Speakers & Programme

Chair's welcome and Logistics UK introduction

Welcome and introduction to the Logistics Finance Forum, highlighting the importance of issues of productivity, efficiency and cost management for streamlined logistics operations.

Phil Roe, President, Logistics UK

Phil joined Logistics UK as President in April 2022 after 5 years as a non-executive Director. Prior to joining he was a board Director at DHL Supply Chain which was the culmination of his 35 year career with DHL and XPO. He is also a non-executive Director and trustee at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

Phil has substantial experience of supply chain leadership across multiple customers, sectors and geographies, with 35 years’ experience in a variety of senior leadership roles within operations and functional areas. These include Managing Director, Chief Operations Officer and  Chief Customer Officer and Strategy Director.

Keynote - Economic landscape 2025

One year of new government for the UK economy and the logistics sector, examining economical trends and the latest official forecasts.

Alpesh Paleja, Deputy Chief Economist, Confederation of British Industry

Alpesh is the CBI’s Deputy Chief Economist, leading the teams responsible for the organisation’s work on monitoring the UK and global economies. This includes its flagship economic forecast, various economic intelligence for CBI member companies, and the production and analysis of the organisation’s long-standing business surveys. Along with the rest of the team,

Alpesh regularly presents to and advises businesses on economic developments and the outlook, and supports with other analytical and strategic work across the organisation. Alpesh has worked at the CBI since 2008 in a variety of roles, including previously covering emerging markets and leading economic analysis on a variety of policy projects. He holds a BSc in Economics and an MSc in International Business Economics, both from City University

M&A Index Overview

Analysing the insights of senior executives within logistics companies in the UK to provide a view on expected trends in M&A, including valuations, as well as touching on some of the most important issues currently facing businesses in the sector.

William Sharpe, Partner, Weightmans

William is a partner in the corporate team in London, advising on company acquisitions and disposals, fund raisings and restructurings for SMEs and companies in the mid-market. He has expertise in the private equity sector having advised a large number private equity houses and management teams over his 30 year career.

William's experience covers all areas of corporate law, from advising on early-stage fundraisings and investments, to management buy-outs and buy-ins and disposals to flotations and takeovers. He also advises on directors' duties, shareholder disputes and joint ventures.

Matt Harrington, Senior Policy Manager - Leadership Content, Logistics UK

Matt Harrington has worked at Logistics UK for the best part of a decade. Starting as Editor and Chief Copywriter of Logistics UK’s monthly membership journal in 2015, two years ago he was appointed Senior Policy Manager for the business group’s Executive Membership programme. He plans, creates and commissions content across a variety of formats, including a suite of Insight Reports, a monthly magazine, speeches, presentations and a podcast, as well as supporting Logistics UK’s wider policy team.

Prior to joining Logistics UK, Matt enjoyed a 20-year career in copywriting, editorial, PR and journalism, writing for such household names as John Lewis, Saga, PG Tips and Colman’s Mustard.

James Hardiman, Senior Research Manager, Logistics UK

Tax landscape - what Autumn Budget changes mean for logistics firms

Taking you through the changes, what impact these can have on private businesses and sharing some succession strategies that other family businesses are using to ensure as far as possible that the changes don’t have a material impact on the long term viability of their business.

Jonathan Crisp, Family Office & Private Client, Senior Manager, KPMG

Tom Whybrow,Tax Director, Family Office and Private Client Tax Practice, KPMG

Tom and Jonathan are specialists in the Family Office and Private Client team at KPMG with a particular focus on advising the private owners of trading business in the UK. They help their clients navigate the forever changing tax landscapes by providing advice to help their clients understand how tax changes impact them and how succession of their business and wider wealth affairs can be planned for whilst taking key tax reliefs and circumstances into account.

Key to their work is understanding your business and family dynamics to advise on appropriate solutions to satisfy whatever the objectives might be”

Industry panel: Global growth and UK

Discussing global economy trends, including growth and threats to it, and how they apply to the UK economy and logistics sector in particular.

Chair: Phil Roe, President, Logistics UK

James Golding, Head of Aviation – Cargo and Airline Partnerships, Heathrow

James Golding has led the development of Heathrow’s cargo proposition for the last 4 years, defining and delivering the airport’s cargo strategy as it continues to fulfil its role as the UK’s largest port by value and the UK’s only hub airport. With 12 years’ experience at Heathrow, James has a background in infrastructure project, programme and portfolio management, and previously led strategic planning for the airport’s expansion. James is passionate about nurturing diverse and talented teams and delivering sustainable change in the aviation and logistics sector.

James Spencer, Founder and Managing Director, Portland Group

James Spencer is the founder, majority shareholder and Managing Director of Portland, having established the company in 2009. The business started as a specialised hedging provider (The Fuel Trading Company Ltd), offering budgetary certainty to companies with an exposure to movements in the price of fuel. Portland’s service offering increased throughout the following decade under James’ leadership with the incorporation of three more companies – Portland Analytics (the provider of Logistics UK’s Fuel Price Information Service), Portland CSO and Portland Fuel. The combined Portland group now covers a wide range of fuel-related services, including expert advisory and pricing services, unique fixed price fuel cards and fuel deliveries, fuel hedging, a renewable fuels desk, AdBlue® supply and carbon reduction. It trades in the UK, Europe and North America.  

Prior to starting Portland, James was the Group Operations Director for the UK’s Bayford Group for over 5 years, looking after their £500m p.a. operational portfolio including 100 tankers and 200 petrol stations. During this period he was also the Chairman of the UK’s Oil Trade Association, looking after the interests of Traders, Importers, Wholesalers and Distributors. He had previously built a career with Mobil and BP for 10 years, with his final role being Executive Assistant to the Global Group Vice President. Before that, he held a variety of senior managerial positions in planning, supply, logistics, trading and refining, where amongst many outstanding achievements he developed BP’s first ever carbon reduction programme. James graduated from Cambridge University in 1994. James has significant fuels expertise, counting almost 30 years of industry knowledge and experience. He is a regular contributor to fuel related debates and has appeared numerous times on the BBC and other media outlets.

