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Destination Plymouth Annual Conference 2023
Destination Plymouth Annual Conference
Join us for the Destination Plymouth Annual Conference on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Generously hosted by The National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, celebrating 25 years of Ocean Conservation.
Immerse yourself in a day filled with inspiration, networking, and learning. Whether you're a business owner, local resident, student or simply curious, this conference is a must-attend!
Our expert speakers will share their insights on various topics, including place branding, consumer data insights and intelligence, cruise industry, meetings and conference news and marketing plans for 2024 . Gain valuable knowledge and find out how you can contribute to the growth and success of Plymouth.
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the Destination Plymouth Conference. Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable experience! We can't wait to see you there!
Proudly sponsored by City College Plymouth, The University of Plymouth, The National Marine Aquarium and PL1 Events.
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Registration starts 9.30am and conference closes 4pm. Tickets for the conference include a buffet lunch and refreshments.
- Destination Plymouth members £25 (Promo code required upon booking – please see members Facebook group or email us for code)
- Non-members £30
- Concessions / Students £15 (Promo code required upon booking – please email us for code)
TICKET SALES END THURSDAY 23RD NOVEMBER 8pm
Stands are available for businesses wishing to attend the event, please email for details.
Please e-mail Lauren.lyons@plymouth.gov.uk if you have any dietary requirements, promo code requests or for further information.
Speakers include:
- Richard Stevens – Chair of Destination Plymouth
- Sanders Groothuis – Vice President Carnival Cruises UK
- Kerrin MacPhie – Chief Executive of Meetings Industry Association
- Robin Tjolle – Regional Development Lead – Visit England
- Joy Nazzari – Founder and Executive Chair DNCO
- Samantha Richardson MBE – Director National Coastal Tourism Academy
- Amanda Lumley - Chief Executive of Destination Plymouth
- Emma Hewitt - Skills Lead at Plymouth City Council
- Lee McQueen - Director of Business Growth & Adult Education at City College Plymouth
- Roger Maslin - CEO of Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT)
Speaker Bios
Richard Stevens | Chair of Destination Plymouth
Richard was born in North Devon and has lived and worked all over Devon and Cornwall. Richard Stevens’ career is in public transport where he started out as a bus driver in 1989; He was appointed Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus in May 2012. He previously served as Operations & Commercial Director for Stagecoach South West. In addition, Richard is the current Chair of the Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce; Chair of the Plymouth Area Business Council, Chair of the Plymouth Growth Board. He is Chair of Governor’s for City College Plymouth and Chair of All Saints Academy in Plymouth. As a Heart of the South West LEP board member Richard Chairs the business leadership group, is Deputy Chair of the Operations & Investment Committee. Richard is the Chair of Destination Plymouth; In his spare time Richard enjoys Sailing and Rugby.
Sanders Groothuis | Vice President Carnival Cruises UK
Sander leads the Port and Short Operations team for Carnival UK (Cunard & P&O Cruises) and is responsible for port and shore operations, itinerary planning, fuel inventory management and nautical matters. Joining Carnival in 2019, Sander’s personal highlights have included the restart of Southampton terminal operations after the pandemic and successful launch of the largest fly-cruise program in the Southern Caribbean.
Sander began his career as a cadet at Holland America Line before moving through the ranks to Captain whilst sailing around the world and across all five oceans and seven continents. Sander moved to work shoreside in 2009, managing marine and port operations at a boutique cruise line where he relaunched the Tahiti program and developed multiple private island experiences. Sander obtained a Master’s in Maritime Economics and Logistics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2007.
Kerrin MacPhie | Chief Executive of Meetings Industry Association
Kerrin MacPhie became chief executive of the Meetings Industry Association (mia) in November 2021.
Having previously held senior posts in destinations, associations, hotels and convention centres as well as a number of voluntary board positions across the sector’s national and international associations, her extensive knowledge and infectious passion for business meetings and events provides the perfect background to support members while ensuring the mia continues to grow and adapt to the future needs of the industry.
Elsewhere Kerrin was Head of Business Events for VisitBritain/VisitEngland, promoting the UK to international markets across Europe, North America, and China. Her last role with the National Tourist Authority saw her develop good working relationships with government department DCMS and supporting the development of the Cross Whitehall Group on Business Events.
