Leader of Sunderland City Council: Cllr Chris Eynon
Chief Executive of Sunderland Culture: Nick Malyan
Spencer is an entrepreneur, endurance athlete and health advocate, who rose to fame for his role on hit TV show Made in Chelsea, and has since appeared on numerous TV shows and podcasts.
He is the founder and CEO of CleanCo, the world’s leading independent non-alcoholic spirits brand, which he launched in 2019. Inspired by his own journey into sobriety, the company offers alcohol-free alternatives to gin, rum, tequila, whiskey and vodka.
Spencer has also achieved remarkable feats as an endurance athlete, holding three Guinness World Records, including completing Ironman-distance triathlons across all seven continents in just 21 days.
He also featured in the hit Disney+ documentary Finding Michael which followed Spencer’s journey to Everest’s treacherous “Death Zone” to recover the body of his older brother, Michael Matthews, the youngest Briton to summit the mountain at age 22, before tragically disappearing on the mountain in 1999.
Spencer will be bringing his insights on resilience, purpose-driven leadership and personal transformation
This panel will explore the practical realities of using AI responsibly in a small business.
Rather than focusing on theory, we’ll discuss real-world examples of where AI is creating value, where it can go wrong, and how business owners can make informed, ethical decisions as adoption accelerates.
Chaired by Nick Wilson, Robson Laidler MD, panellists include:
Daniel Adamson from Robson Laidler will explore the leadership challenges facing today’s professionals and introduce the concept of the 2030 Leader.
Using the practical Now – Where – How framework, you’ll reflect on where you are as a leader today, where you want to be, and the steps you can take to get there.
This Confidence in Leadership session will explore the internal and external factors that shape confidence, providing practical tools to overcome self-doubt, communicate with greater impact, and build resilience when facing challenges.
Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen their leadership confidence, enabling them to lead with authenticity, inspire others, and achieve their professional goals.
Join The Wellness Collective NE for a fully seated Active Relaxation session, combining gentle movement, a simple breathing reset and a calming sound bath experience.
The session will help release tension, quieten the mind and give you some space to simply stop and reset before heading into the rest of your day.
Using comfortable seated movement, guided breathing and relaxation with eye masks, attendees will also be introduced to simple techniques that can be used beyond the session and easily incorporated into everyday working life.
Exploring the development and future ambitions for the stadium and its surrounding site, and how these can connect with the wider development of Sunderland as a smart, connected city.
Attendees will be provided with a Sunderland BIDs Gift Card to spend at a range of city centre venues
Chaired by Lysa Morrison, panellists include:
Two-time paralympic gold medallist and NatWest Ambassador Jonnie Peacock contracted meningitis, which resulted in him having his right leg amputated.
Having originally been interested in playing football, Jonnie was directed to a paralympic sports day and shortly after took up athletics.
In a distinguished sprinting career, he won five paralympic medals – including gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016 – as well as two World and European Championship golds.
Off the track, Jonnie has appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, Jonnie’s Blade Camp, Netflix documentary Rising Phoenix and Hollyoaks.
