Conservative Party Conference 2022
View all party conference events
Bright Blue is delighted to announce our fringe event programme at the 2022 Conservative Party Conference. We are running 33 events with over 100 speakers.
You can join us in person in Birmingham, or watch virtually. A Conservative Party Conference pass will be needed to access our events, in-person or digitally, inside the secure zone, which you can register for here. You do not need a pass to access events outside the secure zone; just turn up!
Livestreams of all of our events inside the secure zone will be available to watch via the Conservative Party Conference virtual platform. Events outside the secure zone will be available to watch live via our YouTube channel. Recordings of all our events, both inside and outside the secure zone, will be available on our YouTube channel after the conference.
If you would like more information about our events at Conservative Party Conference 2022, please get in touch with our Senior Communications Officer Max Anderson.
The dirty money laundry? Stopping economic crime to uphold UK security and values
Sunday 2nd October 2022, 13:00 – 14:15
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- John Penrose MP, Former UK PM’s Anti-Corruption Champion
- Tom Keatinge, Director of Centre for Financial Crime & Security Studies, RUSI
- Bob Wigley, Chairman, UK Finance
- Susan Hawley, Executive Director, Spotlight on Corruption
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Pride, place and prosperity: the importance of a strong social fabric
Sunday 2nd October 2022, 14:30 – 15:45
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email max.j@brightblue.org.uk
- The Rt Hon Robert Buckland MP, Secretary of State for Wales
- Bob Blackman MP, Member, Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
- Sara Britcliffe MP, Member, Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
- Anvar Sarygulov, Head of Research, Bright Blue (Chair)
A breath of fresh air? Fair, affordable solutions for a public health crisis
Sunday 2nd October 2022, 14:45 – 16:00
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Alexander Stafford MP, Member, Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
- Cllr Joe Porter, Cabinet Member – Climate Change and Biodiversity, Staffordshire Moorlands Council
- Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, Founder and Executive Director, The Ella Roberta Family Foundation
- Kate Langford, Programme Director, Impact on Urban Health
- Ioana Diac, Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)
Transformational times? Making levelling up felt by local communities
Sunday 2nd October 2022, 16:30 – 17:45
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Paul Scully MP, Minister for Local Government
- Dehenna Davison MP, Minister for Levelling Up
- Duncan Robinson, Political Editor, The Economist
- Professor Hetan Shah, Chief Executive, The British Academy
- Zoë Billingham, Director, IPPR North
- Ailbhe McNabola, Director of Policy and Communications, Power to Change
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Tipping the scales: breaking the junk food cycle
Sunday 2nd October 2022, 18:15 – 19:30
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Maggie Throup MP, Former Minister for Public Health
- Henry Dimbleby MBE, Non-Executive Director at DEFRA, Co-Founder of LEON & Lead Author, National Food Strategy
- Richard Walker OBE, Managing Director, Iceland
- Anna Quigley, Research Director, Ipsos Mori UK
- Katharine Jenner, Director, Obesity Health Alliance
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Too hot to handle? Ensuring greater and greener housing
Sunday 2nd October 2022, 18:30 – 19:45
Suite 116, Jury’s Inn Birmingham
Outside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Ruth Edwards MP, Member, Environment APPG
- Brian Berry, Chief Executive, Federation of Master Builders
- Nicholas Boys Smith, Co-Chair, Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission
- Martina Lees, Senior Property Writer, The Times
- Samuel Hughes, Research Fellow, University of Oxford
- Liam Halligan, Economics and Business Editor, GB News
- James Cullimore, Senior Nature Programme Manager, Conservative Environment Network
- Alexandra Jezeph, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)
Drink Tank
Sunday 2nd October 2022, 20:30 – 22:30
Hall 8, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
- Tom Tugendhat MBE MP, Minister of State for Security
- Timiko Cranwell, Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue
Doing good better: foreign aid’s role in delivering Global Britain
Monday 3rd October 2022, 08:00am – 09:15am
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Former Secretary of State for International Development
- Alina Rocha Menocal, Principal Research Fellow, Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
