Pre Event Activities – Monday February 24 2025

Opening Night Meet and Greet Drinks Reception

Meet your fellow attendees, speakers and the event’s organisers. This networking event is the optimum way to make early connections and start discussions about the content to come to get the most from the next day.

Tuesday February 25, 2025

CHAIR’S OPENING REMARKS

Jamie Chadwick, Managing Editor, Expana 

OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Overcoming Adversity and Stories from an Inspirational Leader in Food and Ag

Listen to a motivating speech from an influential leader from the food and agriculture sector to gain a different perspective into their career and how they have tackled challenges. Be entertained and gain learnings to apply to your own work and home life.

PANEL DISCUSSION: The Future of Work and How We Adapt to This

• What will a job and career in food and agriculture look like in the future? What will future generations want from their careers?
• Preparing for upcoming shifts in the professional sphere and the changing nature of the workplace
• The importance of considering diverse age groups in the workforce
• Moving towards an ageing workforce and how we adopt strategies to support them
• Discussing successful case studies including apprenticeship programs, and international recruitment efforts to address workforce gaps

HOW TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY: Storytelling, Persuasion and Negotiation

• Communication and storytelling as leadership tools in the food and ag sector
• Adopting communication strategies and storytelling methods to successfully convey your message
• Tailoring your communication style to meet the needs of the situation to build rapport and trust
• Developing compelling writing and speaking skills to be more persuasive and engage key stakeholders
• Improving negotiation skills and create a foundation for strong professional relationships
• Resolving conflicts and achieving win-win solutions

BEST PRACTICE PANEL DISCUSSION: Driving Inclusivity Through Successful Leadership

• Case studies on effective inclusive leadership in the food and agriculture sector
• How to build up the next generation of female leaders
• How to demonstrate ROI and convince your senior leadership that D&I pays
• Being a successful mentor to others, officially and unofficially
• How to build stronger emotional connections
• Successful initiatives to champion internal talent development and support long-term employee growth and satisfaction

Seda Gumuspala Eceli, Global Procurement Director – Ice cream Soft Commodities, Unilever 

Sunil Nayak, Zone President Europe, Sodexo 

INTERACTIVE SKILLS WORKSHOPS

Join one of our interactive workshop sessions for a discussion on a topic of interest that will develop your skills and career. Learn from other food and agriculture professionals around you and share your views and experiences while networking and meeting new people.

Attendees will choose one of the following:

• Managing Difficult Conversations – Examine the dynamics of effective problem-solving, one-on-one interviews, and advocating for yourself. Learn how to initiate and have tricky conversations that lead to resolutions and behavioral change
• How to Build your Executive Presence and Personal Brand– Reflect on your passions and contributions to your business to develop an authentic brand. Understand your strengths to inspire confidence, engage with your team, and demonstrate competence as a leader.
• Navigating New Connections with Confidence– Practice networking to establish strong communities to support yourself, your peers, and the next generation of women in food and agriculture. Gain personal confidence networking to achieve your personal or business goals.
• Strategies to Combat Burnout, Support Mental Health, and Improve Your Work-Life Balance– Hear best practices and personal experiences to combat burnout and navigate a better work life balance. Learn how to better manage stress and create sustained personal growth so you can capitalize on opportunity and drive new initiatives.
• Overcoming Barriers as Women in Buying, Selling and Supply Chain Roles– Discussing barriers to career progression and sharing experiences and advice as female executives in supply chain, procurement, and commercial roles. Gain tools unique to this career path to empower your career in sales and logistics.

LEADERSHIP COACHING: Navigating the Paths to Becoming an Effective Leader in Food and Ag

Join the Early Careers or Senior Careers stream for a discussion on key topics to turbocharge your career progression and develop your skills.

Early Careers

• The challenges for women to overcome developing their careers in a male dominated environment
• Assessing different leadership styles
• How women can rise to leadership roles while staying true to themselves
• Building alliances and managing up to increase your visibility within the organization for future career progression
• Proactive engagement and goalsetting strategies for your personal development

Senior Careers

• The challenges for women to overcome developing their careers in a male dominated environment
• Assessing different leadership styles
• Leading authentically in a professional setting
• Effective leadership in turbulent times
• Learn how to develop creative and sustainable strategies to support your teams

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2035: The Future of Food and Agriculture

• How the landscape of food and ag will change over the next 10 years
• How are companies integrating sustainability objectives and climate resilience into their long-term strategic planning?
• Women-led initiatives in sustainable agriculture from across the world
• Implementing a future-proofed social impact and equity strategy
• Preparing for 2026 and beyond

NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION