Tom Coombes is the founder and CEO of Cognito. Tom’s experience is drawn from more than two decades advising financial institutions and related businesses on improving their marketing, communications and brand strategies to make a direct impact on sales and profitability.
Tom’s client experience comes from working with leading financial sector brands around the globe, including the London Stock Exchange, J.P. Morgan and ABN AMRO as well as numerous technology companies and consultancies that sell to the financial services market.

Danny is the Head of external relations at Hargreaves Lansdown (HL), the UK's favourite digital wealth management service. With over 20 years at HL, Danny sits over the public relations and corporate affairs functions as well as being a trustee of the HL Charitable Foundation and the Bristol period poverty charity, Period Friendly Places, and a mentor and coach.

Frank has been in the Investor Relations industry for 20 years with experience working in both the UK and South Africa. He currently oversees the Investor Relations function at drinks company, Distell (DGH), supervising the company’s capital markets facing activities, Integrated Report process, pre- AGM solicitation and Financial Media management.  He is also currently involved in the Heineken deal Stakeholder management and communications workstream towards deal completion.

Starting his career at The Cross Border Group, Frank then worked for FTI Consulting and King Worldwide Investor Relations. He also spent four years at the London Stock Exchange running the corporate access business and promoting listings in Emerging Markets.

Simon leads the interpretation and implementation of new IFRSs across the group and makes sure that the Group stays ahead of new developments in corporate and ESG reporting.  

He has a specialism in ESG reporting, strategy, business model and culture reporting.  He leads the process and development of the Howden Joinery Group Annual Report & Accounts and the Group’s Sustainability Report, which have won several awards in recent years.  He was a member of the Advisory Group for the UK Financial Reporting Council’s recent project on The Future of Corporate Reporting and is a current member of the FRC Advisory Panel.

He is also a member of the Investor Relations Society and holds their Certificate in Investor Relations.

Lucie has worked for London Stock Exchange Group for the past 10 years. She is currently director of communications, providing the full spectrum of communications activity for the FTSE 100 company and leading on corporate issues such as financial calendar reporting and M&A. With almost 20 years of in-house and agency PR experience, she was previously a director at the international PR agency, Citigate Dewe Rogerson, providing strategic PR advice and consultancy to firms around the world

Charles is Head of Investor Relations at Halma plc, a global group of life-saving technology companies, focused on growing a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day, and a FTSE 100 constituent. In his role at Halma he is accountable for all aspects of investor relations and is also responsible for the Group’s sustainability function which reports to him. He joined Halma in September 2018, having previously led investor relations teams at Tate & Lyle, Serco, Lloyds Banking Group, SSP Group and Worldpay.

Jock has extensive experience of developing communications strategies and implementing public affairs programmes for leading global corporations to develop governmental, institutional and investor relations. He joined the leading Ukrainian holding company, System Capital Management, as Director of Corporate Communications in 2005. Since then he has been involved in developing and implementing the company’s communications, government relations and investor relations strategies. Prior to SCM he was Regional Director for eastern European public affairs and communications consultancy, MMD.  Previously, he was Regional Director of Weber Shandwick PR based in Dubai covering the Middle East and North Africa where he worked across the region on a number of government related projects, including public diplomacy for the US State Department. Jock has an honours degree in economics and is a member of the Advisory Board of the EU - Ukraine Business Council, Deputy Chair of the British Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and serves on the President’s Advisory Council of the US Ukraine Business Council. He also served as a member of the UN-led Humanitarian Country Team in Ukraine from 2014 to 2020 which coordinated the response to the humanitarian crisis resulting from the Russian war on Ukraine he is a participant in peace-building dialogues aimed at finding a solution to ending the conflict. He is also an Honorary Professor in International Relations at the University of Mariupol. He is regular conference speaker and TV analyst on business and economic issues

Since 2018, Gulshen has been the Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Senior plc - an international manufacturing Group with 26 operations in 12 countries. Prior to her role at Senior, she was at Babcock International Group plc. She has over 12 years of experience as an IR professional, with a strong background in financial analysis, communication and stakeholder management. She believes the key to the role is having integrity and credibility. Gulshen holds a MSc in Public Services Policy & Management from Kings College London and a BEc in Economics from the Australian National University.

Alice joined BP in 2018 to lead its corporate reporting team, ensuring BP responds transparently to reporting requirements and best practice developments. She has over 12 years’ experience in responsible business, reporting and ESG and sustainability issues in FTSE 100 companies, having worked at Lloyds Banking Group prior to her current role.

Lindsey is the Director of Investment Stewardship Research at Morningstar. He has over 20 years' experience consulting and advising listed companies and other organisations on investor and stakeholder engagement at Makinson Cowell, KPMG and the Financial Reporting Council. Lindsey now works in a global team at Morningstar conducting research into asset managers’ sustainable investing policies and practices, and publishing thought leadership and ratings that asset owners and investment beneficiaries can use in their investment allocation decisions. Lindsey is a Chartered Management Accountant and CFA Charterholder, and won a Senior Leader Finalist prize at the 2021 Black British Business Awards.

Gemma is director of corporate and financial communications at Pearson. Gemma joined Pearson in 2010 and has over 12 years of experience, in both the UK and Hong Kong. Currently, Gemma leads on the planning and execution of corporate and financial news and events, including Pearson’s financial results, trading updates, major transactions, investor presentations, as well as set corporate pieces such as Pearson’s Annual Report and AGM. As part of this work, Gemma manages Pearson’s corporate and IR website, organises media interactions and provides strategic counsel for Pearson’s CEO and CFO.