- Richard Blewitt, Executive Director International at British Red Cross
- Stephanie Draper, Chief Executive, Bond
- Neil Heslop OBE, Chief Executive, CAF
- Diane Banks, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)
Powering ahead? The future of the UK’s transport industry on the road to net zero
Monday 3rd October 2022, 08:30am – 09:45am
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email max.j@brightblue.org.uk
- Roberts Courts MP, Minister for Transport
- Mark Pawsey MP, Member, Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Committee
- Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, Coventry City Council
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Putting victims first: improving the justice system for victims
Monday 3rd October 2022, 10:00am – 11:15am
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email bartek@brightblue.org.uk
- James Cartlidge MP, Former Minister for Justice
- Dr Kieran Mullan MP, Member, Justice Select Committee
- Natalie Byrom, Director of Research, The Legal Education Foundation
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Flexi-future? The future of work in the UK
Monday 3rd October 2022, 10:30am – 11:45am
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email max.j@brightblue.org.uk
- Matt Warman MP, Lead, Government’s Future of Work Review
- Anna Thomas, Co-Founder and Director, Institute for the Future of Work
- Anvar Sarygulov, Head of Research, Bright Blue
- Jimmy McLoughlin OBE, Former Business Special Adviser to the PM (Chair)
Securing supply now: building UK energy resilience away from authoritarian actors
Monday 3rd October 2022, 12:00 – 13:15
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Andrew Bowie MP, Member, Scottish Affairs Committee
- Benet Northcote, Deputy Chair, Conservative Environment Network
- Professor Jim Watson, Director, UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources
- Will Webster, Energy Policy Manager, OEUK
- Joshua Marks, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)
The whole plate: affordable, healthy and sustainable food?
Monday 3rd October 2022, 12:30 – 13:45
Suite 116, Jury’s Inn Birmingham
Outside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Jo Gideon MP, Chair, APPG on National Food Strategy
- Henry Dimbleby MBE, Non-Executive Director at DEFRA, Co-Founder of LEON & Lead Author, National Food Strategy
- Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor, The Times
- Anna Taylor, Executive Director, The Food Foundation
- Ravi Gurumurthy, Chief Executive, NESTA
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Can international justice be served? Stopping modern war crimes
Monday 3rd October 2022, 14:00 – 15:15
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Alicia Kearns MP, Member, Foreign Affairs Select Committee
- Kateryna Busol, Senior Lecturer at the Department of International and European Law, University of Kyiv
- Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, Founder and Executive Director, International Civil Society Action Network
- Maxim Tucker, Assistant Foreign Affairs Editor, The Times
- Laura Kyrke-Smith, UK Executive Director, International Rescue Committee
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Switched on? How technology is transforming our way of life
Monday 3rd October 2022, 14:30 – 15:45
Suite 116, Jury’s Inn Birmingham
Outside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Damian Collins MP, Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy
- James Plunkett, Author, End state: 9 ways society is broken and how we fix it
- Susie Buckridge, General Manager of Group Product, TalkTalk
- Jasper Jackson, Technology Editor, The Bureau
- Rachel Coldicutt OBE, Director of Careful Industries
- Daniel Korski CBE, Co-Founder and CEO of PUBLIC
- Sam Robinson, Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)
Greener pastures? Sustainable farming and food security
Monday 3rd October 2022, 16:00 – 17:15
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
- Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, Minister of State for Farming, Fisheries and Food
- Rebecca Pow MP, Former Minister for Nature Recovery and the Domestic Environment
- Fay Jones MP, Vice Chair, APPG for the Environment
- Helena Horton, Environment Reporter, The Guardian
- Kyle Lischak, Head of UK, ClientEarth
- Dave Bench, Chief Executive, CropLife UK
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Back to business? How companies can support with the cost of living
Monday 3rd October 2022, 16:30-17:45
Suite 116, Jury’s Inn Birmingham
Outside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- James Cartlidge MP, Vice Chair, APPG Fair Business Banking
- Lord Willetts, Former Minister for Universities and Science
- Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC
- Rocio Concha, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Which?
