The Forum's Customer Strategy & Planning conference speakers for 2021 are a wide variety of experts and professionals.
Sarah Rowell led NCFE’s workflow improvements. She enhanced communication, reduced delays, and empowered employees. Her efforts improved operational efficiency and team collaboration.
Rochelle Francis transformed ACCA’s online learning. She made engaging and flexible content. It boosted completion rates and supported different learning styles
Paul Gardner improved collaboration at Haier Europe. He built industry partnerships, strengthened workforce development, and optimized operations. His leadership fostered growth, efficiency, and innovation.
Natalja Nicholls revamped NCFE’s knowledge management. She consolidated scattered resources, improved accessibility, and streamlined processes. Employees found information faster, reducing delays and improving service.
Matt De Graw transformed eBay’s back-office operations. He introduced structured processes, optimized data, and improved efficiency. His team delivered $7 million in savings, gained recognition, and became a key part of the business.
Margot Vanwynendaele helped Trainline transition to a new telephony system. She mapped processes, improved workforce management, and redesigned scheduling. Her work improved call handling, reduced wait times, and made customer service more efficient.
Manikanth Sikha automated reporting at Firstsource. He replaced slow, manual processes with real-time Power BI dashboards. His improvements saved time, reduced errors, and gave teams better
Lauren Davison helped advisors give better advice. She introduced real-time support, improved training, and streamlined processes. Confidence grew, errors dropped, and more clients received the help they needed. Her work made a real difference.
Kerry Hardman moved from call centre agent to workforce planner. She improved Haier’s scheduling, automated processes, and fixed system issues. Her persistence transformed outdated manual work into an efficient, user-friendly process.
Kelly Graham improved workforce planning for OVO’s outsourcing partners. She trained teams on scheduling software, reduced service disruptions, and optimized staffing. Her work improved efficiency, reduced costs, and set a new standard for planning.
Julie Jowett led Loop’s Microsoft Dynamics rollout. She restructured case management, improved training, and reduced failed cases from 150 a day to nearly zero. Her practical changes improved service, streamlined processes, and helped employees develop new skills.
Josh McGarry optimized OVO’s customer migration. He changed the migration days to reduce pressure, handled tricky cases first, and ensured clear communication. His smart adjustments reduced disruption, improved customer satisfaction, and ensured a smoother transition.
Jordan Weir automated overtime requests, reducing manual work by 67%. The forecasting process was also streamlined, improving reporting and speeding up approvals. These changes saved time, reduced stress, and ensured better workload management. Small adjustments made a significant impact across teams.
Jordan McMeeken automated FSCS’s performance tracking. He replaced manual processes with Power BI tools, saving hours each week. He also reworked claim reviews, cutting delays while maintaining high-quality standards. His changes sped up customer decisions and freed up time for teams.
Jonathan O’Connor reduced working hours at Tructyre without harming service. He redesigned schedules, cut unpaid breaks, and improved work-life balance. Attrition dropped from 13% to 5%, engagement rose, and customer service stayed strong. His changes made work better for everyone.
Honor Foley transformed training at Novuna. She redesigned sessions to make them practical and engaging. Her work ensured employees were confident using new systems. She supported advisors, adapted training formats, and empowered teams. Her approach made learning smoother and more effective.
Graham Watson turned around a challenged Claims area. He reduced customer turnaround times by 80%. He improved service levels and reduced complaints by introducing workflow mapping, structured data, and better planning. These changes transformed the team’s work and created lasting benefits.
Gerard Flynn improved global workforce planning at eBay. He streamlined forecasting, improved chat concurrency, and made reporting clearer. His data-driven approach reduced inefficiencies, improved customer satisfaction, and helped teams work smarter. His work showed how small changes can drive big improvements.
Emma Robinson fixed TSB’s Power of Attorney process. She improved training, enhanced the PowerApp, and simplified customer guidance. The rejection rate fell from 30% to 11%, complaints dropped by 30%, and £132,000 was saved. Customers got faster support, and staff felt more confident.
David Brockway modernized Aldermore’s data processes. He mastered SQL and Tableau, consolidated siloed data, and automated reporting. His work provided clearer insights, improved decision-making, and saved time. His impact wasn’t just about better data—it was about helping the business work smarter.
Darren Harvey improved workforce management for a major utility client. He created a real-time data tracker, reducing abandonment rates and improving response times. His proactive approach ensured consistent service levels across multiple business lines. His work brought structure, clarity, and measurable results.
Chloe Moir transformed scheduling at Sky Home Service. She introduced a new overtime request system, reduced admin tasks, and improved off-diary tracking. Her changes saved time, boosted engagement, and strengthened ties with her remote team in Mumbai.
Cheryl Whitfield developed Clive, an onboarding chatbot. Clive handled over 4,300 interactions in 11 weeks, helping new agents settle in quickly. He reduced managers’ workloads, improved information access, and boosted agent confidence. Cheryl’s work showed how simple automation can make a big impact.
Cara Wilson reshaped Jet2’s absence management. She started structured suicide awareness training. She also improved long-term sickness reintegration and made policies fairer. Her work reduced absence levels, improved engagement, and made colleagues feel supported.
Berengere Drevet tackled data misalignment between eBay and an external partner. She fixed reporting issues, improved data sharing, and streamlined planning processes. By asking the right questions, she eliminated confusion and helped teams focus on making better decisions.
What started as two people sharing advice turned into a thriving support network for workforce planners. Now, members across industries share solutions, saving time and improving processes. They’ve even influenced system updates. Their success proves that sometimes, the best ideas come from simply talking to the right people.
When TSB restructured, the Planning Team had just five weeks to make it work. They mapped out new shifts, forecasted staffing needs, and ensured a smooth transition. The result? No forced redundancies, better efficiency, and a more flexible workforce. Their quick thinking kept the business running without a hitch.
With just four people, this team transformed how the contact centre runs. They improved forecasting, cut wait times, and gave staff more control over their schedules. Rent call transfers dropped by 61%, and customer service improved. Their success proves that a small team can make a big difference.
Real-time operations at the AA were disjointed. The team took control, centralising decision-making and cutting inefficiencies. Performance hit record highs, and engagement soared. It wasn’t easy—some resisted the shift. But by proving their worth, they turned a struggling function into one that leads from the front.
Too much pressure. Too many new members. Something had to change. The team focused on smarter hiring, better training, and streamlining processes. The result? Less staff turnover, faster service, and happier customers. It took time, but now they’re ahead of demand instead of chasing it.