Conference Programme

Delia Cannings, is Chair of the British Cleaning Council (BCC) and also National Lead for Education and Training for the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (ahcp), an examiner for the Cleaning Science Degree programmes with Northampton University and founder and owner of Environmental Excellence Training and Development Ltd. 

Delia was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for education and training within the industry.

With a background in trade and national newspaper journalism, Neil has been involved in the events sector for almost 40 years in industries as diverse as marine transportation, utilities, retail, automotive, cleaning and facilities management, and broadcast. Neil has produced many international conferences and has also been an organiser and judge across a number of award programmes, working with global brands on international events. In addition to his role with C&M and the Cleaning Show, Neil is currently co-owner and director of Red Lemon Events Ltd and co-producer of the Corporate Star Awards.

Paul's focus is firmly on the future of cleaning and particularly the role that technology will play in minimising environmental impact, supporting our front-line operatives and ensuring talented individuals understand the potential to succeed within the many aspects of our industry.

Having worked within the FM sector at various operational levels, Paul acquired Birkin Cleaning Services Ltd in 2016 and has never looked back. Birkin proudly competes on providing tech-led service solutions to create safe, clean and hygienic spaces for over 300 clients across the UK and employs 1600 operatives.

Paul is proud to be an Environmental Cleaning Chartered Practitioner and an active member the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners as a Freeman of the City of London. As Chairman of the CSSA, Paul believes that there is significant opportunity for the association to provide vital leadership for its membership as the industry evolves and adapts to the new world.

The CSSA helps ambitious businesses grow, comply, change, and innovate.

Morten Elstrup, Managing Director of Chamberlaine Cleaning Services, has over 20 years of experience in the cleaning industry. 

Committed to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, he drives innovation and champions shared growth within the industry. His leadership ensures Chamberlaine continues to set standards for responsible, forward-thinking and impactful cleaning solutions.

Matt Dean, Product Design Manager at ISS Facility Services, has extensive industry experience and is a strong advocate for safety, high standards and sustainability. He is a Chartered Practitioner of Environmental Cleaners, Fellow of BICSc and a CSSA Board Member. This year, Matt served as a Dragon for the CSSA Innovation Showcase.

Alex Diaz, a dedicated mother of two, leveraged her cleaning industry expertise to found Purgo Supply Service in 2013. 

Without external investment, she has grown the company organically to a £20 million turnover, establishing herself as a leading woman entrepreneur and a respected member of the CSSA board.

Lorcan Mekitarian, Sales Director at Berry Global and Chair of the CHSA, has spent the last 30 years supplying the waste management and cleaning and hygiene sector with waste sacks. Berry Bpi was a founding member of the CHSA Plastic Sack Scheme. He was instrumental in expanding the scheme to now include office bin liners and OTH sacks. He became a CHSA Council member in 2015 and Chair in 2019.

Peter Thistlethwaite, Technical Manager at MSL Solution Providers, has worked in the disinfection and biocide industry since 2014 in both the manufacturing sector and, since 2018, for MSL Solution Providers, an independent testing laboratory. 

He currently participates in the BSI technical committee TC/216 – Chemical Disinfectants and Antiseptics and represents the BSI at CEN working groups 1 and 3, helping to write methods for the medical area and food, feed and domestic use. He also contributes to the BSI writing groups for Airborne and Ultraviolet Disinfection Systems. 

Founded in 2001, MSL Solution Providers is a microbiological laboratory, specialising in efficacy testing of disinfectant products used in a wide range of environments, including cleanroom disinfectant validation.

Nicholas Parrish, Wightman and Parrish, worked for Robert Dyas and then Shell UK for eight years before joining the family business, Wightman and Parrish, as a fourth-generation family member. 

He grew the business from £3.5 million to over £12 million. He worked with the Department for Health & Social Care during the early stages of the pandemic to keep care homes supplied with PPE, whilst shielding at home. Nicholas is on the board of Nationwide Hygiene Supplies. 

Wightman and Parrish was recently awarded a Gold Ecovadis Certificate and became a B Corp in November 2024. Nicholas is currently working on a project to reduce the use of disposable gloves in the Care Sector, with experts from NHS and IPS.

