Irish Alumni National Conference
Thur October 23rd 2025
Irish Alumni National Conference
Highlighted speakers:
Andrew Thomas Professor of Engineering Management, and Dean of the School of Management, Swansea University
Carys Roberts Head of Entrepreneurship and Business Wales, Welsh Government
Boris Diakonov Co-Founder and Co-CEO, ANNA Money
Join us for a full-day conference designed exclusively for Welsh alumni of the Help to Grow: Management Course.
Whether you’re refining your strategy, growing your team, or embracing innovation, this conference brings together SME leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts to explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Welsh businesses.
The day will feature a hands-on, two-part AI session; inspiring keynotes; a panel of real-world business case studies; further learning on Module 4: Vision, Mission and Values; and valuable networking opportunities. Join us to connect with fellow alumni, gain fresh insights, and leave equipped with practical tools and ideas to move your business forward with clarity and confidence.
Agenda
08:30 Breakfast and registration
Tea, coffee, and networking.
09:30 Opening Remarks from the conference chair
Andrew Thomas Professor of Engineering Management, and Dean of the School of Management, Swansea University
09:10 Business Wales
From navigating rural connectivity and access to funding, to strengthening supply chains and talent pipelines, Carys will explore the key challenges facing Welsh businesses and how they can be overcome. She will share insights into how Business Wales is driving inclusive, sustainable growth by equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, support, and guidance they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
Carys Roberts Head of Entrepreneurship and Business Wales, Welsh Government
09:30 conversation cafe
An engaging networking exercise to kickstart new connections. You’ll receive a set of innovative questions that will encourage you to get to know fellow business leaders, sharing your journeys and discussing the challenges you’ve faced along the way.
10:00 From Grassroots to Growth: A Drop Bear Beer Journey
The founders of one of Wales’ boldest and most disruptive craft beer brands, Drop Bear Beer, will share their honest and inspiring journey: from the challenges of scaling a small business in Wales, to gaining national recognition. They will explore how cultural traits and identity shape leadership styles, particularly for young, female, and LGBTQ+ founders. Expect practical insights into fundraising, team building, and the transition from founder to manager – along with a candid look at what it means to be a woman in the traditionally male-dominated beer industry.
Sarah Drummond Co-Founder and Director, Drop Bear Beer
Joelle Drummond Co-Founder and Director of Sales and Marketing, Drop Bear Beer
10:30 AI in Practice: practical tools and advice to boost your business
In this two-part session you will discover how real businesses are using AI to save time, boost productivity, and make better decisions without needing to hire a data scientist. Led by Help to Grow: Management alumnus and AI consultant Vasilij Nevlev, this session will blend live demos, relatable case studies, and hands-on breakout activities to help you spot AI opportunities in your own business.
You’ll explore smart tools like ChatGPT, NotebookLM, and no-code automation platforms like n8n, and leave with a blueprint you can test during the breakout sessions. Whether you’re new to AI or looking to take the next step, you’ll walk away with clear ideas, not just theory.
Vasilij Nevlev Managing Director, Analytium
11:15 Mid-morning break
11:30 Ai in practice: breakout sessions
For this half of the session, grab your laptop, tablet, or iPad as Vasilij guides you through:
- NotebookLM podcast creator: Using your business’s existing content (blog posts, newsletters, or case studies), you’ll learn to generate a podcast script that answers typical customer questions.
- Chat with your spreadsheets: Build a simple chatbot interface that pulls answers from spreadsheet data using n8n.
- Prompt Engineering Sandbox: Understand the power of well-crafted prompts and how to adjust them for different business use cases.
- Firestudio with Gemini 2.5: Show the power of generative design using AI by creating website drafts or campaign content in minutes.
Vasilij Nevlev Managing Director, Analytium
12:15 Lunch
13:15 real talk on business best practice
This panel of seasoned SME leaders will explore what truly drives success in today’s evolving business landscape. From leadership resilience and strategic thinking to employee engagement, export challenges, and pricing strategies, this open and honest discussion will spark fresh ideas and provide actionable insights to support your business growth.
Bhupinder Sidhu Founder, Find a Business Expert
David Bolton Deputy Chair, CMI Wales
13:45 Translate, cascade, communicate: bringing strategy to life
Build on Module 4: Vision, Mission and Values as we explore it in the context of internal communication, operation and strategy.
- Strategy deployment and operational excellence – how can they work together and have equal power and significance?
- How to make strategic mission and vision come alive through the ‘translate and cascade’ method
- Communicating and embedding strategic intent to different parts of the business appropriately to encourage buy-in, motivation and productivity
Sarah Lethbridge Pro Dean for External Engagement, Cardiff Business School
14:30 ANNA Money: from 0 to one of UK’s fastest growing companies
With a bold approach to entrepreneurship and a track record of building and exiting companies worth over half a billion pounds, Boris Diakonov will share key lessons from launching and scaling ANNA Money – an award-winning fintech platform delivering admin support to small businesses through creativity and customer obsession. He’ll reflect on his journey from Russia, to becoming a pioneer in digital banking; sharing what it takes to build a successful, purpose-driven business.
Key takeaways:
- How to build a scalable business from the ground up
- Finding the market for your product amongst fierce competition
- Why world-class customer support is your most powerful differentiator
Boris Diakonov Co-Founder and Co-CEO, ANNA Money
15:00 Closing remarks
Andrew Thomas Professor of Engineering Management, and Dean of the School of Management, Swansea University
15:10 networking
16:00 Doors close
Please note: speakers, timings or format of our events may change due to circumstances beyond our control. We will inform delegates of any changes at the earliest opportunity.
Enquiries
If you have any questions, please get in touch by email at HTGM.Events@smallbusinesscharter.org or contact the Small Business Charter by phone on 020 7634 9584.
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