Kerrin is inspired by doing new things, developing new ideas and taking a new approach to delivering growth and development, building strong relationships and creating new opportunities. Examples of these include miaSummit, miaMeets and miaInsights, a quarterly review of the business meetings and events industry performance, which is welcomed by the government team at DCMS.
These initiatives support the mia’s long-term vision and comprehensive strategy – including the key component to reinforce the association’s standing as THE bearer of the only industry accreditation for business meetings and events.
Her ambition to succeed gives her energy to deliver, as making a difference is of great importance.
Robin Tjolle | Regional Development Lead – Visit England
Robin Tjolle is a Tourism and Destination Management specialist with over 30 years' experience in the travel industry. He has held a number of high-profile roles including Chief Executive of Shakespeare's England and Chief Executive of Cotswolds Tourism. He has worked with visitor attractions, conference and event venues and was the International Travel Trade representative for the East and West Midlands promoting destinations across the region in North America and the Asia Pacific regions.
Robin is currently Regional Development Lead for the South West at VisitEngland. He is a trainer for VisitEngland’s "Taking England to the World" programme and has so far trained and supported over 2,500 businesses to reach out and succeed in the international markets. He was also a visiting lecturer at the Royal Agricultural University on Rural Tourism.
Joy Nazzari | Founder and Executive Chair DNCO
Joy Nazzari advises governments and multi-billion-pound companies on how to design places that meet human needs via her place branding agency DNCO. Joy was born in Brazil and educated in the US where she started her career in Silicon Valley before moving to the UK. DNCO is the creative studio for place and culture. Based in London and New York, they are unified by a rallying belief: design has the power to shape the world we need next. They work with cultural leaders, governments, developers and businesses to create award-winning brands. They are the team behind place brands including San Francisco, St James’s, Brent Cross Town, Pier 70, Here East and Royal Docks. Their work spans place strategy, brand identity, content, digital, spatial and wayfinding for clients including the Mayor of London, the V&A, Related, Brookfield, British Land among others.
Samantha Richardson MBE | National Coastal Tourism Academy Director
Samantha has directed the research, visitor experience, business support and communications programmes of the Academy since its launch in 2013. She also oversees the “England’s Coast” project, which focuses on attracting new international and domestic visitors to our stunning coastline year-round.
Sam’s work focuses on national engagement and partnerships that will help boost the visitor economies of coastal communities, with a particular emphasis on addressing seasonality and raising awareness of key issues impacting coastal tourism in England.
Sam has a postgraduate degree in Tourism Management and over 25 year’s experience in the industry. Samantha was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List in 2022 in recognition for services to England’s coastal tourism and supporting destinations through the pandemic.
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Amanda Lumley | Chief Executive of Destination Plymouth
Amanda Lumley is Chief Executive of Destination Plymouth. She has a wealth of experience in tourism from leading UK national attractions such as Chester Zoo and Leeds Castle, to regional tourism partnerships Visit Essex, Visit Kent and most recently Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City where she was involved in the Mayflower 400 programme for over 9 years.
As well as being the voice of the city’s visitor economy, she leads on the city’s brand strategy, Visitor Plan, marketing and digital strategy, events, major development projects, public space and place making.
Amanda is Past President, a Director and a Fellow of the Tourism Management Institute, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Co-Chair of the Great South West Tourism Partnership.
Emma Hewitt | Skills Lead at Plymouth City Council
Emma leads the city’s Skills agenda, delivering the transformational Skills 4 Plymouth plan and is responsible for the development of innovative solutions to solve the skills gaps and skills shortages. Emma established the award winning, Council led Building Plymouth sector skills partnership with the local construction and built environment industry and is leading on Plymouth’s new health and care sector skills partnership. She also led the vision to set up and is responsible for delivery of Skills Launchpad Plymouth – the city’s one-stop-shop for skills, training, education, careers and jobs www.skillslaunchpadplym.co.uk
With over 16 years’ experience previously working in higher education leading business engagement, marketing and communications, student recruitment and coordinating knowledge transfer programmes with the local business community, Emma is passionate about helping local people and employers, finding innovative Skills solutions and creating opportunities for collaborative working to deliver maximum impact and lasting legacy.