Vikki Morris, Environment and Sustainability Manager, Evans Vanodine, has over 20 years’ experience working in the hospitality and cleaning and hygiene sectors, a career that includes hands-on experience from using products to the development of better solutions through her time at Evans Vanodine International. In her current role, running the Environmental and Sustainability function, Vikki’s responsibilities include the implementation of ISO systems, ensuring a high level of environmental conformance, enhancing systems to maintain a profitable business including the development and implementation of a corporate sustainability strategy which includes Ecovadis and Planet Mark submissions. Vikki is a Chartered Environmentalist and a Full Member of IEMA.

Chloe Andrews, Customer Sustainability Manager, Lyreco UK & Ireland, has 10 years of experience in the field, dedicating her career to developing and delivering impactful sustainability projects and partnerships. As a Certified Carbon Literacy Trainer and IEMA Registered Trainer, Chloe possesses expert knowledge in producing bespoke sustainability training programmes and engagement initiatives. Chloe's expertise and dedication drive her efforts to promote sustainability and drive meaningful change within Lyreco and its customer's organisations.

Ross Osborne advocates for sustainable solutions and innovative practices. As the driving force behind The Maintenance Supply Co.

Ross works closely with clients to reduce carbon output, optimize product choice and implement smarter, more sustainable cleaning solutions. Ross joined Jangro’s Sales & Marketing Committee in 2012. In 2017, he was invited onto the Jangro Board and was appointed Director of the Innovations & Sustainability Committee in 2022.

A forward-thinking industry leader, Ross champions fact-based sustainability, pushing back against greenwashing and misleading environmental claims.

Neil Spencer-Cook, MBICSc, is Group Managing Director at BICSc. From a financial director role, Neil joined the BICSc senior management team in 2015. 

He has a wealth of management expertise and has experience in hospitality and FM in numerous industries. Neil's passion is technology, especially when it can be used for efficiency purposes. Neil was the project lead on the creation of the BICSc CPSS Assessor app, BICSc Audit App, The BICSc Cleaning Supervisor’s Certificate, and delivered the virtual training platform and the associated BICSc Training App – to date over 95,000 courses have been completed online since its inception in 2021.

Lauren Kyle, BCC Project Lead & Freelance Consultant, worked part time as a cleaning operative while still a student. 

She then spent several years teaching, before moving full time into cleaning and facilities management. She was Head of Cleaning and Soft FM at Sodexo before starting her own consultancy in 2023. Lauren is passionate about supporting talent development in the industry.

Michelle Brightly is Co-Founder of Ingage FM Training and brings 20+ years of expertise in recruitment, specialising in the cleaning and FM industries. 

Renowned for connecting top talent with opportunities, she empowers individuals and businesses through CPD-accredited training, addressing skills shortages and fostering growth, innovation and development within the facilities management sector.

As well as being Master of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (2024-25), Lorriane Larman is MD of Safety Solutions Ltd. 

With over 35 years’ experience, Lorraine is recognised for her expertise in the cleaning and FM sectors, providing independent, professional health and safety, compliance and cleaning consultancy to a wide range of organisations across many environments - specifically high-end commercial facilities, healthcare, retail, leisure, hospitality, heavy industry, and the education sector.

Kelsey Hargreaves, in addition to her role as Technical Manager at BICSc, is the youngest ever person to receive her chartered practitioner status and is a Youth Ambassador for Youth Employment UK and the Youth Futures Foundation.

She has experience in the cleaning industry over a range of challenging frontline positions within the NHS during the COVID pandemic. She brings extensive experience in site inspections, project management and overcoming the issues faced in operational cleaning service and particularly training models.

Nigel Grinstead is CEO of Open Junction. A highly experienced hands-on specialist with an impressive track record in the health and care sector, Nigel has over 25 years working with healthcare organisations throughout the UK resulting in an unrivalled depth of understanding of the nature and complexities of this sector. 

Nigel is currently a CEO involved with Primary and Secondary Care and a NED for an international infection control business. He leads tender proposals and assesses performance for cleaning and hygiene contractors and has chaired and facilitated related national and international conferences.

Alan Stenson has been a sustainability entrepreneur for over 18 years, working with many early adopters and industry leaders. 

He is now CEO at Neutral Carbon Zone, offering a tech-enabled solution for managing organisational, operational and supply-chain emissions, to support businesses on their journey to net zero.

Morten Elstrup, Managing Director of Chamberlaine Cleaning Services, has over 20 years of experience in the cleaning industry. 

