Inspiration: Changemakers Conference 2026 | Scotland
Scotland
8:45am to 4:00pm GMT // 27 October 2026
Register now
Changemakers: Ambition
This year’s conference theme is Changemakers: Ambition – a rallying cry for marketers to reclaim their rightful place at the heart of business growth, leadership and societal progress.
This is not ambition in its outdated, aggressive form. This is ambition rooted in purpose, culture and collective progress. It is about leaders who drive growth while shaping organisations, brands and societies for the better.
Ambition is what moves marketing from possibility to progress. It is the optimism to see what could be and the drive to make it happen. For marketers, ambition means setting bold objectives, creating meaningful change for businesses and society, and turning imagination into action. It is personal and collective, fuelled by energy, intention and the courage to pursue growth – even when the path is not certain.
The Speakers
Lesley Morton
Juliet Simpson
Chris Baréz-Brown
Emma Harris
Andrew Dobbie
Anneli Ritari-Stewart
Matt Higgins
David Duke MBE
Venue
The National Gallery on the MoundThe Hawthornden Lecture Theatre
(via Princes Garden Entrance)
Edinburgh
EH2 2EL
Date
27 October 2026Time
Registration from 08:45am - Conference Close 4:00pm (Drinks until 5:00pm)Dress Code
Smart CasualWhy Ambition? Why Now?
Marketing sits at the heart of business growth, leadership and societal progress, yet too often underplays its own impact. At a time when businesses are navigating uncertainty, transformation and pressure, ambition becomes the force that reconnects confidence with responsibility.
For marketers and business leaders, ambition is about aiming higher, for businesses, careers, industries and communities and believing that better outcomes are possible. It is about restoring pride in what marketing can achieve, telling those stories more boldly, and giving people permission to be confident about their role in shaping the future.
We need to think bigger: on innovation, on collaboration, on decision-making, on business process, and on where we look for inspiration and commercial value.
Ambition for our careers. Ambition for our brands and businesses. Ambition for the future of work and growth. For Marketers Who Mean Business.
Why Join Us?
TICKET INFORMATION
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
Member Tickets are £205 +VAT Please ensure you are logged in to your account on the website to purchase your ticket.TEAM MEMBERS
Member Tickets are £205 +VAT Please ensure you are logged in to your account on the website to purchase your ticket.NON MEMBERS
Member Tickets are £260 +VAT Please register your interest and you will be taken to a payment page. If you hae any issues, please email [email protected]2025 HIGHLIGHTS
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AGENDA
8:45am | Registration and networking breakfast
9:20am | Welcome: Changemakers Ambition
Sophie Devonshire, CEO, The Marketing Society
9:30am | Ambition Through Experience: Building Brands People Choose Again and Again
Sara Holt, Chief Marketing Officer, Center Parcs UK & Ireland, in conversation with Sophie Devonshire
9:55am | Ambition in 5: Taking the Scenic Route
Matt Higgins, Creative Director, Sunshine - The Social Agency
10:00am | Ambition Beyond Growth: Building for the Long Term
Owen Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer, DC Thomson
10:25am | Ambition Without Burnout: Slowing Down to Go Further
Emma Harris, Founder, GLOW London
10:50am | Networking break
11:25am | Turning Ambition into Reality: How the World's Biggest Health Provider Scaled Authentic Messaging
Panel curated by JACK RYAN
11:45am | Ambition in 5: From a Daft Idea to a Global Moment
Andrew Dobbie, Founder, MadeBrave
11:50am | Shared Ambition: More Than a Logo on the Shirt
David Duke MBE, Street Soccer
12:15pm | Networking lunch
1:30pm | Ambition Through Change: Building Brand Resilience at M&S
Sharry Cramond, Marketing Director Fashion, Home & Beauty and Director of Loyalty, M&S
2:00pm | From Passion Project to Global Brand: Scaling BYOMA
Lesley Morton, VP Global Marketing, BYOMA, in conversation with Juliet Simpson, Chair, WACL Scotland
2:30pm | Networking break
3:05pm | Ambition in 5: Stronger Than You Think
Anneli Ritari-Stewart, Head of Digital & AI Marketing, Royal London
3:10pm | Turning Ambition into Action
Chris Baréz-Brown, Founder, Upping Your Elvis
3:50pm | Closing reflections: What Will You Do With Your Ambition?
The Marketing Society Scotland
4:00pm | Conference closes (drinks until 5:00pm)
