BDMA Conference 2024 – Speakers

We are excited to start announcing some of our upcoming conference presentation themes and speakers! Find out more about each of our speakers who are presenting at the 2024 conference below.

Day 1 & Day2

Ant Gould

Director, Full Circle Communications

Ant is a director at Full Circle Corporate Communications and is a specialist in journalism, publishing and media relations. Previous roles include director of faculties at the Chartered Insurance Institute where he led market and membership engagement. Ant is the BDMA Conference 2024 chair and will be hosting the speakers over the two days of presentations.

Day 1

	Gareth Boyd CEO, Watertight International	Gareth is CEO of Watertight International, leading the team who project manage, design, source, install and maintain bespoke and innovative property flood resilience (PFR) solutions to domestic and commercial properties. The session “Build Back Better – learning from recent events” is designed to highlight observations from the 100 plus BBB claims that Watertight are managing across the UK.
	Graham Brogden MBE GJB Consultancy Oxford Ltd	Graham works as an independent consultant within the PFR sector and was responsible for the delivery of the Be Flood Ready centre at HR Wallingford in conjunction with West Northants Council and the National Flood School. In 2021 Graham was awarded the MBE for services to flood preparation and resilience.
	Ian Gibbs National Technical Manager, Sedgwick UK	Ian Gibbs is a National Technical Manager in Sedgwick. His background is in the insurance sector, project managing claims for and repairs of domestic and commercial buildings. He has developed a service to the insurance market, to minimise the impact of wet peril and fire claims and providing flood resilient advice and repairs to customers. He is currently part of the authoring team updating the British Standard on Flood resilience.
	Sir Tim Smit, KBE	Sir Tim is best known for his achievements in Cornwall. He is the Executive Vice-Chair and Cofounder of the multi award-winning Eden Project in Cornwall. Since its opening in 2001, over 22 million people have come to see a once sterile pit, turned into a cradle of life containing world-class horticulture.
	David Hill Technical Sales Manager, Dantherm Group	David has a passion for water damage and is well known for his seminars on how to dry properties quickly and energy efficiently. David will take you through the construction styles of the UK property of today with all the new methods / styles and all the way back to the Tudor times, whilst giving his insight on how or if we can effectively dry these.
	Adrian Jolly BDMA Chair	Adrian has worked in the insurance industry for over 35 years, initially as a broker, and then a loss adjuster. For the past 25 years he has worked in the damage management sector. He is an Associate of the CII and has been a BDMA director since 2014. Adrian has been chair of the BDMA since October 2023.
	Dr Sahand Rasoulipour Senior Researcher, Halliwell Fire Research	Sahand is a Chartered Professional Engineer with an extensive 17-year track record in the dynamic field of fire safety. He brings forth a diverse background, boasting significant expertise in fire engineering design within the built environment and the energy sector. Sahand has actively contributed to pioneering research endeavours, enhancing the industry’s knowledge base. His international experience across the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and the Middle East provides him with a comprehensive perspective on global fire engineering practices and regulations.
	Tom Dale Associate Forensic Investigator, Hawkins	Tom joined Hawkins as an Associate Forensic Investigator in 2022 and is based in the Birmingham office. At Hawkins, Tom utilises his fire safety experience to conduct investigations into fire engineering design and construction defects, as well as alleged breaches of fire safety management. Tom has pursued a career in fire safety and risk management and will share his insight during his presentation.
	Jack Corden Strategy Director, Davis French & Associates	Jack Corden has been working at DF&A since 2017, previously operating within the manufacturing and construction sectors, and has now been working in the insurance and damage management sectors for nearly a decade. Jack achieved an MBA in 2023 to further his strategic and leadership capability within the industry. Jack is the key point of contact for all of DFA’s insurance and loss adjusting clients, helping our customers to get best value from the range of DFA services for the unique claims challenges they are facing, as well as achieving their strategic goals.
	Olivia French Environmental Services Director, Davis French & Associates	Olivia French graduated from the University of York in July 2013 with a degree in chemistry. Having specialized in analytical and forensic sciences she further achieved a Masters degree in Environmental Management in June 2017, as well as an MBA in 2023. Olivia runs DF&A’s bespoke laboratory facility in Sheffield, as well as managing some of DF&A’s most complex and challenging environmental claims.

