Anthropy25 is officially underway and day one set the tone for what’s already proving to be a standout event in the calendar for British business.
The Wilful team, the official comms partners of Anthropy, started the day in the beautiful surroundings of UNESCO-listed Charlestown Harbour before heading straight into a packed schedule of conversations, connections, and ideas. Behind the scenes, our press office team secured coverage in CITY A.M. and lined up BBC interviews with both Eden and Anthropy, while our senior team joined sessions exploring creativity, tech, social impact, and the future of the UK economy.
Our National State
The day opened with Our National State, a session led by Andrew Jasper, Group Chief Executive Office at the Eden Project, moderated by John O’Brien Founder of Anthropy, with a lecture from Ben Page (IPSOS) and panellists including Sir Jeremy Darroch (Reckitt), Karen Jones (Café Rouge / various), and Martha Lane Fox (British Chambers of Commerce).
The panel addressed the long-term challenges facing the UK. A striking insight: 45% of people believe the next generation will be worse off, a sobering reflection of the national mood. While the UK is a hub of invention and creativity, it’s also a country of contrasts, with a corporate sector that often underperforms and deepening inequality.
There’s growing discomfort around the pace of change. Three-quarters of people say the world is changing too fast, and trust in institutions is eroding. But there are signs of resilience: trust in the average person is up, as is trust in business leaders.
Encouragingly, seven in ten people believe technology is essential to solving key national issues, from energy and transport to skills and housing. However, there was consensus that progress requires compromise, and that as a country, we need a clear, unifying vision to move forward.
Sir Jeremy Darroch called for a “national mission for progress,” while Ben Page noted that internationally, Britain remains a highly respected place to do business. The panel closed on a note of pragmatic optimism: progress is possible, but it demands leadership, clarity, and shared purpose.
Creativity with Purpose
A highlight of the day was Creativity and Causes, a panel moderated by our own Group Managing Director, Nikki Francis-Jones, featuring advertising legend Robin Wight CVO CBE, Michelle Dickinson (Arts Council England), Matt Hocking (LEAP), and Rupa Dash (World Woman Foundation).
The session explored the intersection of creativity and impact. Michelle Dickinson shared how meaningful design starts with listening, and that collaboration across diverse backgrounds is where real innovation happens. Matt Hocking encouraged organisations to stay grounded, asking whether their work brings joy and delivers real value. He also highlighted the importance of involving younger voices in leadership to keep perspectives current and relevant.
Robin Wight introduced the idea of a “conviction brand”, built on deep emotional insight and strong beliefs and reminded us that creativity must be commercially effective to truly make a difference. He closed the session with a generous nod to Nikki: “If we have been any good today, this is the reason. Nikki has been absolutely fantastic.”
Thoughts on Britain’s Future
Elsewhere, our Co-CEO, Narda joined a thought-provoking conversation between Sir Loyd Grossman OBE and the Anthropy audience. While Grossman called London “the greatest city in the world,” he argued that its dominance across policy, funding, and culture has come at a cost.
He called for a rebalancing of power and investment, using Manchester as a leading example of how regional focus can drive growth and opportunity. Empowering other parts of the country, he said, could be “the greatest thing to happen” to the UK.
Looking Ahead with Baroness Martha Lane Fox
In a compelling session later in the day, Nikki sat down with Baroness Martha Lane Fox to discuss the future of technology, leadership, and inclusion.
Martha spoke candidly about why she entered government, believing the public sector needed more entrepreneurial thinking, and that she could contribute meaningfully to national challenges. She was passionate about bringing the private and public sectors together to tackle the complex problems we face.
On the role of AI, her message was clear: “It’s not optional. It’s a fact of the future.”
She urged leaders to lean into emerging tech, understanding what’s possible and use it to drive inclusive, community-level change. At the same time, she stressed the need for appropriate regulation to ensure innovation is safe, responsible, and widely beneficial.
Martha also reflected on the digital divide. Despite the spread of technology, 10 million UK adults still lack digital access, with 5 million unable to afford it. This, she argued, is creating real disadvantage and we must do more to ensure access and opportunity are available to all.
Her comments on diversity in tech struck a chord, “We’re going backwards, not forwards.” She called for continued action to support diverse entrepreneurs and build workplaces that reflect the society they serve. For Martha, the path forward isn’t about left or right, it’s about practical solutions, “Britain should be brilliantly moderate. Our strength lies in our competency.”
She left the audience with a message for business leaders and founders alike: be bold in telling your story, and don’t sit on the sidelines, get involved in shaping policy and driving progress.
What’s Wilful Working on Tomorrow?
The fun doesn’t stop here, tomorrow we’re hosting our own event:
- Breaking the Doom Scroll: Our Co-Founder Narda Shirley will moderate a powerful session with Dr Amrit-Kaur Purba (University of Cambridge), Jim Morrison (Nourish), Kamilah McInnis (BBC), and Sarah Gordon (LSE) exploring how our evolutionary pull to bad news, amplified by algorithms, fuels the doom scroll. The panel will share strategies for building healthier media habits that support mental wellbeing and drive positive change.
- The Influence of Non-Executives: Narda will moderate a session with Steve Holliday (CityFibre & Zenobe), Vicky Moffatt (Chapter Zero), and Vivienne Artz (FTSE Women Leaders Review), discussing how NEDs are increasingly shaping broader societal impact, beyond governance, through influence, leadership, and stakeholder engagement.
That’s a wrap on day one. We’re looking forward to day two!
