How to ride the wave in a permacrisis

There have been several occasions in history in which actions have resulted in disruption across key shipping routes, most recently the Suez Canal blockage, the Black Sea turbulence as a result of the Russian invasion on Ukraine, and the Red Sea conflict caused by further geopolitical tension over the Gaza strip.

'Permacrisis' was the word of the year for 2022 – a term that describes a long period of great difficulty that seems to have no end. And it remains just as relevant today as it did then.

Alongside these logistical and political challenges across seas, including the US general election, as well as the pivotal European Parliament elections in May 2024, the UK is also on the precipice of a potential political shake-up.

Of course, we haven’t yet mentioned the inflationary pressures that have trickled down as a result of all this instability or, probably the biggest challenge of them all which seems to get kicked down the curb as the problems mount, climate change.

With the situation changing frequently and appearing to get worse by the minute, Food Manufacture has gathered together a number of experts to look at the current events, discuss lessons learnt from history, and the ways in which you can minimise disruption in such volatile times.

During the session, the audience will be invited to ask their burning questions, but you can also submit these beforehand when registering. New for 2024, we have also introduced the lobby - a place where you can view an event trailer and gain access to insightful materials ahead of time.

Meet the roundtable panellists

Chaired by Food Manufacture, the roundtable panel comprises:

Ian Wright, partner at Acuti Associates​

Wright is a senior management adviser, with more than three decades of experience at ExCom and Board level across several major global businesses.

Alongside his role at risk and reputation advisors Acuti, he currently chairs the UK Government’s Food & Drink Export Council.

Prior to this, he served as the chief executive of the Food & Drink Federation (FDF) for six years, and before the spent 14 years with Diageo.

His career has also seen him working across roles at Boots The Chemist, Mars Confectionery, alongside spells in consultancy and politics.

His public service experience includes membership of the UK Government Trade & Agriculture Commission and as the leader of a series of Cabinet Office reviews of Government agencies, including Defence & Supply and Porton Down.

In 2015, he was awarded the CBE for political and public service.

Dr Liliana Danila, lead economist at Food & Drink Federation (FDF) ​

Danila joined the FDF in January 2022, where she leads the economic research and analysis of the industry, ranging from general business conditions and trade to inflation and growth.

She has extensive knowledge of the UK’s food supply chain, having worked as an economist at the BRC for more than four years.

Her prior experience includes academia: she earned a PhD in Economics from Clemson University, USA, and was an Assistant Professor of Economics at the American University of Sharjah, UAE for six years.

Eric Geling, chief sales officer at TNA Solutions​

Geling leads the TNA sales team globally across all the product groups to develop tailor-made solutions that are both, relevant and effective to key market trends and their challenges.

His innovative business and engineering approach is at the core of his inclusive leadership style to ensure innovative solutions are delivered that help TNA customers to succeed.

He carries with him more than three decades of in-depth understanding of the food processing and packaging industry landscape to drive enhanced engagement with potential and existing TNA customers.

Rod Addy, director general at the Provision Trade Federation (PTF)​

Addy spent 20 years in the trade press, cutting his teeth as an award-winning journalist helping to launch The Grocer online in the middle of the 2001 foot and mouth crisis.

Over his writing career, he covered all aspects of the supply chain, from the horsemeat scandal to the impact of Brexit and the pandemic.

Now, as head of the PTF he has vaulted the fence to bring his skills to bear on supporting the industry, advising it on political and regulatory issues and lobbying government on its behalf.

The webinar will take place on 12 March at 3pm (UK time), but will also be available to stream afterwards on-demand, for three months.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from four industry powerhouses and get involved in the conversation. Register for 'How to minimise disruption in an uncertain climate' here.​​