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The Meetings Show 2026 will feature two exceptional headline speakers taking to the stage to deliver bold ideas, fresh perspectives and powerful real-world insight - setting the tone for an education programme designed to inspire, challenge and drive meaningful change.
HIGH-ALTITUDE LEADERSHIP MEETS ICONIC BRAND THINKING
Emma Henderson MBE - Airline Captain, Mentor, Brand Ambassador, and Presenter
Decision Making in Turbulent Change
Wednesday 24 June
In this powerful session, former airline captain and creator of the AVIATE framework Emma Henderson MBE, shares how leaders can make confident, high-stakes decisions when the pressure is on.
Drawing on over 30 years on the flight deck, Emma translates cockpit-tested principles into practical tools for business. In a world defined by uncertainty and rapid change, she explores how to:
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Replace stress with structure for calm, consistent decisions
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Cut through complexity with clear, decisive thinking
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Build resilient, high-performing teams under pressure
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Lead with confidence that inspires trust and psychological safety
An energising and practical session equipping event professionals and senior leaders to make better decisions, faster and deliver measurable impact.
More about Emma:
Until September 2020 Emma was one of fewer than 500 female airline captains in the world and had made her mark on the industry as a Peer Support Mentor, Brand Ambassador, Fear of Flying presenter, and had become known as “Captain Emma” in ITV's fly on the wall documentary Inside the Cockpit.
It was this platform and the niche she had carved for herself as a natural and empathetic leader, that allowed her to launch Project Wingman in response to the global pandemic, mobilising thousands of grounded aircrew across the country to provide well-being support to frontline NHS staff.
Now, an award winning CEO of the charity she founded, an Aviation Ambassador, award winning speaker, and with an MBE to her name, Emma draws on her experiences over more than three decades in the air to deliver lessons that are relatable from the flight deck to the board room, inspiring all who hear her with her authentic leadership and her passion for doing the right thing, delivered through storytelling with compassion and bit of wry humour thrown in.
All who hear Emma leave feeling inspired, empowered, compelled to become better versions of themselves and with a “big picture” view of life whether at school, university or in business.
Emma shares lessons from behind the flight deck door to develop an authentic, human-centric leadership culture, developing skills including decision making, risk assessment, resilience, well-being in the workplace and the importance of “Leading from the Front” and by example.
Emma lives on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland with her RAF husband, their two labradors, her chickens and a recently acquired (without permission) puppy! Her three adult children return on a regular enough basis to make it feel like they have never moved out - mostly to get their washing done and their cars serviced.
John Vincent MBE - Former CEO of LEON Restaurants
From LEON to Live Events: Building Brands People Love
Thursday 25 June
In this candid interview, John Vincent MBE, co-founder of LEON, shares what it takes to build brands rooted in purpose during uncertain times.
From redefining fast food to launching Feed NHS during the pandemic, John explores how love, resilience, adaptability and systems-thinking drive commercial success. For event professionals, this session will examine how to:
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Build brands grounded in purpose, not just positioning
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Lead teams with resilience and humanity under pressure
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Create experiences people feel emotionally connected to
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Embed wellbeing, sustainability and social impact into event strategy
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Turn uncertainty into opportunity through adaptive leadership
More about John:
John Vincent is a visionary entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of LEON, the award-winning restaurant brand that redefined fast food in the UK and beyond. With an exceptional ability to lead in times of uncertainty and transform complex challenges into purpose-driven action, John leaves audiences inspired and equipped with tools to create meaningful change.
A passionate advocate for wholeness in life and leadership, John brings a systems-level perspective and social consciousness to everything he touches—whether it’s reimagining school meals for the UK government or helping businesses reconnect with purpose and humanity. His talks blend real-world strategy with heart, offering insight into how love, resilience, and adaptability can shape stronger organisations and societies.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, John’s foresight and calm-in-the-chaos approach helped LEON remain open during the pandemic by launching the Feed NHS campaign that delivered over a million meals to healthcare workers. But his leadership goes far beyond emergency response. John has built a legacy of integrating wellbeing into business, having trained baristas in martial arts to reduce stress and led initiatives that tackle food inequality, environmental sustainability, and employee mental health.
John’s speaking style is authentic, thought-provoking, and action-oriented. He weaves stories from the boardroom, kitchen, and government halls with insights drawn from ancient wisdom and modern science, empowering audiences to lead with clarity, compassion, and courage.