Committed to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, he drives innovation and champions shared growth within the industry. His leadership ensures Chamberlaine continues to set standards for responsible, forward-thinking and impactful cleaning solutions.

Darryl Penson is Managing Director at Foremost, a key supply partner to the UK's fastest growing and most sustainable cleaning companies. 

He has 7 years’ experience leading Foremost’s initiatives to develop powerful data platforms, tools and innovation to support cleaning and FM companies move towards net zero, hazard-free and waste-free contracts.

Darran Yates, ESG, Innovation & Research Director at Indepth Managed Services, is an experienced ESG, innovations and research specialist with expertise in customer service, people management, health & safety, ESG, innovations, and CSR. 

He is an Executive Council Member of the Federation of Window Cleaners (FWC), an original member of the HSE Cleaning Industry Liaison Forum (CILF) and a member of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (WCEC). With over 30 years at Indepth Managed Services, Darran has held various roles and responsibilities, including serving as a BICSc Assessor and contributing to numerous industry initiatives. 

He firmly believes that investing in people and their training is essential for maintaining high standards and equipping individuals with the tools to advance their careers in the cleaning industry. Darran is also passionate about driving sustainable innovations that positively impact the sector.

Fin Watkinson is a Partnerships & Campaigns Manager at the Living Wage Foundation, leading on the Recognised Service Provider scheme and the Service Provision element of the Making London a Living Wage City campaign. Before joining the Foundation, Fin spent seven years in the Group Communications team at Tesco.

Nigel Grinstead is CEO of Open Junction. A highly experienced hands-on specialist with an impressive track record in the health and care sector, Nigel has over 25 years working with healthcare organisations throughout the UK resulting in an unrivalled depth of understanding of the nature and complexities of this sector. 

Nigel is currently a CEO involved with Primary and Secondary Care and a NED for an international infection control business. He leads tender proposals and assesses performance for cleaning and hygiene contractors and has chaired and facilitated related national and international conferences.

Paul's focus is firmly on the future of cleaning and particularly the role that technology will play in minimising environmental impact, supporting our front-line operatives and ensuring talented individuals understand the potential to succeed within the many aspects of our industry.

Having worked within the FM sector at various operational levels, Paul acquired Birkin Cleaning Services Ltd in 2016 and has never looked back. Birkin proudly competes on providing tech-led service solutions to create safe, clean and hygienic spaces for over 300 clients across the UK and employs 1600 operatives.

Paul is proud to be an Environmental Cleaning Chartered Practitioner and an active member the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners as a Freeman of the City of London. As Chairman of the CSSA, Paul believes that there is significant opportunity for the association to provide vital leadership for its membership as the industry evolves and adapts to the new world.

The CSSA helps ambitious businesses grow, comply, change, and innovate.

Darren Marston has been a prominent innovator for over 30 years and as the Founder of ICE has pioneered many evolutionary changes including robotics. 

He is greatly respected within the cleaning industry by his peers and colleagues and currently sits on the Board of British Cleaning Council Exhibitions Ltd (BCCE) and the Cleaning Support Services Association (CSSA).

He is also Master Elect of The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners.

Alex Diaz, a dedicated mother of two, leveraged her cleaning industry expertise to found Purgo Supply Service in 2013. 

Without external investment, she has grown the company organically to a £20 million turnover, establishing herself as a leading woman entrepreneur and a respected member of the CSSA board.

Merci Marosi is the Co-Founder of Bubble Duck, a creative agency renowned for transforming digital marketing in the cleaning sector. Passionate about innovation, Merci focuses on integrating AI-driven strategies to enhance client success and engagement. Her work empowers businesses to embrace technology, fostering growth and adaptability in an evolving industry landscape.

Yu Ping is the Sales Director for Europe at CenoBots, a rapidly emerging cleaning robot manufacturer. She joined the cleaning robot industry in 2019, and has since become a pioneer in introducing innovative robots to European and UK markets.

Matt Dean, Product Design Manager at ISS Facility Services, has extensive industry experience and is a strong advocate for safety, high standards and sustainability. He is a Chartered Practitioner of Environmental Cleaners, Fellow of BICSc and a CSSA Board Member. This year, Matt served as a Dragon for the CSSA Innovation Showcase.

