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Tuesday 4th November 2025
Conference Aston,
Aston University
An unmissable innovation festival
Downtown in Business is hosting an exciting day of debate, discussion, and networking – including a fabulous lunch – at the fantastic Aston University, Birmingham, on Tuesday 4th November 2025.
The Change Makers Live Summit is bringing together world-class innovation hubs from across the country to discuss the ambitions and opportunities that the UK’s leading entrepreneurs, academics, scientists, and inventors can deliver.
An exciting agenda that includes dynamic presentations from key personalities from the private sector, senior public sector decision-makers, and leading academics.
The Change Makes Live Summit will be an unmissable innovation festival with a range of quality speakers.
Tickets
If you are interested in attending the Change Makers Live Summit 2025 contact [email protected] for further information, fill in the form below or call 0844 755 0127.
Agenda
A start to the day with networking, a bite to eat and a drink.
An introduction to the conference with what to expect throughout the day.
Speakers
Hilary Smyth-Allen | Chief Executive, SuperTech WM
Dr Jason Wouhra OBE | CEO, Lioncroft Wholesale Limited
Raj Kandola | Acting Deputy CEO, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Moderator
Dr Inez Brown | CEO and Founder, McKenzie Brown Consultancy
Speakers
Jessica Bowles | Strategic Partnerships and Impact Director, Bruntwood SciTech
Tom Brufatto | Executive Director of Policy and Research, Best for Britain
Jonathan Skinner | Head of Economy and Local Industrial Strategy, West Midlands Combined Authority
Moderator
Professor Zoe Radnor | Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Academic Hubs, Aston University
An opportunity to grab a refreshment and a little bit of networking too.
Speakers
James Watts | Director & Birmingham Office Leader, Arup
Joanne Roney CBE | Managing Director, Birmingham City Council
Rob Valentine
Moderator
Frank McKenna | Chief Executive and Group Chairman, Downtown in Business
An opportunity to grab some food and an opportunity for networking.
Speakers
Abbie Vlahakis | CEO at Millennium Point
Professor Claire Lucas | Dean of Engineering and Innovation, Aston University
Professor Patricia Thornley | Professor, Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University
Moderator
Professor Aleks Subic | Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive, Aston University
End the day with some networking.
Speakers
Professor Aleks Subic | Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive, Aston University
Professor Subic joined Aston University in August 2022. He is a recognised global leader in technology and innovation in higher education, leading on Industry 4.0 strategy and digital transformations across the university sector and with industry and governments both in Australia and internationally. He has received a number of prestigious awards for his work, including the Australian Business Innovation Award and the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Award.
He is a passionate and lifelong advocate for multiculturalism, equity, diversity and inclusion, leading through clear actions and strategic initiatives at enterprise level. These include creating and appointing the first Dean of STEMM Diversity & Inclusion in Australia, establishing Women in STEMM Fellowships and mentoring scheme, Indigenous Research Fellowships, scholarships and internships programs, and creating an innovation precinct with start-up accelerators and industry incubators focused on founders from diverse backgrounds and access.
Carl Ennis | CEO, Siemens UK & Ireland
Carl Ennis is Chief Executive Officer of Siemens for the UK and Ireland.
With over 25 years’ experience with Siemens, he has held prominent management positions across the business in the UK and overseas including China where he was responsible for Power Generation Services in Asia Pacific.
A technologist passionate about making digital transformation work for business, he has worked across industries helping organisations improve productivity, sustainability and resilience.
Carl started his career as an apprentice and is an advocate of the skills and diversity agendas, recognising the need for new and diverse thinking in an ever-changing world. He is a representative for industry on the Net Zero Council, German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce, The Engineering and Technology Board and is also a Trustee at Brighter Futures Learning Partnership Trust.
Carl graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University, is a Chartered Engineer, a fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology and a Visiting Professor of Practice at Newcastle University.
In his free time, Carl is passionate about motorbikes - riding them and repairing them - and is also a keen musician.
Professor Claire Lucas | Dean of School for Engineering and Innovation, Aston University
Professor Claire Lucas is the Dean of Engineering and Innovation at Aston University, providing strategic leadership to align the School’s work with Aston’s 2030 Strategy. She is redefining Engineering at Aston, strengthening its national and global profile through academic excellence, impactful research, and close industry collaboration.
Claire’s research centres on engineering skills, capability and capacity development, examining how the UK’s skills ecosystem supports engineers in developing the technical and behavioural competencies needed by industry. Her group created the first non-technical skills taxonomy for engineering, developed with senior industry leaders to identify and nurture the behaviours of high-performing engineers.
