James Shillcock is the Global Commercial Director of CleanCo, the UK’s leading independent non-alcoholic spirits brand. James has been with CleanCo and the Founding team from day 1 in 2019.
CleanCo develops a range of non-alcoholic spirits covering gin, rum, vodka, tequila and whiskey, and the brand is now listed across all major retailers in the UK, plus Nobu, Claridges, Hakkassan and other world-class operators. The brand recently launched into Walmart in the US and is already the fastest growing non-alc spirits brand in the US.
Valeri leads the product development division at Polipol and serves simultaneously as the project lead for digital transformation initiatives. In this dual role, he is responsible for driving change management across the product lifecycle – from rethinking processes and structures to implementing scalable, digital solutions.
With over 20 years of experience in engineering and development, Valeri has shaped the company’s journey from manual pattern creation to advanced 3D design and digital workflows. His expertise lies in 3D component and assembly design, project management, and organizational leadership. Most recently, his focus has been on implementing Siemens Teamcenter as a comprehensive PLM system and establishing a Digital Twin strategy based on Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
Key milestones in his career include leading the migration from SOLIDWORKS to Siemens NX, the rollout of a company-wide PLM infrastructure, and the successful implementation of a structured requirements management system. This system enables a systematic and traceable approach to managing product-related
requirements across the development process.
What drives him is a passion for change and innovation, a belief that meaningful progress comes from motivated teams, and a clear vision: creating lean, effective, and future-proof development processes through a connected Digital Thread. Outside of work, he is a dedicated family man who draws strength and inspiration from his private life.
Leanne is a Partner at KPMG in the UK, where she is the Head of AI, Advisory. With over 20 years of consulting experience, her proficiency encompasses a comprehensive range of data disciplines, including Data Architecture, Data Strategy, Data Management and Governance, as well as Advanced Analytics, AI and AI Ethics. Leanne excels in bridging the gap between business and IT stakeholders, ensuring seamless communication and understanding. Her adeptness in solving intricate technical challenges, coupled with her strategic foresight, has been instrumental in designing and leading the implementation of complex data-driven solutions. As the spearhead of Ethical AI initiatives at KPMG UK, Leanne is committed to fostering responsible AI practices that align with ethical standards and societal values.
Jochen Hambach successfully managed, restructured and built full service leasing companies. With extensive experience in cross-functional project management, strategic coordination, and stakeholder engagement, he has played a pivotal role in driving innovation and operational excellence across diverse teams. His leadership is marked by a strong focus on collaboration, digital transformation, customer-centric solutions and mergers & acquisitions.
Rory Paterson has spent the past decade working across some of Europe’s fastest-growing and most innovative functional drinks brands. He is currently CEO and Co-Founder of XOXO Soda, Europe’s largest prebiotic soda company, focused on bringing flavour-led, gut-friendly drinks to a broader audience. With a background in brand building and commercial strategy, Rory is interested in how changing consumer habits are shaping the future of soft drinks — from moderation to functionality.
Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD is the Chief Executive Officer of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI). A globally recognized cancer scientist and executive leader, she brings deep expertise in healthcare innovation, strategic partnerships and organizational growth. At PICI, she is driving efforts to advance bold science, catalyze cross-institutional partnerships and accelerate breakthrough therapies, with the mission of turning all cancers into curable diseases. Most recently, Dr. Knudsen served as CEO of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and its advocacy affiliate ACS CAN, where she led the organization through a period of transformative growth, expanding revenue, research investment, patient support and advocacy impact.
