David Smith is Economics Editor of The Sunday Times, as well as the paper’s Assistant Editor and Policy Advisor, and a regular contributor to CBI’s Business Voice. Amongst the first to predict a V-shaped recovery in the aftermath of the financial crisis, he was careful to say that it would take time to become discernible.
A widely respected economics commentator, David is the author of several books, including From Boom to Bust, Will Europe
Work? The Age of Instability, and The Dragon and the Elephant: China, India and the New World Order. His most
recent work, Free Lunch, is a guide to economics for the lay-person now that it seems essential we all understand the subject.
Before moving to the nation’s most widely read Sunday broadsheet, David worked for The Times and Financial Weekly - as well as the Henley Centre for Forecasting and Lloyds Bank. He has won a number of prizes, including the Harold Wincott Award for Financial Journalist of the Year.

Penny Mordaunt was an MP for 14 years, during which time she held nine ministerial roles - four of those being in
Cabinet. She was the first (and only) woman to hold the roles of Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for the
Armed Forces. She also held the role of Paymaster General, where she became the UK government’s first cross-
government defensive cyber lead, and led the rebuild of the UK’s civil contingencies and resilience strategy.

Penny also held the role of Secretary of State for International Development, working with UN agencies and
international organisations, as well as being the UK’s representative at the World Bank. In her role as Trade
Minister, she brokered new trade deals, including overseeing the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and
Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. She also established economic agreements with individual
US states in lieu of a US deal - a move that saw her undertaking the longest tour of the US of any Minister since
Churchill. She was also on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee overseeing the UK’s exit from the EU. She
has held other roles in local government, work, health, pensions and disability.
Prior to Parliament she worked across all sectors and also in US politics as Head of Foreign Press for the RNC
during the Bush 2000 campaign. She was a Royal Navy Reservist for 10 years and is now an Honorary Captain
affiliated to MCM2 Squadron, the UK’s mine hunters and bomb disposal divers. She is co-author of Greater: Britain
After the Storm, which made bestseller lists in the UK and the US - and also gained international attention in her
role of Leader of the Commons, which saw her presiding over the Accession Council following the death of Queen
Elizabeth II and at the coronation of King Charles III.
She has won Parliamentary Wit of the Year, Spectator speech of the year, was among Grazia and Vogue’s most
influential women of the year. Known for her speeches and exchanges in the House of Commons, she is one of
only four women to have been asked to address the Saints and Sinners club, the others being Princess Anne,
Margaret Thatcher and Dame Vera Lynn.

Conrad Humphreys is an award-winning, triple round-the-world yachtsman and keynote speaker.

As a professional yachtsman, he led his team to victory in the BT Global Challenge, dominating the race with four out of seven leg wins. His crowning achievement came as the fifth British sailor in history to complete the legendary Vendée Globe—circumnavigating the globe single-handed, non-stop, and without assistance.

Most recently, Conrad was the professional skipper onboard the tiny 22ft open boat Bounty in the recreation of Captain Bligh’s epic story of survival for Channel 4’s Mutiny. Navigating 4,000 miles of open ocean to Kupang, Timor, Humphreys demonstrated a cool head and calm leadership in the face of adversity.

Drawing on his personal experiences as a sailor and entrepreneur, Humphreys is a brilliant storyteller, leaving his audiences inspired and equipped with the tools they need to thrive in today’s turbulent business landscape. From leading in disruptive environments to building personal and organizational resilience, his presentations offer practical insights and actionable strategies for success.

Humphreys founded Sport Environment, a sports marketing consultancy specializing in sailing and outdoor sports. With clients ranging from global giants like Motorola, LG, and CAT to eco-conscious brands like Ecover, Humphreys crafts innovative, integrated campaigns that push the boundaries of sports marketing. His ability to understand complex business challenges and tailor his presentations to meet the unique needs of each client has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor and strategic partner.

Humphreys’ story is featured in the groundbreaking book Inspiring Leadership: Staying Afloat in Turbulent Times, which offers invaluable insights gleaned from his experiences as the youngest skipper in history to win the world’s toughest yacht race. Filled with practical lessons, it serves as a roadmap for aspiring leaders seeking to stay afloat in turbulent times.