Steve leads a team of communications professionals responsible for people engagement and culture, content and storytelling, and communication channels at Virgin Atlantic. Steve works closely with the Chief Executive and leadership team, and owns the people engagement strategy, centred around creative storytelling that informs, inspires and involves Virgin Atlantic’s people. With the objective of driving happiness and advocacy, and keeping highly mobile, frontline teams engaged and aware of the important part they play in delivering the company plan.

For the last 20 years, Mina has worked in agency and in-house roles to create internal communications for brands ranging from Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Rolls-Royce to Centrica and Parkinson’s UK. For Ofcom, she pivoted comms channels to connect people during Covid. She worked closely with the people team to articulate a new, award-winning career and leadership programme ready for online harms regulation. Recently she set up the internal comms function, created new company values and is leading the employer brand work for tech company ITRS.

Lyndsay is an Internal Communications professional with over 25-year experience. She has worked in Internal Communications roles across a variety of sectors including in Barclays, T-Mobile, EE, Direct Line Group, EasyJet and Bupa. Lyndsay is currently Senior Internal Communications Business Partner at Santander UK leading a team supporting corporate and leadership communications across the business. She works closely with the People team on employee engagement and bringing to life the Employee Value Proposition across a variety of work setting includes offices-based people, branches and call centres. Lyndsay recently completed the IoIC MA in Internal Communications Management and became a fellow of the IoIC earlier this year.

Steve has more than a decade of experience leading communication for not-for-profit organisations. Steve moved into communications and PR after a career as a newspaper journalist and has since led a series of award-winning transformations of communications functions for large organisations. Since joining the social housing sector in 2014 he has overseen communication for the sector’s professional body - the Chartered Institute of Housing - and led the communications function at a some of the UK’s largest social housing providers during times of major change. He is a leading voice on communication within the social housing and not-for-profit sectors and regularly speaks on national platforms to share his insight and experience.

Daphne has worked in marketing and communications for 12 years, with experience across charity, government, and private sectors. Specialising in people engagement for the past seven years, she has managed internal communications for audiences of small teams up to large organisations of 100,000. She is currently the Internal Communications Manager at Grosvenor, an international organisation whose 500+ staff predominantly work in the company’s UK property business in London. In this role, Daphne leads strategic campaigns, produces events and creates impactful content that help shape Grosvenor’s unique culture. Daphne is passionate about producing creative, simple, and human-centred communications, always seeking fun and innovative ways to connect with people.

Jo is Group Director of Internal Communications at Bupa, the global healthcare company, and has worked in almost every corporate affairs discipline over the last 20 years.

She is also a trustee at the MS Trust. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2010, she is a passionate advocate for those with disabilities of all kinds.

Jo led the development and delivery of the award-winning communications campaign for Bupa’s 2021-2024 corporate strategy, entitled “The Elephant”. She is now preparing for the next phase of Bupa’s strategy, while balancing family life with her children, Henry and Mia.

Jen is a Senior Internal Communications Manager at Direct Line Group, though her career began in an unexpected place – running a pub. It was there she discovered the power of listening, leading, and bringing people together, skills she now uses to help leaders communicate clearly and authentically.

With over 15 years in internal comms, Jen has led everything from CEO transitions to major strategy launches, always focused on keeping people connected, informed, and inspired.

Outside of work, Jen’s kept on her toes by an energetic toddler and a playful pug.

Eduvie is a chartered communications professional with 17 years global experience in multinationals and start-ups. She studied Broadcast Journalism at the New York Film Academy and has a Masters degree in Marketing Communications from the IE Business School, Madrid.

In 2023, she was named PR Woman of the month and awarded the Best Internal Comms Rising Star by Simplys. In 2024, she was awarded the Internal Comms Pro of the Year and received the highest member grade - Fellow from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations for her contribution to PR. 

She is the President of the International Association of Business Communicators UK and Ireland and on the board of her Founder-Led company that has signed a multi-TV series deal with Universal Studios to convert African superheroes to movies.

A prolific speaker, podcaster, and internal TV host, she is known for her compelling storytelling which influences comms professionals to deliver work that adds value.

Working within communications teams for over 15 years, Claire has worked for some of the world’s largest media organisations and most recognisable brands. Claire is currently at ITV where she has supported the People function and recently, she’s moved to work with ITV Studios. She’s a member of the Institute of Internal Communications having completed their Advanced Diploma.

As a Senior Internal Communications Manager at BDO, Nazia blends creativity and strategy to deliver engaging and effective messages. With a talent for storytelling and a passion for connecting people, Nazia ensures that communications are clear, accessible, and impactful. Known for making complex information easy to understand, Nazia fosters a culture of transparency and collaboration. Outside of work, Nazia enjoys exploring new ideas and staying ahead of industry trends, always aiming to make communication seamless and meaningful.

Phil is a lover of all things internal communications and engagement and also a lover of doing things a bit differently to deliver innovative, meaningful and engaging communication projects and inspiring events to diverse audiences. Having worked in the world of ICE for over 10 years with a background of learning and development beforehand, he’s looking forward to sharing his expertise as a member of the judging panel.

Laura Pickering is an award-winning internal communications leader in the charity sector. Having worked for national charities like Cancer Research UK, Mind, Sense and Girlguiding, she has over 14 years’ experience in developing and delivering internal communications strategies in the charity sector and supporting organisations to transform their internal communications from the ground up. She is a mentor for Charity Comms, supporting the career development of other internal comms professionals. Laura recently led the Cancer Research UK internal comms team to win ‘Best not-for-profit/public sector team, 6-10 people’ in the 2024 Institute of Internal Communications Awards. 

Michael Smith has been working in internal communications for 20 years, with experience in the policing, social housing and care, and education sectors. A journalist by training, he started his first job just as typewriters were being replaced by word processors - and while the tools available to communicators have changed substantially since then, firmly believes that giving people the opportunity to share their stories is the key way to building connections and strong engagement in organisations.  He is a CIPR Chartered Practitioner and member of the CIPR Inside Committee.

Chris is a strategic communications professional who drives innovative, data-driven stakeholder engagement. Through a people-focused employee engagement approach, he has helped businesses drive improved performance, including at Deutsche Telekom, DHL Group, Holcim, The Adecco Group and Fresenius Medical Care. Chris has nearly 20 years of leadership experience, developing international teams to higher achievement. Working collaboratively, he supports companies to translate their strategy into easy-to-understand messages, visual stories and engagement activities that build trust and positive company culture.