IHR Live London 2025
Thousands of in-house recruiters. One day of ideas, insight and connection.
23 September 2025
09:00 - 17:00
Business Design Centre, London
Platinum Partners :
Thank you for attending #LiveLDN25
We loved welcoming you to the IHR London Live 2025 this September. It was a day filled with thought-provoking discussions, expert-led presentations, and valuable peer-to-peer workshops, all focused on driving real change within recruitment.
We hope you left feeling inspired and equipped with actionable insights to drive meaningful change and build a more inclusive workplace.
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Explore our upcoming events.
Speakers
“Live London is UK's best conference for in-house recruiters. We learnt so much about the latest TA trends and have so many ideas on how we can bring them back to our team who are on a mission to keep building and growing what we have.”
“It was the first time I've come to London Live. Having never been a recruiter, I'd only planned on popping in and going to the office in the afternoon and ended up staying all day!”
“Great insights to a new processes being launched. Good to be able to see another company of similar size go through a transformational change with success.”
Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
Partners
Innovation Showcase Partners
Workshop
Venue
Business Design Centre, London
0203 916 5025
You’ll find the Business Design Centre right in the beating heart of Islington, with excellent public transport links to Central London and national destinations. You can easily reach the BDC via bus, London Underground and Overground and we’re a short walk from National Rail stations at Kings Cross and St Pancras International.
With his personable charisma, unflinching professionalism and steely determination, Mark Foster, once Britain’s fastest swimmer and now one of the best-loved sports commentary faces on TV, is a consummate and impeccable awards host and an awe-inspiring motivational speaker.
Mark’s award winning partnership with Clare Balding from the aquatics centre during the Olympics in 2012, made him a household name. Mark also co-hosted the BBC coverage of the World Swimming Championships from Barcelona with Gabby Logan.
In addition to his sporting portfolio, Mark is also known for his numerous TV appearances, such as ITV’s ‘Beat the Stars’ and as one of the ‘Superstars’ athletes. He regularly appears on BBC news and radio in his role of Ambassador of Pools 4 Schools, a programme to increase participation in swimming amongst primary school children. He also had appeared on Celebrity Juice on ITV2 for Sport Relief, and made an impact on a Paralympic special of the Channel 4 show The Million Pound Drop with Countdown Presenter Rachel Riley. They won £50,000 for charity
Rachel is a multi-award-winning People & Culture Director, recognised as ENEI’s 2023 D&I Influencer of the Year and a 2024 d&i Inspirational Leader. Currently at a global infrastructure consultancy, she oversees HR operations across Europe and India, including Strategy & Growth, ED&I, wellbeing, employee engagement, and ESG.
With a strong track record in complex, high-profile organisations across sectors, she is a respected ED&I expert, international speaker, and Chartered CIPD member. She also holds MBTI, 360 coaching, and ILM Level 7 Executive Coaching credentials.
Emily Firth is the co-founder at TheTruthWorks, a consultancy dedicated to transforming workplace culture with radical honesty.
With a deep belief that organisations must move beyond surface-level promises to create workplaces that truly deliver on experience and results, Emily has made it her mission to bridge the gap between what companies say and what employees actually experience.
A recognised expert in employer branding, culture transformation, and inclusion, Emily has spent her career challenging outdated workplace norms and helping businesses evolve their relationships with their people.
Emily partners with organisations to confront their uncomfortable truths to build cultures that work.
Her refreshingly candid approach has made her a sought-after voice in the industry, helping leaders move from good intentions to real, lasting impact.
A personal truth? Give her a karaoke mic and she thinks she's Tina Turner.
For 17 years, Dave has helped build something truly special. What began as Ph.Creative has now evolved into Human Magic – a name that more accurately reflects who they are, what they do, and the energy they bring.
At the heart of every employer brand, EVP, and experience they create are humans – the ones who drive change, shape culture, and bring meaning to work.
He works across the business to ensure they deliver world-class experiences that achieve award-winning results and create happiness for both clients and the team, and he loves it.
I am in recruitment industry professional with over 15 years experience as an agency recruiter, Recruitment manager, Internal Head of Talent, recruitment trainer, founder of award winning online recruiting platform WorkShape and now Editor and Community builder at Recruiting Brainfood - the best weekly newsletter in recruitment.