Joanne Robinson is the founder of a thriving, diverse cleaning company specialising in builders cleans, comprehensive and specialist cleaning services. With over eight years of experience, Joanne has driven innovation and social impact, building strong partnerships with leading contractors and beginning to collaborate with global clients, while championing inclusion and industry excellence.

Hind El Ouadane is a curious and proactive professional with a passion for business development and international collaboration. 

With an MSc degree in International Business and Relations, she currently serves as a Membership Coordinator at ISSA, the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. She specialises in expanding professional networks, fostering strategic partnerships and supporting industry growth across international markets.

She is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning, advocating for its critical role in creating healthier and more sustainable environments.

Currently Chair of the BCC, David Garcia is also Treasurer and Vice-President of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA). 

David has been in the industry for almost 50 years and is the founder and former Chairman of Polaris Plastics, one of the UK’s leading providers of refuse sacks and bin liners to the away from home market.

Delia Cannings, is Chair of the British Cleaning Council (BCC) and also National Lead for Education and Training for the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (ahcp), an examiner for the Cleaning Science Degree programmes with Northampton University and founder and owner of Environmental Excellence Training and Development Ltd. 

Delia was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for education and training within the industry.

Lorcan Mekitarian, Sales Director at Berry Global and Chair of the CHSA, has spent the last 30 years supplying the waste management and cleaning and hygiene sector with waste sacks. Berry Bpi was a founding member of the CHSA Plastic Sack Scheme. He was instrumental in expanding the scheme to now include office bin liners and OTH sacks. He became a CHSA Council member in 2015 and Chair in 2019.

Lauren Kyle, BCC Project Lead & Freelance Consultant, worked part time as a cleaning operative while still a student. 

She then spent several years teaching, before moving full time into cleaning and facilities management. She was Head of Cleaning and Soft FM at Sodexo before starting her own consultancy in 2023. Lauren is passionate about supporting talent development in the industry.

Chris James has been involved with bio-medical science and cleaning education and development for over 40 years. 

He is a biologist, one-time clinical scientist, teacher and environmentalist with a passion for cleaning science. His driving ambition is the pursuit of education and training for the cleaning industry at all levels.

He has worked for colleges of FE, universities, national training organisations, sector skills councils, and a number of awarding organisations including CIWM.

Raymond Martin is Managing Director of the British Toilet Association, a member association whose mission is to help and support all providers and suppliers of publicly accessible toilets to achieve the highest levels of provision, cleanliness and hygiene - including a special focus on accessibility issues. 

Since its inception the BTA has forged numerous working partnerships with disability charities and industry professionals to campaign and lobby for the retention of these essential local facilities. It is a board member of BSI, BCC, Changing Places Consortium and the World Toilet Organisation. 

Raymond is a widely recognised industry professional with a wealth of experience, currently dedicating his time and energy to running the BTA.

As Sustainability Manager at WEPA, Lindie Feuler drives the company’s sustainable ambitions in the professional market, working with customers to enhance their sustainability performance. With nearly two decades of experience in B2B marketing and brand communications, Lindie is passionate about sustainable storytelling.

Dr Stephan Poppe, Lead Disinfection and Hygiene (SP) at WEPA Professional, has held many different positions in the field of disinfection and hygiene.

His experience ranges from the development of disinfectants to medical product testing and the production and development of disinfection wipes. Sustainability is a key focus, supported by the pioneering spirit and enthusiasm at WEPA.

Angie Morrish has over 30 years’ experience in education, training, governance, fundraising, marketing and communications across the public, private and charity sectors. She is delighted to be applying her skills to the operation and promotion of SOS.

Callum MacLeod is a law graduate and an experienced leader in corporate cleaning and support services. Like care, retail, hospitality and security, the cleaning sector is labour-intensive and at risk of exploitation by those looking to traffic and mistreat vulnerable workers. Stamp Out Slavery is his answer to this problem.

Phil Brewer was previously a Detective Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police, responsible for investigations into modern slavery and criminal exploitation, where he gained significant experience of tackling serious and organised crime. He now advises the HTF, which supports the work of other organisations fighting modern slavery in the UK.

