Currently employing approx 120 team members with a varied portfolio of clients in the East Yorkshire/North Lincolnshire Area. Lemonclean has recently celebrated its 15th birthday and has ambitious plan for the next 15 years.
Previous to establishing her own business Vicky had a successful retail back ground working in the Arcadia group, in store design and within the Development Team, as well as an Area Manager for Yorkshire & Manchester.
Vicky Lives locally in Hessle with her husband and 3 teenage children, currently planning her 50th for later this year and celebrating 50 fabulous things to do in the year of being 50.
The agenda
1pm Arrival and welcome drink
1:30pm Guests to take their seats
1:35pm Welcome by Rebecca Pickering
1:45pm Helen Gibson MBE keynote address
2pm Afternoon tea served
3pm Panel discussion hosted by Sarah Hex
3:45pm Wrap-up and close
Got a question for the panel?
We look forward to welcoming you
We’d love your insights ahead of the big day. Please submit your questions for the panel by clicking the button below.