Cordelia Osewa-Ediae is a seasoned Leadership Development and Workplace Inclusion Consultant with over 15 years of experience in driving culture change and talent development across various sectors.
She has developed bespoke leadership programs for the National Grid and London Metropolitan Police, led a DEI strategic review at NSPCC, and provided consulting services for organisations including Tesco, Clarks, and the Ministry of Justice. At BT Group, she played a key role in establishing comprehensive representation and inclusion goals, designing and leading the first ever group-wide reverse mentoring programme that engaged over 300 leaders, and producing the company's first ethnicity and disability pay gap reports. In recognition of her impact, she was awarded the 2024 BT Group ‘Race Equity’ award.
A Clore Social Fellow, Keynote speaker, Board member, and trained Coach, she has received several awards including the 2023 Baton 'Thought Leader of the Year' award, the Commonwealth Business Women Africa's 2024 'Community Champion' award; and 2024 Novi ‘Inspiring Mentor’ award.
Marcell Edwards is a distinguished leader in talent acquisition, diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and organizational culture. With a career spanning over a decade, Marcell has been instrumental in shaping inclusive hiring practices and fostering equitable workplace environments. His strategic approach to talent management has not only enhanced recruitment processes but also cultivated cultures where diversity thrives. Recognized for his thought leadership, Marcell continues to influence the industry through innovative DEI initiatives and by championing inclusive organizational strategies.
With a management degree and a background in social sciences, AI theories, and marketing, Modiara has spent over a decade specialising in talent acquisition, recruitment marketing, and employer branding. Currently leading employer branding for EMESA at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), she drives strategies to attract top consulting talent across Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Africa. Previously, she developed global recruitment marketing and employer brand strategies for Amazon in the EMEA region.
Proud to work for one of the UK's leading construction and infrastructure companies. With a true commitment to the health, safety and well being of it's staff, a regional network of offices and sites across the UK, a strong order book to secure the future and a company that delivers a significant amount of positive social value for local communities, it's a good time to start your career with Kier!
Mark Kunaseelan is the Head of Resourcing at the University of the Arts London (UAL), a world-class university shaping the creative industries worldwide. UAL is home to a diverse community with over 6,000 staff and 22,000 students from 130 countries. Mark has spent more than a decade in Resourcing and has a significant amount of experience working in the public sector at two councils and Parliament prior to his current role.
Lauren McCafferty is director of early careers at Deloitte. She joined the firm in 2022 as head of early careers and was promoted to director in August 2024. Lauren is responsible for Deloitte’s early careers strategy - leading teams that oversee the firm’s award-winning BrightStart apprenticeship, graduate and work experience programmes that welcome over 3,500 students each year.
Lauren gained 11 years of experience in PwC’s student recruitment team where she was UK head of student recruitment. Previously holding graduate recruitment roles at Deloitte, EY and Reed Graduates, Lauren has nearly two decades of experience in the field of early careers.
A seasoned employer brand and talent acquisition specialist, Victoria has delivered global sourcing, employer brand, recruitment and communication strategies for global complex organisations. With a career that spans advertising agencies, in-house roles and RPO, Victoria has the expertise to plan talent attraction strategies across multiple industries all underpinned by DEIB.
Faisal is a strategic People & Talent Acquisition Leader with a proven track record of scaling teams and driving business transformations. With experience leading global talent functions across hyper-growth startups, scale-ups, and multinational enterprises, he has played a key role in major transitions, from IPOs to digital transformations. Currently heading global talent acquisition at Civica, Faisal collaborates with senior leadership to align workforce strategy with business goals, ensuring the attraction, retention, and development of top talent.
Natalie McGuinness is a people-first Talent Acquisition leader with 15+ years' experience. She leads national recruitment at Busy Bees Nurseries, supporting 350+ sites and 10,000+ staff. Natalie has halved time-to-hire, cut agency spend by 40%, and boosted applications by 75%. A solo mum of two, she brings empathy, flexibility, and purpose to everything she does, from improving EVP to growing future leaders.
