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Good Business Charter’s 5th anniversary event

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Thank you for registering for this event – we’re excited to celebrate five incredible years of advancing responsible business practices. This event is more than a milestone—it will be a chance to connect, collaborate, and explore how the GBC can continue to be a catalyst for meaningful change in the business world.

Full agenda

8–8:50am: Networking breakfast
Start your day connecting with like-minded professionals over coffee and light refreshments.
 
8:50–9am: Opening remarks
Hear from Jenny Herrera, CEO of GBC, as she reflects on our journey and sets the stage for what’s ahead.
 
9-9:30am: Keynote speeches
  • Julian Richer, founder of the Good Business Charter
  • Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the TUC 
  • We’re excited to have a prominent politician for our third keynote speech
9:30–10am: Panel discussion
Explore diverse perspectives from GBC-accredited organisations embedding responsible business behaviour.
 
10–10:15am: Celebrating our Good Business Fortnight component champions and partners
Join us as we recognise standout contributions to our Good Business Fortnight campaign. 
 
10:15–11am: Networking and refreshments
Continue the conversation and forge new connections over refreshments.

About our speakers

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Julian Richer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author

Julian Richer is a prominent English entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author, best known as the Founder of Richer Sounds, a leading British home entertainment retailer. Beyond his business success, Richer is a champion for ethical entrepreneurship and social responsibility, having founded the Good Business Charter, which promotes responsible practices across businesses and organisations.

A passionate advocate for sustainability and social justice, Richer is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that focus on human rights, animal welfare, social housing and fighting injustice. His contributions to the dialogue around sustainable and ethical business are reflected in his books: The Richer Way and The Ethical Capitalist. He also contributes a column to The Sunday Times when time allows.

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Paul Nowak, General Secretary at TUC

Paul has worked at the TUC since 2000. He became Regional Secretary for the north of England and subsequently Head of Organising. In 2013 he was appointed TUC Assistant General Secretary, in 2016 Deputy General Secretary, and General Secretary in January 2023.  
 
At the TUC, Paul led the campaign against the government’s plans for regional pay in the public sector, introduced the Leading Change programme to develop the skills of senior trade unionists, and worked closely with member unions to defend public sector pensions. He has worked closely with unions and employers to resolve major disputes.
 
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Political key note (details coming soon)

We’re excited to have a very prominent politician speak at our event. Stay tuned for more details, coming soon!

About our panellists

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Jenny Herrera, CEO at Good Business Charter (panel chair)

Jenny Herrera is the CEO of the Good Business Charter and has been involved from the beginning in its development, successful launch and growth.  She is a chartered accountant and has worked in the charity sector for the past twenty years with a particular focus on issues of poverty and injustice.

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George Gordon, Communications and Corporate Affairs Director at TSB

Sitting on the Bank Executive Committee, he leads media relations, internal communications, government affairs and corporate responsibility programmes, with a remit focused on enhancing TSB’s reputation. He is Executive sponsor of TSB’s Environment and Community programmes.

Prior to TSB, George worked for Tesco for eight years, where he played a key part in the recovery of the business, serving as UK & Ireland Communications Director and as Head of Communications at Tesco Bank. Prior to that he worked for Unilever for 14 years including a two-year secondment to the UK Government (Cabinet Office) advising ministers and policymakers on better regulation.

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Kate Norton, Group People and Talent Director at Praetura

Kate is the Group People and Talent Director at Praetura Group. With almost 20 years’ experience in HR and Operations, a focused driven HR leader with experience across numerous industries and sectors.  Prior to joining Praetura Kate worked within the construction and retail industries. Kate is dedicated to developing robust cultures that promote continuous business growth by empowering and motivating employees to realise their full potential.

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Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro- Vice Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement Professor of Entrepreneurship University of York

Professor Trehan is a prominent figure in responsible business and enterprise development, shaping debates on good business practices and innovation. Her work includes extensive research supported by bodies such as the ESRC and AHRC, alongside collaborations with government, regional agencies, and the private sector.

Elected President of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) in 2019, she is dedicated to advancing SME research, inclusive growth, and impactful academic-policy engagement.

Resources

Tracking success for the GBC: Developing an effective approach

Access the full report from the University of York
As we mark our 5th anniversary, we are excited to publish our 5 year review report, reflecting on our progress and highlighting key findings and challenges.

Coming soon: GBC annual report - 5 year review

As we mark our 5th anniversary, we are excited to publish our 5 year review report, reflecting on our progress and highlighting key findings and challenges.

Photography consent

As part of our celebration of the 5th Anniversary of the Good Business Charter, we will be capturing photos and videos during the event at the Congress Centre. To find out more information and how you can opt out of this, please view our photography and video consent document