Medway Business Show - Speaker List

A 30 minute interactive session that covers understanding the basic blocks to creative thinking, along with some techniques to remove those blocks and how to practice them.

Phil Tilston looks at things from a unique perspective as he is a magician and a member of the prestigious and exclusive Magic Circle, and has created and marketed numerous magic effects. However, he also has significant company director experience having been Managing Director of Turtle Wax Ltd and held other senior director positions across a wide range of industries. He understands the need for practical approaches to problem solving and the cultural issues that can obstruct this.

Andrew Metcalf – Managing Director at Maxim Pr and Chair at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

Kent & Medway is at an important crossroads. We remain the only UK county with direct high-speed to London, but not to Europe. We’re the UK’s closest trading connection with mainland Europe thanks to the Port of Dover and Channel Tunnel, but we’re no longer in the EU.

How can we grow and sustain businesses here, and which sectors will deliver the much-needed growth, and what’s our ask of government when it comes to investment in infrastructure?

Andrew Metcalf is Managing director of Maxim, the Tunbridge Wells PR, public affairs and marketing agency. He founded it more than 30 years ago after leaving Kent County Council. Currently Chair of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and adviser to many leading businesses in the region.

Chris Tompsett – Contracts Director, Baxall Construction

Discover how the Docking Station project is transforming the old police station at the Historic Chatham Dockyard. This session, delivered in collaboration between Baxall and the University of Kent, will explore the heritage restoration, funding partnerships, and the progress of Phases 1 and 2. Attendees are also invited to join a guided site tour at 1pm or 2pm to experience the project up close. Visit the Baxall stand (45) to sign up and find out more.

William Draffin – Director of Digital and Future Technology, Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (iCCi). 

Rebecca Brown – Business Operations Manager, Institute of Cultural & Creative Industries (iCCi)

Caroline Dennis – Project Director, Docking Station

In this talk, we explore the Docking Station project—a dynamic initiative designed to bring together cutting‑edge technology, collaborative workflows, and state‑of‑the‑art studio facilities. Attendees will gain insight into how the project supports experimentation and production across digital media, audio, and video, using an integrated suite of technical resources. The session highlights the advanced studio environments, hands‑on technical capabilities, and creative opportunities that enable teams and individuals to prototype, create, and deliver high‑quality work. Whether you’re interested in new production methods or the intersection of technology and creativity, this talk offers a clear look at how the Docking Station empowers innovation.