Emma is an experienced talent acquisition leader with a career spanning agency and in-house roles at Shop Direct, Moneysupermarket Group, and now Priory, where she is Talent Acquisition Director.
She has led employer brand strategies, systems implementations, and built high-performing TA teams, with a strong focus on improving the hiring experience and driving diversity.
Outside of work, she enjoys the gym, countryside, gardening, and supporting her son’s sports activities.
Graham brings deep expertise in recruitment strategy, sourcing, and talent development, with a passion for the tech sector. Comfortable working at all levels up to C-suite, he has led multinational teams ranging from 6 to over 120 professionals.
At WHCG, he built and led an EMEA-wide shared services sourcing function from scratch, scaling it across multiple locations and overseeing more than 100 resource professionals. He also mentors managers in effective hiring practices, driving behaviours that attract and retain top talent.
Barbara Sutherland is an accomplished strategic talent acquisition leader with over 16 years’ experience driving transformation across global organisations. Currently Associate Director at EY UKI, she has led recruitment innovation in consulting, technology, and professional services, with a focus on DEI, employer branding, and operational excellence. Her career spans leadership roles at Jaguar Land Rover, AO.com, Flutter Entertainment, and Lloyds Pharmacy, delivering high-impact hiring strategies across the UK, Ireland, and North America. Barbara excels in building high-performing teams, designing scalable TA models, and fostering inclusive hiring practices that align with business growth and capability development.
Marc Jenkins is the Head of Major Programmes at Sopra Steria. He leads a team that manages a diverse portfolio of resourcing programs for public sector, police, and defence, with a focus on delivering significant transformation and achieving substantial savings. His expertise includes implementing large-scale Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and integrating innovative technologies, including AI, to enhance resourcing processes for candidates and recruiters.
With many years of experience in roles across both the private and public sectors, he is particularly focused on leveraging artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to help achieve major cost savings and improve time-to-hire metrics. His work is instrumental in modernising and streamlining business operations through intelligent solutions.
Gita Selli began her career in sales in both the UK and the U.S. before pivoting to agency recruiting while based in New York City. That move set the stage for her transition in-house when she joined Loadsmart, a logistics tech pioneer, as their first U.S. recruiter. Starting as employee number 81, she played a pivotal role in scaling the company through hyper-growth, helping it expand to almost 800 employees at its peak.
Over the past six years, Gita has grown from recruiter to leading Loadsmart’s global Talent Acquisition function. She has navigated the company through rapid expansion, contraction, and renewed growth, building and adapting recruitment processes to match each stage. Today, as Senior Manager of Global Talent Acquisition, she continues to shape hiring strategies, stakeholder alignment, and scalable talent frameworks that enable Loadsmart to thrive in a fast-moving, highly competitive industry.
Natasha Preocanin is the Managing Director for In-house Recruitment (IHR), the largest and most engaged community for In-house Recruiters. Our 20,000+ community benefit from over 70 live and virtual events each year ranging from our 1000-strong exhibitions and high profile awards to exclusive half-day breakfasts and targeted dinners for Recruitment Leaders. We also produce industry leading digital whitepapers, webinars and leadership videos alongside high value community forums and an all-inclusive supplier directory.
With a background in events, Natasha's joined the company in 2012 as an Events Executive and quickly progressed up the ranks to her current position as MD. She now leads the company in becoming the go-to resource for all In-house and Talent Acquisition teams who are looking to become better recruiters. Natasha can often be seen on stage, hosting our events or behind a microphone, interviewing a host of industry experts.
Fuelled by a deep passion to use the transformative power of strategic leadership to shape the future of work.
I do this by cultivating positive and engaging environments for both current and potential employees to thrive and experience the enormous sense of worth, pride and achievement that great employers can provide.
My vision extends beyond traditional recruitment, I find that taking a broader and more innovative approach to talent acquisition results in far more successful, sustainable and profitable growth - which is good for business - and all current and future employees!
My career journey encompasses a spectrum of expertise, from crafting compelling employer brands and enhancing candidate experiences to driving resource planning, internal succession strategies, and shaping executive hires. I take immense pride in my contributions to early careers and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
With two decades devoted to Talent Acquisition, I am honoured to have recently been named the Talent Acquisition Leader of the Year 2023 at the prestigious IHR Awards—a recognition that fuels my passion for creating meaningful impact.
