Archives: Speakers

A human-centred-designer with over two decades of experience, helping organisations deliver better outcomes for their customers.

Keith Richards is the founding director and CEO of the Consumer Duty Alliance (CDA), an independent, not-for-profit professional body created by and for the sector. The CDA promotes consumer-focused good practice, engages policymakers on consumer duty, and champions the value of professional advice.

A recognised leader in financial services, Keith has over 40 years’ executive experience and a strong media profile, regularly contributing to national and trade press. He previously served as CEO of the Personal Finance Society for eight years, Chief Membership Officer at the Chartered Insurance Institute, and held senior roles at Tenet Group and Royal London Group.

Keith has actively shaped the profession through board positions with PFS, Tenet, RL Retail, AIFA, AMI, EFPA, and government/regulatory working groups. He is also founding Chair of the Financial Vulnerability Taskforce, promoting understanding and good practice around consumer vulnerability.

Keith was recently recognised for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Advice Industry’ at the Professional Adviser Awards 2026.

Seasoned marketing leader with over 20 years of experience driving business growth and crafting differentiated client experiences for blue chip financial services businesses across investments, real assets, alternatives and wealth management.

Skilled at leading high-performing marketing teams and executing integrated programs in today’s digital landscape. A creative strategist adept at fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and out-of-the-box thinking.

Core competencies include:

• Alternative investments, covering Real Estate, Infrastructure, Private Equity and Credit. Managing all external communications, brand-building and content development.
• PR & Marketing strategy and communications planning
• Digital marketing and optimization
• Brand strategy and positioning
• Advertising, agency management and creative development
• Product marketing
• Budget management and operations
• Assembling and leading teams
• Marketing transformation and change management
• Leveraging global experience to enhance multinational marketing efforts
• Fluent Italian, English and B2 French

Faisal Memon founded iOL over 25 years ago and has made it his mission to solve some of the travel industry’s most daunting problems through the power of cutting-edge technology. Faisal possesses a remarkable gift: the unique ability to unravel some of the most intricate challenges in the travel industry through the
lens of technology. This unique fusion of expertise distinguishes Faisal as a true changemaker in his field. Under Faisal’s leadership, iOL’s innovative suite of technology solutions have become a cornerstone for many leading companies in the global travel sector – a true testament to his unwavering commitment to
empowering clients, and ensuring their journey towards success is supported by seamless technology.

Ralf is the Director of Operations at McDreams (www.mcdreamshotels.de)

McDreams Hotels is an innovative budget hotel concept with eight locations in Germany. As a family-owned business, we prioritize the long-term development of our brand and company. Proudly, we’ve significantly reduced our ecological footprint in recent years. Our goal is to make overnight stays affordable and environmentally friendly. We achieve this through ongoing technological advancements in streamlined processes.

Ralf leads all operational belongings within McDreams with a 15years hospitality background. Ralf aims to introduce, advance, and thereby achieve the best fit for contemporary business travel by implementing automated and lean structures into the corporate context.

Kate Vergara, Ph.D., M.P.H is a Sr. Principal Scientist, Regulatory Affairs for Altria Client Services in Richmond, VA. In this role she serves as Science Lead for NJOY Products, developing and guiding scientific strategies to support tobacco harm reduction.

Prior to joining Altria, Dr. Vergara, was Vice President Health Impact at NJOY, LLC leading individual and population health studies for the NJOY ENDS PMTAs submitted to the FDA (Marketing Granted Orders issued for NJOY ACE April 2022 and NJOY DAILY June 2022).

Before her four years at NJOY, Dr. Vergara dedicated almost 20 years to addressing public health infectious disease burdens in vulnerable populations in emerging economy settings, including tuberculosis and intestinal parasites (Peru), and vaccine preventable diseases in high-risk counties in Africa (Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, and Sierra Leone) and India. She passionately supports growing a more diverse public health workforce, launching the flagship course Public Health Concepts in Epidemiology in 2019 at Baylor University’s Master of Public Health program, one of the most diverse student and faculty MPH programs in the US. Dr. Vergara continues to serve as an adjunct faculty as well as the course lead developing course content and overseeing all faculty teaching the course.

She has authored several peer-reviewed scientific publications and has presented on numerous public health research topics domestically and internationally.

Board experience includes the American Public Health Association SA Executive Board Treasurer from 2014-2016. And, after receiving a Fulbright to Peru 2003-04, Dr. Vergara continues to engage with the US State Department Fulbright Program serving as a Board Member for the Fulbright Association Chicago Chapter since 2021. Dr. Vergara has been an active volunteer with the US Medical Reserve Corps since 2020 and a member of the Chicago Triathlon Club since 2015.

Executive and Continuing Professional Education (ongoing) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

Ph.D., Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

M.P.H., Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

B.S., Education, New York University, New York, New York

Steve Johnson is Senior Director, Hospitality EMEA, for RUCKUS Networks. Prior to his nine years tenure at Ruckus, Steve spent time in management roles at Tech Data, 3Com and Extreme Networks. A long standing in the network industry is mapped to a history of deep and successful engagements with hospitality establishments of all sizes.