BANES WLN Annual Summit: We Rise Together

Join us on Friday 30th January 2026 for our 2nd BANES WLN Summit!

The event is being organised and hosted by Hannah Wilson, Leadership Development Consultant, Coach and Trainer, Director of the Belonging Effect and Founder of BANES WLN.

Our Purpose:

• The BANES WLN Summit is an opportunity to connect, to be inspired and to be empowered; a space to collaborate, learn and develop.
• Our network is now 500+ strong so it is an opportunity to develop in-person connections with peers and roles models from our community.

Our Audience:

• The BANES WLN Summit is an inclusive event for existing and aspiring women leaders in all sectors, from the region, and beyond.
• Our allies and sponsors are also very welcome to join us as delegates and exhibitors.
• We have a bigger space this year so we can increase our capacity so we are able to accommodae 200 delegates.

Our Feedback from Last Year:

• "It was a brilliant experience".
• "Thank you, such an amazing start to 2025. So well organised, thought provoking and impactful".
• "The psychology safety of the event was very special and was the key attribute for me".
• "It was a great reminder of how a band of women can be so supportive".
• "Thank you for taking the initiative to set this up - we really needed something like this in Bath and it has the potential to make a big difference to aspiring female leaders locally".

Our Theme This Year:

• This year the BANES WLN Summit will explore the theme of: We Rise Together - Being, Becoming and Belonging.
• We rise by lifting ourselves. We rise higher by lifting each other.
• Inspired by Andra Day and her anthem: Rise Up.
• Inspired by Maya Angelou and her poem: Still I Rise.

Our Hosts:

• We are delighted that the UWE Business School are hosting us this year - their sponsorship of this event is much appreciated.
• Their full address is University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus. Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY.

Our Event:

The BANES WLN Summit promises to be a day of dynamic learning including:

• keynote speakers
• workshops
• panel speakers
• table discussions
• marketplace exhibitors

Our Agenda (subject to change as speakers confirm):

• 8.30am Exhibitors arrive to set up the Marketplace
• 9.00am Registration and coffee/ marketplace
• 9.20am Welcome and Housekeeping - Hannah Wilson, Professor Susan Durbin and Dr Tinkuma Edafioghor
• 9.30am Part 1: Rise Together - Being, Becoming and Belonging - opening keynote TBC
• 10.15am Comfort break/ marketplace
• 10.30am Part 2: Being, Becoming and Belonging - 3 workshops to choose from - 1 on each theme facilitated by TBC
• 11.15am Comfort break/ marketplace
• 11.30am Part 3: Being, Becoming and Belonging - 3 workshops to choose from - 1 on each theme facilitated by TBC
• 12.15pm Lunch break/ marketplace
• 1.15pm Part 4: Being, Becoming and Belonging - 3 workshops to choose from - 1 on each theme facilitated by TBC
• 2.00pm Comfort break/ marketplace
• 2.15pm Part 5: Leadership Development Opportunities at UWE's Business School - presentation by Professor Susan Durbin and Dr Tinkuma Edafioghor
• 2.30pm Part 6: Rise Together - Being, Becoming and Belonging - closing panel (Moderator and panellists TBC)
• 3.15pm Closing reflections and pledges
• 3.30pm Event closes

Our Marketplace:

• We have room for 12 exhibitors to join us.
• Get in touch if you would like to network with 200+ leaders ranging from consultants to coaches, directors to founders, Headteachers to CEOs.
• A spot in the marketplace is £325+VAT per stall (you can bring up to 2 representatives with you).

Our Exhibitors:

• TBC

Our Tickets:

• Our early bird ticket price is £125+VAT per person.
• Our reduced ticket rate for charities is £100+VAT per person.
• Our full ticket price is £150+VAT per person.
• Our group ticket discount price is £500+VAT for 5 places.
• Your BANES WLN Summit ticket gets you: a day’s dynamic learning; a bustling marketplace; a community of new connections and a lovely lunch.

Our Event Summary:

• When? Friday 30th January 2026, 9.30-3.30pm
• Where? UWE Business School, Frenchay
• What? A day of keynote speakers, panel discussions and workshops about rising together and being, becoming and belonging as leaders.
• Who? 200 existing and aspiring cross-sector women leaders and their allies/ sponsors.
• Why? An opportunity to connect, to be inspired and to be empowered. A space to collaborate, learn and develop.

Our Sponsorship Opportunities:

• If you would be interested in sponsoring an aspect of the conference e.g. the coffee, the lunch, the tote bags, then do get in touch.

Our contact details:

• For more information please contact Hannah: [email protected]
• You can find out more about the BANES WLN network here.
• You can join the networking group on LinkedIn here.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Stoke Gifford, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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