Beyond my professional pursuits, I am privileged to be a member of the RL100—a vibrant community of industry professionals united in challenging norms, sharing insights, and mentoring future talent acquisition leaders. My commitment extends beyond the boardroom, fuelled by a deep passion to cultivate positive and engaging environments for both current and potential employees.
As a thought leader, I believe in the transformative power of strategic leadership to shape the future of work. My vision extends beyond traditional recruitment, aiming to craft experiences that resonate, fostering growth, innovation, and inclusivity.
Let's connect, collaborate, and create a future where every talent is recognised, every voice is valued, and every workplace is a source of inspiration.
Nick Thompson
Global Head of TA CoE
As a multi award winning global talent marketing strategic and thought leader with over a decade of experience in the field, I bring a unique combination of expertise and passion to every project I take on. I have driven significant change and transformation at some of the world's leading companies. From fully integrated digital campaigns and developing brand strategies to leveraging cutting-edge technology and engaging with stakeholders, I have a proven track record of delivering results and making a real impact. I am also an experienced public speaker and mentor, sharing my insights and knowledge with audiences around the world to drive evolution and improvements to our industry.
Harpreet Pannum commenced her recruitment career in an agency environment and now brings 8 years of in-house recruitment expertise, having previously held positions at Cisco and Balfour Beatty. Currently, as an Assistant Director at EY UKI within the Experienced Hire Tech CoE, Harpreet is fervently dedicated to stakeholder management and is a passionate advocate for DEI. Her commitment to continuous improvement drives her to implement innovative strategies that align stakeholder interests with the needs of candidates, ensuring a seamless and positive recruitment journey for all involved.
Dominic is a LinkedIn TopVoice 2024 in Careers and Job Search Strategy, with over 10 years of experience in recruitment and people projects. He has worked globally across agency, RPO, and in-house roles, specialising in transformation, automation, and process improvement within fintech, banking, and e-commerce sectors.
An expert content creator, Dominic’s work has been featured in LinkedIn News, BBC News, Financial Times, and the Daily Mail. He is a sought-after speaker and panelist, having contributed to major events like LinkedIn Talent Connect UK, RecFest, and HR Grapevine.
With over 12 years of experience in Talent Acquisition, she is currently working as a Talent Acquisition Business Partner at TalkTalk—operating as the Head of Talent Acquisition and reporting directly to the Chief People Officer.
She leads on defining and executing the organisation’s EVP, building an inclusive and agile recruitment framework, and driving strategies that enhance candidate experience, employer branding, and diversity in hiring.
From shaping scalable hiring processes to embedding a culture-focused talent strategy, she brings a hands-on, forward-thinking approach to attracting top talent and supporting organisational growth.
With a decade as a Business Improvement & Systems Specialist at ResourceBank Recruitment and over 10 years’ experience in recruitment, Cat brings a deep understanding of the challenges recruiters, clients and candidates face in today’s fast-changing industry. She is passionate about providing effective, cutting-edge, tailored solutions that address current issues head-on, delivering real-time results that drive success - without compromise
Ola is a sales professional with 15 years of experience, including the last 10 dedicated to HR technology. He is passionate about empowering candidates to showcase their skills beyond the CV/Resume and helping businesses streamline hiring through innovative solutions. Having worked across startups, scale-ups, and enterprise organizations, Ola brings a breadth of experience and a proven track record of impact. He prides himself on improving the candidate journey while driving business value with cutting-edge technology.
Maggie is a seasoned sales professional with over a decade of experience spanning AI, talent solutions, and human data. She focuses on helping organizations scale efficiently by pairing them with world-class talent and implementing innovative data-driven solutions. With a background that covers startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises, Maggie brings both versatility and a strong record of measurable impact. She is known for forging lasting client relationships and enabling companies to unlock business value through advanced technology and consultative partnership.