- Yael Selfin, Chief Economist, KPMG
- Diane Banks, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)
Ending the debt trap? Improving financial resilience for low-income households
Monday 3rd October 2022, 18:00 – 19:15
Executive Room 7, ICC Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
- John Glen MP, Former Economic Secretary, HM Treasury
- Baroness Morgan, Former Financial Secretary, HM Treasury
- Shaun Bailey MP, Member, Work and Pensions Committee
- Sacha Romanovitch, CEO, Fair4All Finance
- Sheldon Mills, Executive Director, Consumers and Competition, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Giles Wilkes, Former Industrial and Economic Policy Special Adviser to the PM
- Peter Tutton, Head of Policy, StepChange
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Firmer foundations: affordable and quality childcare in the UK
Monday 3rd October 2022, 18:30 – 19:45
Suite 116, Jury’s Inn Birmingham
Outside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Brendan Clarke-Smith MP, Minister, Cabinet Office
- Professor Kathy Sylva, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Oxford
- Rachel Carrell, CEO, KoruKids
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue
- Ravi Gurumurthy, CEO, NESTA
- Justine Roberts, CEO, Mumsnet
- Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor, The Daily Telegraph (Chair)
An affordable transition: how can we protect and empower consumers on the road to net zero?
Monday 3rd October 2022, 20:30 – 22:30
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email max.j@brightblue.org.uk
- The Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, Chair, Environmental Audit Committee
- Jake Tudge, Associate Director in the Energy & Mobility Deal Strategy team, KPMG
- Robert Gray, Executive Director, Stakeholder Relations and Communications, SGN
- Joshua Marks, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)
Green money: carbon pricing to achieve net zero
Monday 3rd October 2022, 20:30 – 22:30
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email max.j@brightblue.org.uk
- Jerome Mayhew MP, Member, Environmental Audit Committee
- Josh Buckland, Former Energy and Environment Adviser, Number 10 Downing Street
- Tim Rotheray, Director of ESG and External Affairs, Viridor
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Smooth travels? Decarbonising transport on the road to net zero
Monday 3rd October 2022, 20:30 – 22:30
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email bartek@brightblue.org.uk
- The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Former Secretary of State for Transport
- Andrew Gilligan, Former Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Transport
- Liz Clements, Cabinet Member for Transport, Birmingham City Council
- Ryan Johnson, Managing Director for UK & Ireland, Enterprise Holdings
- Sam Robinson, Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)
Trading up: the future of UK exports
Tuesday 4th October, 08:00am – 09:15am
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email max.j@brightblue.org.uk
- Conor Burns MP, Minister of State, Department for International Trade
- Karen Betts, Adviser, UK Government’s Board of Trade and Chair, CBI’s International Trade and Investment Council
- Peter Foster, Public Policy Editor, The Financial Times
- Carl Ennis, Chief Executive, Siemens plc
- Thomas Birk, Managing Director, BASF UK
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Green gas? Making the hydrogen economy a reality
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 08:15am – 09:30am
Fortimisso, Hyatt Regency Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Andy Carter MP, Officer, APPG Hydrogen
- Clare Jackson, Chief Executive, Hydrogen UK
- Zoe Guijarro, Principal Policy Manager, Citizens Advice
- Professor John Irvine, Professor of Chemistry, University of St Andrews
- Dr Tony Ballance, Chief Regulation Officer, Cadent Gas
- Joshua Marks, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)
Transformation at the top? The impact of diverse leadership
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 10:00am – 11:15am
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email bartek@brightblue.org.uk
- Nusrat Ghani MP, Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (invited)
- Justine Lutterodt FRSA, Director, Centre for Synchronous Leadership
- Anna Bradley, Chair, SRA
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
Electric dreams: boosting EV uptake in the UK
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 10:30am – 11:45am
Fortimisso, Hyatt Regency Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Huw Merriman MP, Chair, Transport Select Committee
- Nicholas Hellen, Transport Editor, The Sunday Times
- Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research, Ipsos MORI
- Meera Vadher, Former Special Adviser, Secretary of State for Transport
- Gill Nowell, Head of Electric Vehicle Communications, LV=
- Joshua Marks, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)
Winter is coming? How to tackle poverty in tough times
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 12:00 – 13:15
Suite 116, Jury’s Inn Birmingham
Outside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- Robin Millar MP, Member, Welsh Affairs Committee
- Emma Revie, CEO, The Trussell Trust
- Richard Partington, Economics Correspondent, The Guardian
- Syma Cullasy-Aldridge, Chief Campaigns Director, CBI
- Professor Jane Millar OBE, Professor of Social Policy, University of Bath