A Principal Fellow of Advance HE and Fellow of the IET, Claire brings deep experience across academia and industry, having held senior roles at King’s College London and the University of Warwick, following her early career at Jaguar Land Rover. She is a Trustee of the UK Electronics Skills Foundation, contributing to Innovate UK-funded semiconductor skills initiatives, and has shaped national engineering education policy and standards through roles with the QAA, IET, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Engineering Council.
Hilary Smyth-Allen | CEO, SuperTech
Hilary Smyth-Allen is CEO of SuperTech, the UK’s only professional services tech supercluster, promoting the West Midlands’ strengths in LawTech, FinTech, and PropTech.
A former chartered surveyor and qualified tax technician, Hilary spent a decade as National Director at AECOM before leading a regional professional services body and influencing BPFS policy at the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP. She drives industry engagement across national research projects with institutions including University of Sheffield, Oxford Brookes, and Innovate UK.
Passionate about innovation and disruptive tech, Hilary champions Birmingham and the wider West Midlands through SuperTech’s mission.
Dr Inez Brown | CEO and Founder, McKenzie Brown Consultancy
Prof. Brown is a trailblazing lawyer and leader with over two decades of legal/business expertise. She has dedicated her career to transforming organisations through strategic consultancy, corporate governance, and championing diversity and inclusion. Her multifaceted roles reflect her commitment to driving positive change across various sectors.
Recently appointed as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Black Cultural Archives at 1Windrush Square, London
As Aston University's Vice-Chancellor Professional Fellow, she provides strategic counsel on equity, diversity, and inclusion. This appointment underscores her commitment to shaping inclusive educational environments and fostering diverse leadership in academia. In July 2023, Aston conferred upon her an honorary doctorate, recognising her contributions to the legal profession and local business community.
Prof. Brown is CEO of McKenzie Brown Consultancy Ltd, Prof. where she empowers organisations by offering bespoke advisory services focusing on Corporate Governance, Leadership Development, Strategic Management, and Organisational Change. She has assisted clients across health, education, business, housing, and law sectors, unlocking their potential and driving sustainable growth.
As Regional Chair of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Central region, Professor Brown oversees 7 Branch Chairs and over 3000 members, promoting good governance, ethical practices, professional development and diversity.
In 2020, she became the first Black President of Birmingham Law Society in its 202-year history, expanding membership, establishing a diversity inclusion scheme, and providing scholarships to underrepresented students.
Her most notable legal case was the inquest of David Gray (deceased) in 2010. The inquest highlighted systemic failures in the registration, vetting, induction, training and monitoring of doctors in private out-of-hours services, prompting nationwide review of these services to enhance patient safety. The case was particularly noteworthy due to the circumstances surrounding Mr Gray’s death and the involvement of a foreign locum doctor. It garnered substantial attention from both local and national media outlets including BBC, Channel 4, Sky News, ITV News, local media and print publications.
James Watts | Director, Mids-West Property | Birmingham Office Leader, Arup
James is Arup’s Birmingham Office Leader and a Director in the Mids-West Property Team. He leads Arup teams on regeneration projects including Paradise, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Stadium and Shrewsbury Riverside. He is also the Midlands Growth Director, engaging with clients and collaborators to bring the breadth of Arup’s skills and experience to the local market.
Dr Jason Wouhra OBE | Founder and CEO, Lioncroft Wholesale
Dr Jason Wouhra OBE is the founder and chief executive officer of Lioncroft Wholesale - one of the UK’s leading independent retail businesses. Dr Wouhra began his career with the family business East End Foods nearly 25 years ago, cutting his teeth in the wholesale arm running one of the local Birmingham depots. His stewardship and vision as a company director - including major growth in his wholesale arm - helped establish East End as one of the UK’s largest and most successful Asian food companies ahead of its sale to private equity in 2019.
But Dr Wouhra, who felt there was unfinished business for him in wholesale, immediately bought the wholesaling arm back to trade under its new name Lioncroft Wholesale. The business has grown from strength to strength in recent years, including acquiring the rights to Lifestyle Express in England and Wales and establishing the Lioncroft Foundation to give back to society.
He is one of the leading voices in the food & drink industry, serving as a long-standing board member of Unitas - the UK’s largest independent food & beverage buying group with a combined turnover of over £8billion. He currently chairs the group.
Outside of the food and drink industry, Dr Wouhra was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen in 2017 for services to business and international trade, and in 2013 became the youngest and first chair of Asian heritage of the Institute of Directors in the West Midlands - a position which saw him take on a business advisory role for the then-Prime Minister David Cameron. In 2024 he was appointed as Chancellor of Aston University, becoming their youngest ever Chancellor and first of Asian - and in particular Sikh - heritage.
Jessica Bowles | Director of Strategic Partnerships and Impact, Bruntwood SciTech
Jessica joined Bruntwood in 2016 helping to support the company’s ambitions for long term growth. As a member of the Group Board her focus is how the business can best support the success of the UK’s cities and towns including through partnerships between public, academic and private sectors. She also oversees Bruntwood’s ESG and social value agenda.
