Women with Metal Conference 2025: Stellar line-up of keynote speakers announced

Women with Metal has unveiled a line-up of keynote speakers for its third annual conference, scheduled to take place on 8 October 2025 in Birmingham, UK. This year’s event promises to be an inspiring gathering of industry leaders, advocates and innovators who are shaping the future of the metal sector and beyond.

The Women with Metal Conference 2025 is committed to fostering connections, sharing knowledge and celebrating diversity in the industry. The keynote speakers for 2025 are:

Jeremy Stockdale and Steph Snade

Returning to the Women with Metal stage, Jeremy Stockdale, CEO of Ylead, and Steph Snade, a Business Psychologist and founder of the Limitless Leadership programme, will deliver a joint interactive presentation on the fascinating topic of gender communication differences. Together, they will explore how men and women communicate differently, fostering understanding and collaboration in professional environments.

Jeremy Stockdale’s passion for leadership, gender equity and gender Aavocacy, combined with his experience and business acumen help organisations and individuals lead their people with purpose, curiosity, compassion, courage and a desire for continuous learning and development. Steph Snade has empowered over 850 leaders with her expertise in leadership development, emotional intelligence and gender equity. Their combined insights are sure to leave attendees with actionable takeaways for driving inclusion and innovation.

Sally Twisleton

Sally Twisleton, an accomplished engineer, coach and facilitator, will take to the stage for the first time at Women with Metal as a keynote speaker. With 18 years of experience in engineering and manufacturing, including senior roles at Rolls-Royce, she now dedicates her career to coaching leaders and teams to excel in collaboration, strategic thinking and performance.

A champion of the ‘Time to Think’ principles, Sally Twisleton’s talk will inspire attendees to cultivate environments that unlock leadership potential and foster meaningful change.

Katy Deacon

Katy Deacon, a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET), will share her journey as a leader in inclusive engineering design. From her early days as an avionic apprentice to her pivot into renewable energy systems, Katy Deacon’s story is one of resilience and innovation.

As the founder of Towards Belonging Ltd, she bridges the gap between the disabled and engineering communities. Kay Deacon’s talk will highlight the importance of accessibility, diversity and inclusion in shaping the future of engineering. Her assistance dog, Sterling, will share the stage with her.

Lily Samuels

A new addition to the Women with Metal speaker roster, Lily Samuels is the award-winning founder and CEO of Lily Samuels Nutrition Ltd, a globally recognised consultancy. With over 15 years of experience as a registered nurse and nutritionist, she specialises in menopause and perimenopause nutrition, sports performance nutrition and corporate wellbeing.

As a sought-after speaker and media contributor, Lily Samuels will bring her expertise to the stage, inspiring attendees to prioritize health and wellbeing in their personal and professional lives.

About the Women with Metal Conference

Founded by Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, Managing Director of Professional Polishing Services Ltd and Director of the British Stainless Steel Association, the Women with Metal Conference is dedicated to connecting women and allies in the metal sectors. Building on the success of its inaugural event in 2023, this annual conference has become a hub for collaboration, innovation, and empowerment. More speakers and panellists will be announced soon.