Nick Speight is People Director, Culture & Colleague Experience for The Co-operative Group, working in their Manchester-based support centre and from home. Nick was previously Head of People Operations & Service and Interim Business Services Director at Co-op and has worked in Leadership roles in a variety of large organisations both in the UK and overseas. A graduate in German, Nick started his career as a graduate trainee with Sainsbury’s. After 10 years in operations (including spells in Bahrain and Germany), Nick chose to move to HR and hasn’t looked back since. In recent years, Nick has specialised in Shared Service, HR Technology, Business Services and optimisation. Outside of work, Nick is a father of three adult children, loves travelling and enjoys playing and watching sport. A loyal Manchester United supporter, Nick attends as many matches as he can. Nick is also Chair of Governors at Co-op Failsworth Academy, a role he finds incredibly fulfilling and Non-Executive Director for Belong Ltd, a not-for-profit North-West-based care village chain specialising in dementia care. Nick was recently recognised in the New Year’s Honours list, receiving an MBE for his service to the food supply chain during Covid.

Colm Johnson has over 30 years of experience in the wholesale industry. He started his career as a part time cash & carry assistant with Linfood Cash & Carry in Rochdale.

He progressed to Assistant Manager in 1988, which led to management roles across the North West, before leading the team that opened Booker’s flag ship catering branch in Stockport in 1997. Following the success of this new branch, Colm then turned around loss making branches in northern England.

In 2002, Colm moved to the buying role of Regional Trading Controller for Scotland and northern England. This focussed around understanding local markets, regional prices and customer satisfaction, as well as negotiating with suppliers to ensure the best possible value for both retail and catering customers.

Colm moved to Director of Trading – Impulse in 2006. Leading a team of over 20 people, he was responsible for buying all retail product, price, improving cash profit and customer satisfaction for Booker customers.

In September 2019 Colm moved to his current role of Managing Director, Booker Group – Retail. Colm is responsible for the development of the complete Booker Group retail business through Booker Wholesale, Booker Retail Partners and all independent, regional and national accounts.

James Lowman was appointed ACS Chief Executive in November 2006. He has led ACS on political and policy representation, driven a unique research programme that informs ACS’ policy work, launched an industry-leading assured advice scheme in partnership with Surrey County Council, created a new and unique events programme, and increased membership and engagement from all parts of the industry. He has been recognised for his work with outstanding achievement awards from HIM, Palmer & Harvey, YIGA, and the Retail Industry Awards. James is a member of ministerial advisory groups including the National Retail Crime Steering Group and the Retail Sector Council. He also sits on the boards of Community Alcohol Partnerships, the London Food Board and the High Streets Task Force. James joined ACS in 1997. He has a degree in Politics from the University of Essex, and an MBA from Kingston Business School.

John has a strong background and reputation in the European e-cigarette industry having held senior executive positions in some of the US and Europe’s biggest companies. As managing director of Dyflin Group Consulting, he advises many leading industry analysts, financial institutions and media organisations looking at the vaping sector. John is also Director-General and one of the founders of the UKVIA, the UK’s largest vaping Industry association and has advised the UK government All Party Parliamentary Group on Vaping as well as giving evidence before the UK Science & Technology Committee investigation into the Vaping industry, the Australian and Irish Parliaments review on vaping. John regularly appears on national television, radio as well as national and international print media. John is a popular guest speaker at many of the world’s leading conventions.

A Senior Insight Manager at Lumina intelligence, Flora leads the company’s consultancy insight solution. By analysing consumer data and interrogating the trends, Flora supports food and drink companies with their strategies, recommending successful business decisions.

Shahid Razzaq, better known as Mo, is an independent store owner from Blantyre, Glasgow, with more than 20 years’ experience in retailing.

He joined the Fed’s Scottish Executive in 2011 and has since gone on to be Scottish vice president in 2014 and president in 2015.

He is currently a member of the Fed’s National Council and National Executive and has been chairman of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) committee for Scotland since 2018, helping to drive forward DRS.

Mo has been heavily involved in the proposed DRS scheme in Scotland from the outset, taking part in regular discussions with all parties involved, including Circularity Scotland, government ministers, reverse vending machine suppliers and waste management companies.

As the Fed’s representative, he is committed to ensuring a DRS scheme that works for all concerned, particularly the members of the Fed in Scotland who will act as return points for the scheme.

Appointed as editor of ConvenienceStore.co.uk in 2020, Aidan previously worked on the brand between 2008 and 2015 as a reporter and products editor. Aidan grew up in the retail industry, with his parents running a convenience store in Dublin. He is most excited about best practice ideas and knowledge sharing amongst retailers that helps the entire sector grow.