Day 2

	Colin MacLachlan Motivational Speaker	Colin joined the army in 1989 and after 9 years in the Royal Scots passed selection first time aged 23 into 22 SAS. Colin was involved in some of the higher profile and daring missions of the recent period. Colin is now involved in TV, Books, Radio, and Video Games. He also works with charities including as an Ambassador for the Lee Rigby Foundation, Pilgrim Bandits, and the NSPCC. He has also just founded his own charity Who Dares Cares that aims to link and support veterans as well as others that encounter stress.
	Eddie Longworth Consultant, JEL Consulting	Eddie Longworth has been a claims and supply chain development consultant for 27 years and during that time has been providing expert resource and original thinking to deliver innovation, new solutions and positive change. Eddie’s presentation will highlight tactics for the delivery of a superior customer experience throughout the entire claims value chain.
	Chris Hall Managing Director, QuestGates	During his career Chris has been involved in practically all aspects of loss adjusting, ranging from handling major losses right through to setting up the industry’s first managed contractor network, establishing call centres and claims management operations.
	Wayne Calderbank Group Data and Performance Director, Claims Consortium Group	Wayne has 28 years experience in the Insurance Claims market. In his current role, Wayne has developed several AI initiatives to improve a customer’s claim journey.Wayne will be sharing his own thoughts, ideas and experiences with AI and offer insight on how it can and has been used to improve customer experience.
	Alan James UK Sales Director, Dantherm Group	Sustainable repair and restoration are at the forefront of Alan’s daily business, with technologies such as remote monitoring and environmentally focused climate control solutions providing a platform to help minimise the carbon footprint of the sector as a whole. How can we collect this data more efficiently and put it to use more effectively?
	Liam Hanlon Managing Director, The Forshaw Group	Insurance repair, damage management, and fire & flood restoration are a specialist sector of the construction Industry. Despite being one of the largest sectors in the UK, it is currently struggling to find new talent and skills. Attend Liam’s presentation to gain insight into recruitment and upskilling staff in this challenging economy.
	Professor Jo Clarke, PhD, C.Psychol., AFBPsS, EuroPsy Founder and Director, Petros	During 23 years of working as a (now former) forensic psychologist in the criminal justice system, Jo’s attention focused on the concept of resilience, both for individuals and the organisations in which they live and/or work. Jo is a regular speaker and trainer, nationally and internationally, on the subject of individual and organizational resilience.
	Justin Sifford Senior Partner, Wylander Solutions (USA)	Justin has worked in the flooring industry for over 23 years, and the restoration industry for over a decade. “From technicians to Vice Presidents, I can find not only the experience you’re looking for to add to your business, but the person you’re looking for. I understand the right employee is more than just a resume, it’s a complete fit within your unique company.” Attend Justin’s session to find out more!
	Ola Jacob UK & Ireland Business Development Director, Descartes Underwriting	Ola has enjoyed working in the London Market Insurance Sector for over twelve years on UK Retail, Product Recall, Terrorism, Onshore Energy and Parametric. He’s proud to be named Insurance Times Technology Champion of the Year. He has just become the Business Development Director for the UK & Ireland for Descartes Underwriting. Ola has enjoyed building a distribution strategy for one of the first successful Parametric solutions in the London Market. He wants the market to keep improving, transforming how we cover risk.
	Nathalie Crystal Senior Public Relations Manager \| Global Co-Chair, Disability and Neurodiversity Colleague Resource Group, Sedgwick	Nathalie has worked in the insurance industry for 18 years. She is Sedgwick’s Senior Public Relations Manager in the UK. As Global Co-Chair for Sedgwick’s Disability and Neurodiversity Colleague Resource Group, Nathalie is passionate about the importance of promoting greater awareness and understanding of neurodivergence in the workplace. She is a member of GAIN (Group for Autism, Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity) and has volunteered for the Neurodiversity in Business charity, assisting at the organisation’s inaugural conference in 2023.