Speakers announced for WSTA Annual Conference

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 07 September, 2016

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has announced the business brains which will take part in the panel discussion at next week's conference.

Cilla Snowball CBE, group chairman and CEO of advertising and communications group AMV, BBDO, and Fazer Thompson, CEO of the Chapel Down Group will form half of this year's panel.

They will be joined by William Higham, consultant, author and founder of the Next Big Thing, and Jacqueline Davey, vice president at IBM.

Each will bring their own take on "Innovations - routes to market, financing and technology," - the chosen topic for discussion.

The panel discussion will be led by Alex Forrest, a former ITV political correspondent.

In addition to the panelists this year's keynote speaker is former Minister of State for Investment Lord Maude of Horsham who will focus on Brexit and the changing shape of the industry.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said this year will be a conference of two halves, the first focusing on Brexit, its challenges and its opportunities, and the second learning about how to innovate.

"Since the Brexit vote, speculating about the UK's future has become a favourite British pastime. The one thing we do know about Brexit is it will mean responding to change and living with uncertainty," he said.

"With the combined efforts of all our speakers the WSTA conference this year aims to try and bring some clarity to the Brexit debate as well as look forward to future trends and opportunities for the industry. "

The WSTA Annual Conference is the largest wine and spirit industry event and takes place in September each year.

It will take place on Tuesday, September 13, at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.

To purchase tickets, click here.

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