Faz has over 16 years of global experience in agency, executive search, RPO, and internal talent acquisition across startups, scale-ups, and multinational organizations. For the past four years, he has served as the Global Director of Talent Acquisition at impact.com, helping scale the business from 500 to 1,200 employees. As part of his role, Faz has built a high-performing global talent team with a strong direct sourcing model, partnering closely with the business, and establishing new offices and teams globally. Faz thrives on solving hiring challenges and believes in a people-first, customer-centric approach to talent acquisition.
Prior to joining Appcast, Robin served as Senior Director, Head of UK for ZipRecruiter UK, where he oversaw the strategic direction and expansion of the UK business and transformed a start-up into a market leader. Robin has been driving revenue growth and sales excellence within the TA industry for over 18 years, in which time he has developed influential relationships across a wide portfolio of the world's largest enterprise companies.
Tom Jewell is passionate about creating workplaces where people feel valued, motivated, and empowered to do their best work. As an experienced startup leader in multiple functions: Sales, Talent, People + Ops, he is currently championing his people-first philosophy as VP Customer at Zinc - driving their mission to make background checking delightful by delivering an exceptional customer experience.
Hayley helps organisations adopt ATS and onboarding platforms to improve hiring efficiency. With 25 years’ experience in customer service and sales, she is passionate about delivering great customer experiences. Focused on the Social Housing sector, she supports modernizing recruitment to attract top talent and streamline hiring for all stakeholders.
Tom Cox is the Head of Customer Value at Manpower UK, where he leads workforce transformation initiatives through data-driven insights and strategic talent solutions. With a strong focus on measurable impact, Tom spearheads the Workforce Success Index (WSI) and Total Cost of Workforce (TCOW) programmes—empowering businesses to close skills gaps, boost performance, and unlock long-term value.
Tom is passionate about turning data into action. He partners closely with organisations to solve complex workforce challenges, helping them navigate change and build future-ready talent strategies.
With over 15 years of experience in workforce solutions, Iain Bridge is a trusted expert in managing high-volume temporary and permanent recruitment across the UK. His expertise spans the full employee lifecycle—from attraction and onboarding to retention and attrition—underpinned by a strong focus on employee engagement, behaviour, and diversity and inclusion.
Iain leads a remote team of Consultants, Senior Consultants, and multi-site Senior Contract Managers, driving performance and collaboration across all levels. He is known for building and nurturing strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders, helping organisations meet their workforce goals with agility and precision.
Whether supporting individuals in their career journey or helping businesses scale through tailored talent solutions, Iain brings deep industry knowledge, a vast network, and a people-first approach to everything he does.
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.
Lee holds an MBA from The Open University and 15 years+ leadership, sales and customer success experience, working in identity, fraud and background screening. Lee is an advocate of digital identity services for screening and has consulted with some of the largest employers and governing bodies to support digital adoption.
Siobhan Williams
Business Engagement Manager
Siobhan is an experienced public speaker who specialises in creating greater awareness for apprenticeships. Having worked the majority of her career supporting young people within education.
Siobhan has developed a real passion for the Early Careers landscape and the unique skills and opportunities it can develop for an individual. Now working for UCAS, she uses her position to advocate for apprenticeships.
Siobhan engages with a range of stakeholders within Early Careers, both with raising awareness in barriers that the UCAS audience face in accessing apprenticeships and in assisting organisations to have meaningful engagement with potential applicants across the country.
Siobhan is dedicated to assisting UCAS with creating stronger parity between traditional HE routes and apprenticeships, so that the public can make more informed decisions about future pathways.
Jackie has over 15 years’ experience in future talent and early careers marketing, possessing a deep understanding of both the future talent market, and the challenges faced by employers when it comes to apprentice and graduate recruitment.
Since joining SMRS in 2019, Jackie has worked with a diverse range of national and global employers across a wide portfolio of projects providing insight and consultancy, using her skills and expertise in future talent attraction marketing to support organisations with their strategic approach to emerging talent.
Nicky is is the Co-founder and Chief Customer Officer of Cappfinity, leading global projects and driving innovation in talent technology. With offices in London, Birmingham, New York, and Sydney, she focuses on customer satisfaction and strategic business growth. A frequent speaker on the future of work and recruitment, she splits her time between the UK and US. Outside of work, she is a proud mother of two sons.
