Candidate Experience Conference, Manchester 2026

Paul Bhangoo is currently the Global Head of Employer Brand & Talent Attraction for BT Group. The area supports a global, multi-branded organisation with engagement and attraction of colleagues across the skills spectrum from frontline colleagues working in retail/call centres for EE to digital strategists for BT Group in India – and everything in-between – whilst ensuring that the customer & candidate experience has brand symmetry.

Paul has over 30 years of recruitment/recruitment marketing experience gained in publishing, advertising agencies and within global organisations. In addition to delivering global EVP’s segmented by skills, career stage & geographic localisations, Paul has extensive experience of supporting DEI initiatives within organisations and improving the relationship diverse talent has with global brands.

Chris and his team are driving a transformational change in recruitment for DHU Healthcare. It’s a challenging sector where differentiation and a competitive edge can be hard to find, but the fulfilment in that every new team member is more than just a hire, they're part of a purpose-driven company with patients at the heart of every interaction, is compelling. Chris will share his teams progress on the journey, from developing their new EVP and employer brand to bringing it to life at every stage across the candidate and employee lifecycle. He’ll also share what that means for DHU’s reputation as a purpose-driven social enterprise, making a real difference in people’s lives and the DHU bottom-line where implementation of the new EVP and employer brand and has saved them more than £1m in the first year alone.

As a Personal Branding Specialist, Robyn helps individuals and leaders showcase their strengths through storytelling, content strategy, and online presence. She creates tailored brand identities that build credibility, attract opportunities, and connect with the right audience. Her work transforms skills into powerful narratives that elevate careers and businesses.

Michael has over 25 years of experience in HR, spanning Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, HR Service Centre Management, Organisational Effectiveness, Engagement, and Inclusion. His career has covered both the public and private sectors, with roles ranging from working in a start-up environment, driving change within established organisations, and fostering agility in the workplace.

Lauren is an experienced talent leader who has spent the last 14 years working for some incredible brands. Lauren previously led the TA function for JD Sports and currently works as the Head of TA at Warburtons. She had a breadth of experience across the whole talent lifecycle.

Neil helps organisations get the most out of technology, having held product, marketing and sales roles in leading tech businesses like Sky, BT and Plusnet. At Tribepad he's passionate about transforming the recruitment landscape, to make TA fairer and more effective for companies and candidates.

Tribepad is used by more than 25 million people across the globe in 16 languages. Clients include The BBC, Tesco, Subway, NHS Professionals, Grant Thornton and The Church of England.

Sian Wilson is a global leader with over 25 years of experience in growth, marketing, commercial and strategic organisational development in tech and skills-based businesses. Sian is a Fellow of the RSA- spearheading social change, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Institute of Employability and Chartered Member of CIPD.

She is the Vice-Chair of Tech UK’s Skills and Inclusivity Council and Non-Executive Director of Society Matters CIC. As a founding member and Executive Director of Day One, Sian is dedicated to helping businesses ‘Hire Better’ through verified skills and values matching in a fair and equitable way.

Robert Newry, Co-Founder of Arctic Shores, is a passionate advocate for social mobility and skills-based hiring. He has spoken on psychometrics, HR tech, and AI, appearing on BBC and being quoted in outlets like The Times and The Guardian. As host of the TA Disruptors Podcast, he writes for leading HR media and campaigns for CV-less hiring to promote social mobility and inclusion.

With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Alex has worked across a wide range of roles, from front-of-house and back-of-house operations to senior positions in sales, marketing, and account management. He has had the opportunity to experience both the operator and tech sides of the sector, providing him with a well-rounded understanding of the challenges and opportunities hospitality teams face every day. It's an industry he genuinely cares about and continues to enjoy being part of.

Level 7 CIPD qualified, HR Business Partner dedicated to revolutionising the HR landscape for clients by leveraging innovative outsourcing solutions that streamline operations, optimise processes, and drive strategic growth. A proven track record of orchestrating seamless transitions to outsourced HR models, empowering companies to focus on their core competencies while ensuring HR functions operate seamlessly and compliantly.