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Events
Industry leaders to champion women at BMF Conference
FOUR of the building materials industry’ s most successful female leaders will lead a panel discussion at the BMF Members’ Conference in September dedicated to Women Leading in Building Materials. The panel will explore how businesses can create more inclusive workplaces and how male colleagues can play an important role as allies in supporting and developing talent.
The panel will feature:
• Jen Cassidy, CEO, Bristan Group
• Emma Champion, Group Marketing Manager, Independent Builders Merchant Group
• Helene Bradley, Communications Director, STARK Building Materials UK
• Alice Maughan, Owner & Creative Director, Stronghold Homes
Jen Cassidy also brings insight from her role as Chair of the Construction Inclusion Coalition( CIC), a crossindustry movement working to improve diversity, equity and inclusion across the building materials sector. The CIC unites leading organisations behind practical actions to widen participation, strengthen workplace cultures and help ensure that talented people, regardless of background, can build successful careers in the sector.
The panel will discuss what has helped them succeed, the day-to-day reality of being a woman in the building materials sector, the practical steps companies are taking to recruit, retain and develop female talent, and advice for women seeking to advance their careers in the industry.
The session supports the BMF’ s commitment to fostering a more diverse and inclusive building materials sector and to promoting conversations that help businesses make the most of the talent available across the industry.
John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said:
“ We are fortunate to have an outstanding panel of speakers, each of whom has built an impressive career in our industry and brings a wealth of experience from different parts of the building materials sector. Helene, Emma, Alice and Jen are all exceptional leaders who have made a significant impact within their businesses and across the wider industry.
“ This session is an opportunity to hear honest insights into the challenges they have faced, what has helped them succeed, and how we can all play a part in creating an industry where talented people can thrive. I hope it will inspire more women to pursue leadership roles and encourage all of us, particularly men, to be stronger allies in developing the next generation of talent.”
The BMF Annual Members Conference and Awards will take place at the Belfry Hotel and Resort in Sutton Coldfield on 16 and 17 September.
2027 BMF All Industry Conference fully booked
THE 2027 BMF All Industry Conference in Marrakech has sold out completely, just five weeks after details of the event were announced.
With 475 delegate places already reserved, including a record number of merchant bookings, the conference has reached maximum capacity. Reservations have officially closed. However, the BMF has opened a waiting list for those who have not yet secured a place.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said:“ It comes as no surprise that next year’ s conference has attracted such strong early support. Regardless of how the market is performing, the conference provides a vital platform for industry connection, insight and shared direction.”
The BMF All Industry Conference takes place in Marrakech from 10-13 June 2027, under the theme‘ Connecting Ideas, Creating Tomorrow’. BBC TV presenter Gethin Jones returns to host the conference for the third time, having previously overseen proceedings at two of the BMF’ s most successful conferences: Budapest 2017 and Dubrovnik 2019.
Merchants or suppliers who haven’ t yet secured a place at the 2027 BMF All Industry Conference should email Stacey. Lock @ bmf. org. uk to be added to the waiting list.
The BMF thanks its headline sponsor, Marshalls, and key sponsors ACO Technologies, BMN, ForgeFix, GenetiQ, Keystone Group, Klipboard, Knauf, Knauf Insulation, Marsh Industries, Polypipe Building Products, Siniat and Velux.
For full information on the Conference, please visit www. bmfconference2027. co. uk
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