Maxine and Darcy Laceby are the mother-daughter founders of Absolute Collagen, one of the UK’s fastest-growing wellness brands. Founded after Maxine after experiencing the benefits of collagen firsthand, the brand was built to challenge the idea that ageing is something women need to fix or fight.
Absolute Collagen has been named the 4th fastest-growing business by The Times, while Darcy Laceby has been recognised on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and Maxine Laceby is a NatWest Everywoman award winner.
Absolute Collagen doesn’t see ageing as a limitation or a battle, they see it as something to own, existing for women who are done shrinking, done apologising, and done performing. Women have been told for too long that ageing holds them back, and Maxine is here to say it doesn’t. It’s not about chasing approval. It’s about the moment a woman looks in the mirror and knows she’s still got it, because she decides.
Ali was once a global IT consultant designing & coding retail systems to function better turned Life Consultant reprogramming minds & hearts to feel better.
These days, Ali is an Executive Coach & Personal Life Mentor to C suite female executives and business owners providing that space to talk, strategise, brainstorm, offload and release when they don’t want to burden family, friends or jeopardise your reputation in the workplace. Having been part of that world as an IT consultant – Ali knows the challenges and conflicts of boardroom & bedroom and the impact it can have on her body and holistic health.
Ali is referred to as a private confidante to brilliant women, with very full lives who find themselves at a crossroads, in a crisis or challenging time their career, relationships, health or working life. She guides her clients with their own unique combination of Human Design, Mindfulness practices & her ‘COMPASS’ methodology & Harmony principles to create a path that leads to peace & prosperity, maximising performance in work & increasing joy in life.
Ali shows women what is possible when it comes to experiencing JOY & living a beautiful life; a life of bliss & bounty, generosity & fun despite the highs, lows & inevitable plot twists in midlife. This is what she has created for herself after loss & trauma, in finding her way out of darkness into the light, moving her own mountains of health, life, work & love and what she has made it her business to help others with too.
Ali believes that JOY is created on the foundations of holistic health & peace of mind and amplified with love & dreams. She guides women to walk their own path in love, in truth & with courage to take those first steps to a joy filled life.
Married to her soulmate for the second time, enjoying the adventures of life with their two sons she is mastering midlife & maturing gracefully. Ali is the walking permission slip & example to follow to inspire you to keep maturing, keep evolving and to keep experiencing more & more as you age.
Mary Beeton is the Interim Managing Director and Executive Head of Residential Sales at leading property company Hamptons, a business made up of 1,200 colleagues.
With a broad remit, Mary’s leadership encompasses the oversight of over 85 branches, across London and the South, driving performance in both sales and lettings. She also leads the company’s international network spanning 35+ countries and heads core divisions including Sales and Lettings, Property Management, Corporate Services, Residential Development, Development Land, and Valuation & Property Finance.
Celebrating 30 years in the property sector this year, Mary has spent 23 years shaping success at Hamptons. Beginning her journey with Foxtons in the 1990’s, promoted to a Department Manager within 6 months and then, at the time, becoming the only female Sales Manager in the company, before then moving to Hamptons in 2003 rising quickly through the ranks again up to her appointment on the Executive Team in 2020 as Head of Residential Sales, and most recently, her appointment as Interim Managing Director.
With first-hand involvement in the property industry’s progression, Mary is an ardent advocate for addressing the underrepresentation of women in senior roles. She is deeply committed to advising and mentoring young women pursuing careers in property, regularly speaking at events ranging from sixth form schools to ‘women in property’ forums, and has even addressed audiences at the House of Lords.
Mary champions mentoring and reverse mentoring, and her approach ensures Hamptons remains innovative and industry-leading. Her influence extends across the sector, having represented Central London Estate Agency on the CLEA board; she is regarded as a go-to authority by industry leaders. She works closely with Connells Group, the UK’s largest estate agency and property services group and parent company of Hamptons – collaborating on strategy and initiatives that strengthen the business and its market leadership.
Outside of work, Mary is a single mum to three teenage boys and a needy Labrador, with her spare time largely devoted to cheering on the sidelines of various sports, constantly restocking an emptying fridge, fulfilling mum-taxi duties, and enjoying walks with friends in the Surrey countryside.
Something of an adrenaline and activity junkie too, Mary challenges herself each year to step outside her comfort zone. Recent adventures include diving with sharks, completing the 24-hour Three Peaks Challenge, and wing-walking – the latter two combining her thrill-seeking nature with her passionate commitment to charity fundraising.
Natalie Moore is the Founder of Aconveyancing, an award-winning conveyancing firm she started eight years ago from her garage with a loan and two children solely dependent on her.