- Gareth McNab, Director of External Affairs, Christians Against Poverty
- Anvar Sarygulov, Head of Research, Bright Blue (Chair)
Mature policymaking? Protective policies for pensioners
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 13:00 – 14:15
Andante, Hyatt Regency Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- The Rt Hon Damian Green MP, Former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
- Ben Kentish, Westminster Editor, LBC
- Carole Easton OBE, Chief Executive, Centre for Ageing Better
- Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing, Independent Age
- Sam Robinson, Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)
Responding to Russia’s war in Ukraine: safeguarding European justice and security
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 14:00 – 15:15
Suite 116, Jury’s Inn Birmingham
Outside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP, Former Secretary of State for Defence
- Ambassador Miguel Berger, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Kingdom
- João Vale de Almeida, EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom
- Sir David Lidington, Former Deputy Prime Minister
- Günter Krings MdB, Spokesman of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group on Legal Affairs
- Oleksii Goncharenko, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Committee on Migration
- Evie Aspinall, Former Head of UK Youth, G7 Delegate
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue and Matthias Barner, Director, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung UK (Co-Chairs)
Leading the charge? Levelling up managerial skills in the UK
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 15:30 – 16:45
Andante, Hyatt Regency Birmingham
Inside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- David Simmonds CBE MP, Former Member, Education Select Committee
- Justine Greening, Former Secretary of State for Education
- Marie Mohan, Chief Executive, Common Purpose
- Joe Mayes, UK Reporter, Bloomberg
- Professor Chris Millward, Former Director of Fair Access and Participation, Office for Students
- Anthony Painter, Director of Policy and External Affairs, CMI
- Diane Banks, Non-executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)
Electric Britain? Equipping the power grid for increased electrification
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 16:00 – 17:15
Suite 116, Jury’s Inn Birmingham
Outside the secure zone
You can watch the recording here.
- The Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP, Minister for Climate (invited)
- Graeme Cooper, Head Future Markets, National Grid
- Stephen Bush, Columnist, Finacial Times
- Clementine Cowton, Director Of External Affairs. Octopus Energy Group
- Professor Philip Mawby, Head of Electronics Power and Microsystems, University of Warwick
- Dominic Quennell, Chief Executive Officer, Enertechnos
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
How hydrogen can help levelling up
Tuesday 4th October 2022, 20:00 – 22:00
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email max.j@brightblue.org.uk
- The Rt Hon Robert Buckland MP, Secretary of State for Wales
- Guy Newey, Chief Executive, Energy Systems Catapult
- Professor Paul Dodds, Professor of Energy Systems, UCL
- Joshua Marks, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)
Labour Party Conference 2022
View all party conference events
Bright Blue is delighted to announce our fringe event programme at the 2022 Labour Party Conference.
You can join us in-person in Liverpool. As all our events will be held outside the secure zone, you do not need a conference pass to attend. No need to RSVP; all are welcome to just turn up!
If you would like more information about our events at Labour Party Conference 2022, please get in touch with our Senior Communications Officer Max Anderson.
Labour and levelling up: what’s the plan?
Monday 26th September, 10:00 – 11:30
Education Area Three, Museum of Liverpool, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 1DG
(Outside the secure zone)
You can watch the recording here.
- Alex Norris MP, Shadow Minister for Levelling Up
-
Hannah Al-Othman, Reporter, The Sunday Times
- Brian Dawe, CEO, Safe Regeneration
- Zoë Billingham, Director, IPPR North
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue
- Harry Quilter-Pinner, Executive Director, IPPR (Chair)
Green gas? Making the hydrogen economy a reality
Monday 26th September, 12:00 – 13:15
Meeting Room 9, Jury’s Inn Liverpool, No. 31 Keel Wharf, Liverpool L3 4FN
(Outside the secure zone)
- Bill Esterson MP, Shadow Minister for Business and Industry
- Andy Prendergast, National Secretary, GMB Union
- Dr Tony Ballance, Chief Strategy & Regulation Officer, Cadent Gas
- Mike Clancy, General Secretary, Prospect Union
- Joshua Marks, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)
The whole plate? Affordable, healthy and sustainable food
Monday 26th September, 16:30-17:45
Meeting Room 7, Jury’s Inn Liverpool, No. 31 Keel Wharf, Liverpool L3 4FN
(Outside the secure zone)
- Ian Byrne MP, Member, Food and Health APPG
- Jonathan Ashworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (invited)
- Prof. Emma Boyland, Chair of Food Marketing and Child Health, University of Liverpool
- Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor, The Times
- Anna Taylor, Executive Director, Food Foundation
- Hugo Harper, Mission Director, NESTA
- Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive, Bright Blue (Chair)