Lee McQueen | Director of Business Growth & Adult Education at City College Plymouth
Lee McQueen is the Director of Business Growth & Adult Education at City College Plymouth, having joined the College following 20 years running her own businesses and freelancing as a business growth consultant. Lee is passionate about community upliftment and supporting people to build a brighter future and is excited to be a part of driving the adult skills and lifelong learning agenda in the city.
Roger Maslin | CEO of Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT)
Roger has been the CEO of the OCT for 7 years, following 15 years redeveloping the new Wembley Stadium and after a decade in booze working for Courage, Guinness & Diageo.
The OCT is an Ocean conservation charity focussed on Ocean related behaviour change and habitat restoration, in particular Seagrass. The OCT also owns and operates the National Marine Aquarium (NMA), which is somewhat ironic as Roger started out in life wanting to be a fishmonger, albeit with fish caught sustainably of course!
The OCT has been championing a Plymouth Sound Initiative for a while, so it was great to see the declaration of Plymouth Sound as the UK’s first National Marine Park (NMP). This provides the OCT with a unique opportunity to develop the NMA as a gateway to the NMP, as well as driving the engagement and restoration programmes.
The Ocean is the foundation of all life on the planet and the OCT’s mission is to connect people with the Ocean, promote pro-Ocean behaviour and create a healthier Ocean for the enjoyment and benefit of all, particularly for those without a voice. Roger’s job is to progress this mission, as sustainably as possible, regionally, nationally and further afield.
Most recently, the OCT has launched its Blue Meadows programme, which is focussed on Seagrass protection and restoration. The goal is to protect 700 Ha, or c10% of the UK’s Seagrass meadows over the next five years, whilst developing a blueprint for restoration at scale.
Programme Partners
University of Plymouth, Business School
The University of Plymouth Business School (PBS) combines career success with a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. We are members of accredited prestigious accrediting bodies such as AACSB, CABs, and BGA, and we are the first UK Business School to achieve candidacy status from the IACBE. Our affiliations with PRME and Athena Swan demonstrate our dedication to responsible management education and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
At PBS, we strive to make a positive impact on both our students and the world around us. Through collaborations with businesses, organizations, community groups, and public bodies, we engage in research, consultancy, and knowledge exchange to generate meaningful change. By joining forces, we can create lasting value and contribute to a better society.
Research is an integral part of PBS, focusing on interdisciplinary topics with local and global significance. With our renowned academics and research clusters, we provide a supportive infrastructure for researchers and postgraduate students. Our commitment to sustainability drives impactful research that influences societies, economies, and cultures.
Plymouth Business School embraces internationalization and fosters a global community. Our programs feature internationalized curricula, and our diverse academic staff brings cross-cultural competence. We have a wide network of international partners and provide comprehensive support to our multicultural student body. Through collaborative research, we have gained international recognition, enhancing our global reputation.
By choosing Plymouth Business School, you will gain the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career while making a difference in the world. Join our enterprising environment for sustainable prosperity and thrive as an empowered student and partner.
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Based in Plymouth, the team at PL1 Events serve the live event needs of our clients throughout the region and beyond. We offer a comprehensive range of services, from technical support to complete event management, video production, and graphic design. Our passion for quality and unwavering attention to detail ensures events run smoothly and safely. A portfolio of satisfied clients is testimony to our unwavering commitment to reliability, delivery, and excellence.
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As Plymouth’s learning destination of choice, City College is transforming lives thanks to an agile and skills-led curriculum that seeks to meet the needs of Plymouth and the wider region’s valuable employers. The College gives its thousands of students access to some of the most innovative and state-of-the-art facilities and also provides exceptional pastoral support as it continues to develop and deliver a skilled, confident and happy workforce who go on to make positive contributions to the economy and community.
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The Ocean Conservation Trust focuses on two key areas: habitat restoration and behaviour change. Following their ground-breaking conservation pathway that has been proven to work, the charity’s approach puts people at the centre, working hard to create meaningful connections between people and the Ocean as the first step to inspiring long-term behaviour change. This is done in tandem, with more traditional conservation work, surrounding the protecting, monitoring, and restoration of crucial Ocean habitats, with a particular focus on seagrasses.
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