Richard is an experienced software and technology leader who has successfully led and developed direct and partnership strategies across a wide range of organizations, from startups and scale-ups to established software companies and global technology giants. Currently, he serves as the Vice President, EMEA at Paradox, a leading agentic conversational AI platform for talent acquisition. In this role, he is responsible for driving growth and go-to-market initiatives, building brand presence, and ensuring client success while shaping the future of hiring technology in the region. With a passion for leveraging automation and AI, he is dedicated to making recruiting more efficient and enhancing the experience for candidates, hiring managers, and talent acquisition teams
James Clark
Chief Legal Officer
James is Chief Legal Officer at YOONO, bringing his experience with advising on multiple aspects of data law to help YOONO deliver a fully-compliant service for customers. A specialist in demystifying complex areas of data law, including data protection legislation, artificial intelligence application, human rights and cyber security, James has previously worked within global law firm DLA Piper, focussing on multiple international projects in the UK, Brussels and Washington, D.C. He also speaks and writes about data protection for a number of known publications, and is the co-editor of the Data Protection Laws of the World website.
As Head of Environmental, Social and Governance, I have a passion for Manpower’s core values and purpose, “doing well by doing good”, something I have always been proud to adopt and develop during my career with Manpower.
With over 18 years of dedicated service, I have extensive experience in workforce solutions, customer relations, and strategic planning to drive sustainable practices that benefit both clients and candidates.
By fostering a culture of responsibility and inclusivity, I continuously work with teams to create meaningful impact through innovative workforce solutions.
Stylianos Taxidis is a data and analytics expert, specialising in data science and product management to drive sustainability and social impact. With almost a decade of experience leading data-driven projects, he helps CV-Library customers unlock value through innovative solutions. He is co-founder of the AI Leaders community.
With over seven years’ experience in Talent Attraction and Employer Branding, Charlotte partners with clients to deliver Employer Brand projects from initial concept to activation. She is an expert in campaign planning and activation, media management and content curation, and works closely with a range of high profile clients such as the LEGO Group, Pandora, IHG and Yodel on their Employer Brand and attraction campaigns, on the creation and deployment of their employer brand attraction campaigns for both high volume and niche skills.
Charles is the Founder and CEO of Oleeo, a company he guided to a successful flotation on the London Stock Exchange within five years. His expertise lies in enabling organisations of any scale, from emerging startups to established corporations, to undergo significant change by leveraging AI-powered talent acquisition technology.
Outside of the office, his happy place is definitely in the water — whether enjoying a relaxing dip in the pool or an adventurous open-water swim.
Barb Hyman is the CEO and founder of Sapia.ai, the AI hiring platform trusted by leading UK brands including Holland & Barrett, BT Group, and Costa Coffee. A former CHRO turned tech innovator, Barb brings a rare blend of HR leadership and deep AI expertise. Named KPMG’s Australian Tech Innovator of the Year and recognised as a LinkedIn Top Voice, she is a vocal advocate for ethical, inclusive AI in hiring.
Sheryl is an experienced recruitment professional with over nine years in the industry. Currently working as an Account Manager, she has successfully managed a wide range of accounts across sectors including retail, transport, legal, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and the not-for-profit sector.
Sheryl leads multiple teams and is passionate about developing and supporting her people to reach their full potential. She takes a client-first approach, listening closely to their needs and delivering tailored outsourced recruitment solutions that address challenges and provide the best candidates. Candidate experience is a key focus, and she ensures satisfaction is maintained throughout every stage of the recruitment journey. Continuous improvement is key, Sheryl and her teams are committed to evolving their processes, with a strong focus on innovation and the integration of AI to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and overall service delivery
Dereck Maruma is a One Young World Ambassador, D&I consultant and youth mentor. Recognised for his work, particularly within black communities, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in connecting and communicating with Gen-z and marginalised communities, as well as helping employers build their talent brands using social media and influencers.
He’s the commercial director of the media agency TapIn, an agency that supports some of the biggest employers in the U.K. to attract, engage and hire Gen-Z talent. He also serves as an advisory board member to social mobility charities and black engagement foundations.