This session, presented by Peter Arnold, UK Chief Economist at Ernst & Young, will provide an invaluable insight into the economic outlook for the UK and the likely impact on UK business. As well as providing a general overview of the post-Budget landscape and the current health of the UK economy, Peter will also focus on recently announced measures relating to items such as NI and will consider their impact on employers of all sizes, particularly in relation to recruitment and margins. He will also discuss the disproportionate impact these measures may have on lower paid workers. An absolute must-see presentation for anyone with an eye on finances or recruitment across the cleaning and FM sectors.

With a background in trade and national newspaper journalism, Neil has been involved in the events sector for almost 40 years in industries as diverse as marine transportation, utilities, retail, automotive, cleaning and facilities management, and broadcast. Neil has produced many international conferences and has also been an organiser and judge across a number of award programmes, working with global brands on international events. In addition to his role with C&M and the Cleaning Show, Neil is currently co-owner and director of Red Lemon Events Ltd and co-producer of the Corporate Star Awards.

Duncan Holdsworth, BSc, MRSC, is the head of the technical department at GV Health, a science and technology leader for infection prevention and control in healthcare. Duncan is a chemist specialising in technology innovation, with over 15 years’ experience across the healthcare, abrasives, automotive, and energy sectors.

Matt Dean, Product Design Manager at ISS Facility Services, has extensive industry experience and is a strong advocate for safety, high standards and sustainability. He is a Chartered Practitioner of Environmental Cleaners, Fellow of BICSc and a CSSA Board Member. This year, Matt served as a Dragon for the CSSA Innovation Showcase.

Paul Thrupp is Chair of the Independent Washroom Services Association and has enjoyed many senior roles within the FM industry, particularly the cleaning and hygiene sector, for over 48 years.

Formerly a Chair and Director of the British Cleaning Council, he was also a Director of the BCC (Exhibitions) Limited and Executive Council Member of the Federation of Windows Cleaners.

Wes Smith, Sales & Marketing Director at The Clean Space, brings 21 years of experience in soft services across the UK and South Africa. 

A customer-centric leader, he fosters collaborative partnerships and drives exceptional service delivery, ensuring tailored solutions that align with clients’ unique needs in the facilities sector.

Nigel Grinstead is CEO of Open Junction. A highly experienced hands-on specialist with an impressive track record in the health and care sector, Nigel has over 25 years working with healthcare organisations throughout the UK resulting in an unrivalled depth of understanding of the nature and complexities of this sector. 

Nigel is currently a CEO involved with Primary and Secondary Care and a NED for an international infection control business. He leads tender proposals and assesses performance for cleaning and hygiene contractors and has chaired and facilitated related national and international conferences.

Paul's focus is firmly on the future of cleaning and particularly the role that technology will play in minimising environmental impact, supporting our front-line operatives and ensuring talented individuals understand the potential to succeed within the many aspects of our industry.

Having worked within the FM sector at various operational levels, Paul acquired Birkin Cleaning Services Ltd in 2016 and has never looked back. Birkin proudly competes on providing tech-led service solutions to create safe, clean and hygienic spaces for over 300 clients across the UK and employs 1600 operatives.

Paul is proud to be an Environmental Cleaning Chartered Practitioner and an active member the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners as a Freeman of the City of London. As Chairman of the CSSA, Paul believes that there is significant opportunity for the association to provide vital leadership for its membership as the industry evolves and adapts to the new world.

The CSSA helps ambitious businesses grow, comply, change, and innovate.

Max Reames, Senior Business Development Manager at Peartree, drives growth through client-focused solutions and social impact initiatives. 

Since joining in 2021, he has led key business expansions, supported talent development and advanced ESG projects, including a partnership with Beam. Max’s strategic approach fosters strong client relationships and reinforces Peartree’s industry leadership.

Lauren Kyle, BCC Project Lead & Freelance Consultant, worked part time as a cleaning operative while still a student. 

She then spent several years teaching, before moving full time into cleaning and facilities management. She was Head of Cleaning and Soft FM at Sodexo before starting her own consultancy in 2023. Lauren is passionate about supporting talent development in the industry.

Kelsey Hargreaves, in addition to her role as Technical Manager at BICSc, is the youngest ever person to receive her chartered practitioner status and is a Youth Ambassador for Youth Employment UK and the Youth Futures Foundation.

She has experience in the cleaning industry over a range of challenging frontline positions within the NHS during the COVID pandemic. She brings extensive experience in site inspections, project management and overcoming the issues faced in operational cleaning service and particularly training models.