South: Hampshire Chamber announces speaker line-up at annual conference

The boss of the UK’s leading port operator, the founder of an award-winning personal lubricants firm and a lead-generation specialist, whose own company has increased turnover by 40% every year in the past decade, are among the line-up of speakers at Hampshire Chamber of Commerce's  annual Talking Business conference on October 22.

As chief executive of Associated British Ports, James Cooper’s responsibilities span the ownership and operations of Southampton docks and 20 other major ports across the country. Before joining ABP, his director-level roles included being co-head of UK Corporate Finance at BNP Paribas. He also led the transport sector team at Hambros Bank and was chairman of Red Funnel Group.

Fellow speaker Sarah Brooks is director and co-founder of The Yes Yes Company, a Petersfield firm that competes with major household brands to export intimate organic lubricants worldwide. The company recently won the Baker Tilly Customer Service Award at the South Coast Business Awards.

Joining them to speak is Paul Thomas, managing director of Portsmouth-based telemarketing agency Market Makers and its lead generation software arm, Lead Forensics. For the past four years, Market Makers has been the only telemarketing firm listed on The Times Top 100 companies to work for. The firm has also increased turnover by 40% every year since it was launched in 2004.

As well as the presentations, Talking Business includes exhibitions, networking and an expert panel that will debate topical issues facing Hampshire companies.

Event sponsors are Lead Forensics, accountancy and financial services group Smith & Williamson, and law firm Clarke Willmott.

Maureen Frost, deputy chief executive of Hampshire Chamber, said: “Our annual conference is becoming a real ‘go-to’ event on the calendar for the business community. It’s a chance to come and be inspired and enthused, and to take some ideas back to your business. It’s also an ideal opportunity for people to network and build contacts.”

The conference takes place at British American Tobacco, Regents Park Road, Southampton, and a limited number of exhibition stand spaces are available to Chamber members on request.

To book, call 01329-242420 or email events.south@hampshirechamber.co.uk.