- Paul Brown, Finance Director, Rudolph and Hellmann

Industry panel: Finance for decarbonisation

Discusing government support schemes, financial tools, initiatives and collaborations, that help logistics businesses finance their decarbonisation efforts.

Chair: Michelle Gardner, Deputy Director - Policy, Logistics UK

Michelle Gardner was appointed Deputy Director of Policy for Logistics UK in October 2022, having previously joined as Head of Public Policy in February 2021. Michelle oversees the development and engagement of Logistics UK policy, including on topics such as road regulation, infrastructure, trade and decarbonisation. Michelle has a background in both policy and public affairs and prior to joining Logistics UK, she was Environmental Manager at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Previously she worked for the British Retail Consortium, first leading on public affairs and then on employment and health and safety policy.

Tom Parke, Senior Associate, Green Finance Institute

Tom leads the GFI Transport Team’s work on heavy goods vehicles. Specifically, he has led the development of the ‘Delivering Net Zero’ report which identifies10 innovative financing solutions to help operators overcome barriers to decarbonisation and accelerate private investment into zero emission HGVs and infrastructure, as well as a guide for investors in the EV Battery Supply Chain. He joined the Institute from the Growth Lending Group, a provider of working capital and venture debt to high growth businesses, where he managed a portfolio of clients and worked across different teams to structure and restructure ABL facilities.

Simon Evans, UK Finance Director, XPO Logistics

Simon leads the finance team for XPO Logistics in the UK and Ireland as part of the company’s global logistics network. Mr. Evans joined XPO in September 2012 following six years at Serco, where he led the finance department for Technology Services Projects and the Private Sector. Simon is an ACA-qualified senior business partner, who influences the direction of the business with integrity and strength to question decisions to both enhance business performance and mitigate risk. In his spare time, Simon likes to keep active and is a keen cyclist and runner.

Carbon accounting for operators explained

Discussing best practice and tools available to undertake carbon accounting, the process of measuring, tracking, and reporting emissions produced across an organisation’s operations, products, and supply chains. And how you can understand your environmental impact, set reduction targets, and comply with sustainability regulations.

- Richard Walters, Senior Manager of Consumer Goods & Retail / Sustainability, Bearing Point

Securing Your Business & Supply Chain: Reducing Cyber Risk in a Connected World

This session will explore the current cyber threat landscape in the UK, featuring a real-world, anonymised case study of a haulier targeted by a cyber attack. We’ll examine how increasing digitalisation across the supply chain - particularly the adoption of new technologies by smaller businesses - has introduced new vulnerabilities and expanded the risk exposure for larger organisations.

Detective Superintendent Patrick Milford, Director, SECRC

Patrick was appointed Director of the SECRC in May 2024. Patrick joined Devon and Cornwall Police in 1997 after graduating from Queen Mary's University London. He joined CID in 2000 and transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service in 2004, where he worked in a variety of investigative roles, the majority of which were within specialist crime. Patrick was an SIO on one of the Met Police's Homicide teams.  

Patrick transferred to Kent Police in 2018 he worked extensively in Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate working as head of Serious and Organised Crime, and Head of Major, Economic and Cyber Crime. Patrick has led on numerous complex homicide investigations and was instrumental in developing a series of proactive responses to fraud and cybercrime which were adopted nationally.

Implications of global tariff wars

Discussing the latest developments in global trade tariffs, and are causing significant shifts in international trade dynamics, and how UK businesses can adapt to these evolving trade policies.

Mike Garratt, Chairman, MDS Transmodal

Mike has a first degree in economics and a masters degree in Transport Design. He worked initially as a local government transport planner, and subsequently as a researcher and then lecturer at the Universities of Leicester and Liverpool.

Mike co-founded the transport consultancy MDS Transmodal, which has now been trading since 1983. He specialises in rail freight, ports and maritime economics. Mike has conducted numerous studies for government, local authorities and the private sector. In the UK, he is a board member of the UK Rail Freight Group. Mike has been and continues to be involved with freight forecasting for amongst others: Department for Transport and Network Rail. He was instrumental in the concept and early design of the GB Freight Model and is heavily involved in freight modelling and freight transport economics consultancy in the UK and overseas. Mike Garratt is regarded as one of the most informed observers of the rail, shipping and ports industries in the UK and is regularly called upon to speak at conferences and private seminars. He has developed global databases and models describing the supply, demand and performance in the global container industry and is currently or recently been working on studies for UNCTAD, the World Bank, national transport models in the Middle East, several freight models within Europe and in the UK ports industry. More recently, with his colleague Antonella Teodoro and in collaboration with the Global Shippers Forum, he has used these resources to develop a Quarterly Review of the Container Industry and engaged in the debate on market concentration.

Nichola Mallon, Head of Trade & Devolved Policy, Logistics UK

Nichola Mallon is Logistics UK’s Head of Trade and Devolved Policy. She joined the organisation in December 2022 and has over 14 years of senior leadership experience within local government, the devolved Assembly and devolved government in Northern Ireland. She is a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, worked as a Special Advisor to the NI Minister for Environment, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland for five years, and from January 2020 to May 2022, was the Minister for Infrastructure in the NI Executive with responsibility for the road and rail network, transport, planning and road safety. Within Logistics UK, Nichola is policy, spokesperson and stakeholder engagement lead for trade related issues impacting the 21,000 members of Logistics UK across the UK.