Known for her values-led approach and belief in collaboration between estate agents and conveyancers, Natalie’s journey reflects the realities of building a business from the ground up — including the highs, the setbacks, and the resilience required when the path isn’t linear.
Now balancing leadership with returning to the front line, Natalie is passionate about honest conversations around vulnerability, wellbeing, and the courage it takes to keep going.
With over 24 years in the lettings industry — including 18 years running the award-winning McCartan Lettings in Swansea — Hannah McCartan has supported hundreds of landlords and overseen thousands of successful tenancies.
Passionate about raising standards in the private rented sector, particularly in Wales, she has become a trusted voice on compliance, best practice, and creating sustainable, well-run rental businesses.
Since selling her agency, Hannah has focused on helping landlords and independent letting agents navigate legislation, improve systems, and feel confident in their businesses through her new consultancy business.
Colleen Babcock is Head of Partner Marketing at Rightmove and a property-market spokesperson who turns housing data into plain-English. You may have seen or heard her on Sky News, the BBC or LBC, demystifying the latest trends and what they mean.
With 20 years in property—ten at an award-winning independent agency in West London and ten at Rightmove—Colleen blends solid insight without taking it herself too seriously (expect eyebrow flourishes and sparkly shoes). She’s all about leaving audiences smiling, informed and ready to get stuff done.
Agents of Belonging: Reflecting, supporting and creating community
Using data and research, Colleen Babcock, Head of Partner Marketing and a property expert at Rightmove will help you turn your marketing into something that doesn’t just generate a sale or let but sparks belonging. You’ll see why place = identity and why it differs in some locations and for some people —then leave with nine actions you can use tomorrow. Expect bite-sized data, real stories and a practical toolkit to reflect the real community, support what makes it thrive, and create moments that turn transactions into tribes—so your patch feels like home for more people, more of the time.
Sara Cox is a trailblazing Rugby Union referee, renowned for her ground breaking contributions to the sport. With an illustrious career filled with remarkable milestones, she has solidified her position as a pioneer in rugby officiating.
In 2015, Cox made history as the first female referee to receive a central contract from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), becoming the world’s inaugural professional female rugby union referee. Her achievements continued to soar when she officiated at the rugby sevens event during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she stood as the sole English referee in the tournament.
Breaking barriers further, in February 2017, Cox became the first female to referee a National League 1 match, and later in the same year, she officiated at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland.
Notably, in March 2018, she added another milestone to her accolades as the first female referee in an RFU Championship match between Cornish Pirates and Doncaster Knights. Her journey saw her officiating at the rugby sevens event during the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and, in November 2018, becoming the first female referee for a Premiership Rugby Cup fixture between Northampton Saints and Wasps at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. She also served as an assistant referee for various men’s internationals during the same period.
The year 2020 marked yet another historic moment for Cox, as she became the first woman to officiate a Premiership Rugby league match when she was one of Wayne Barnes’ assistants for a fixture between Bath and Wasps. She continued to shine, officiating the 2020-21 Premier 15s Final and, in September 2021, she achieved another ground breaking feat by becoming the first woman to referee a Premiership Rugby League Match between Harlequins and Worcester Warriors at the Stoop. In 2021, Cox reached yet another pinnacle in her career when she was selected as a referee for the Tokyo Olympics. There, she showcased her expertise and skill by refereeing the Gold medal match between New Zealand and France Women.
Cox’s impact extends beyond her remarkable achievements. As an influential figure, she actively nurtures the next generation of referees, particularly women, through workshops, training sessions, and speaking engagements, promoting diversity and inclusivity in rugby.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Sara Cox was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for her services to rugby union football. Her legacy as a true leader in rugby union refereeing continues to inspire and reshape the sport, challenging stereotypes, and paving the way for positive change. Her journey exemplifies the power of dedication, skill, and determination in creating a lasting impact in the world of rugby.
Monica Collings OBE is a force in UK energy leadership.
A former Chief Executive of three energy retailers, she steered companies through the pandemic and the energy crisis with sharp decision-making, bold transformation, and an unwavering commitment to customers and net zero progress.
Before stepping into the energy arena, Monica built her commercial foundations across automotive, retail home improvement, and property – a cross-sector grounding that shaped her trademark communication style with a blend of operational grit and strategic clarity.
Today, she’s a portfolio board director and chair shaping governance, ESG strategy, and long-term resilience across organisations including Adler & Allen, Dalcour Maclaren, and Northern Powergrid.
She also serves as Pro Bono Chair of POWERful Women, where she champions gender equity in an industry still dominated by men – driving real change through advocacy, mentoring, and policy influence.
Monica brings a rare blend of crisis leadership, strategic clarity, and unapologetic ambition for a more inclusive, sustainable energy future – making her one of the country’s most compelling voices in delivering an equitable transition to net zero and beyond.