Previously Jessica spent 15 years in Whitehall much of it working with cities before moving to Manchester City Council as head of City Policy supporting work on devolution, the Northern Powerhouse and the ‘Our Manchester’ partnership Strategy.
Amongst other external roles Jessica is a member of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership ExCo, NW Business Leadership Team and is a Trustee for a start-up.
Joanne Roney CBE | Managing Director, Birmingham City Council
Joanne Roney CBE is the Managing Director of Birmingham City Council since September 2024. Prior to this, she served as the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.
Jonathan Skinner | Head of Economic Policy and Partnersghips, West Midlands Combined Authority
Jonathan Skinner is Head of Economic Policy and Partnerships at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), where he leads on economic strategy, business productivity, innovation, and international programmes.
He holds degrees covering Public Policy and Macroeconomics and joined WMCA in January 2020. Jonathan previously led private sector growth initiatives in West Yorkshire and has extensive experience in local and regional government across the East of England and West Midlands.
His career activities include leading a regional Business Link review, supporting Regional Funding Allocations, and helping establish a Combined Authority through devolution deal negotiations.
Professor Patricia Thornley | Professor, Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University
Patricia Thornley (Aston University) is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, with 30 years’ experience in sustainable energy. She leads the Supergen Bioenergy hub, clean maritime policy unit and a doctoral training centre in negative missions. She is Deputy chair of DfT’s Scientific Advisory Council, member of DESNZ’s Science Advisory Council and Hydrogen Delivery Council production working group. She has been PI on £38M UKRI funded projects and Co-I on a further £30M.
Raj Kandola | Acting Deputy CEO, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Raj Kandola is currently the acting Deputy CEO at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce supporting on the strategic and operational leadership of the organisation, ensuring continuity of executive functions, organisational performance and stakeholder engagement.
Previously Raj was Director of External Affairs tasked with covering the organisation’s research, campaigning, stakeholder engagement and media & communications activity. Specific policy areas of focus include transport & infrastructure, international trade, education and environmental policy. In addition, he is responsible for managing the organisation’s Patronage scheme and the GBCC’s media and news content operations, including external media engagement and production of the organisation’s print and online news material.
Prior to joining the Chamber in 2016, Raj worked in Communications for a former Shadow Minister and spent eight years in London recruiting staff across the financial services industry.
Tom Brufatto | Executive Director of Policy and Research, Best for Britain
Tom Brufatto is Executive Director of Policy and Research at Best for Britain, where he leads the organisation's policy development, political and public opinion research operations. At Best for Britain he focuses on economic, trade, immigration and industrial policy. He is a veteran of a number of pro-European campaigns and has held a number of voluntary roles chairing local and national organisations. Before politics and policy, Tom was an Aerospace Engineer working on aircraft engines at Rolls-Royce in Bristol.
Professor Zoe Radnor | Pro Vice-Chancellor Global Academic Hubs, Aston University
Professor Zoe Radnor is PVC, Global Academic Hubs at Aston University. Previously Zoe has held roles as PVC and Executive Dean, College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University, PVC EDI; Strategy and Planning for City, University of London and, inaugural Dean for University of Leicester School of Business.
Zoe’s research interest is performance/ process improvement and service management within public sector organisations. She has led research projects for Government and healthcare organisations, evaluating the use of ‘lean’ and associated techniques.
She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) and the British Academy of Management (FBAM). She sits on a number of boards including Athena Swan Governance Committee and, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA).
Raj Kandola | Acting Deputy CEO,Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Raj Kandola is currently the acting Deputy CEO at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce supporting on the strategic and operational leadership of the organisation, ensuring continuity of executive functions, organisational performance and stakeholder engagement.
Previously Raj was Director of External Affairs tasked with covering the organisation’s research, campaigning, stakeholder engagement and media & communications activity. Specific policy areas of focus include transport & infrastructure, international trade, education and environmental policy. In addition, he is responsible for managing the organisation’s Patronage scheme and the GBCC’s media and news content operations, including external media engagement and production of the organisation’s print and online news material
Prior to joining the Chamber in 2016, Raj worked in Communications for a former Shadow Minister and spent eight years in London recruiting staff across the financial services industry.
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FAQS
Yes, to attend Change Makers Live Summit 2025 you will need to purchase a ticket.
You can buy tickets online or contact the DIB team.
More information about tickets is HERE.
The venue is Aston University.
Aston St, Birmingham B4 7ET
Registration for the event starts at 9:00am with the first session due to start around 10:00am.
Yes, food will be provided on the day.
Please contact the DIB team if you have any dietary requirements.
