SWA announces keynote speakers for conference on 5 June

Two keynote speakers have been announced ahead of the Scottish Wholesale Association’s annual conference, which takes place at Ardoe House Hotel & Spa near Aberdeen on 5 June.

António Costa, global CEO of Kaizen Institute.

Adopting the theme Kaizen – a Japanese business philosophy that focuses on continuous improvement – the conference will look at what wholesalers should be doing to ensure that the industry goes from strength to strength.

Kaizen, which means ‘change for the better’, and its five core principles will be explained in a presentation by António Costa, the global CEO of Kaizen Institute, who said: “Success in food and drink wholesale doesn’t happen from the sidelines – you have to see the reality and take action.

“Kaizen methodology can help you transform your business: from streamlining operations and cutting waste to leveraging technology and AI for greater efficiency. We’ll discuss sustainability, competitiveness and, most importantly, how to turn continuous improvement into a powerful driver of success. The future of the industry is shaped by those who make things happen.”

A panel session will also showcase examples of how elements of Kaizen can leverage results for the wholesale sector and wider supply chain.

The second keynote speaker is Captain Emma Henderson, a former airline captain and founder of Project Wingman, a charity providing wellbeing support to NHS frontline staff. She will share her inspirational journey and discuss how leadership, resilience and adaptability can help businesses to thrive.

Until September 2020, she was one of fewer than 500 female airline captains in the world, flying thousands of passengers all over Europe. As Covid swept the globe and grounded the aviation industry, she founded her charity. She was recognised as Businesswoman of the Year 2023 and awarded an MBE for services to charity in 2021.

Emma Henderson, a former airline captain and founder of charity Project Wingman.

Henderson commented: “I’m absolutely delighted to be speaking at the Scottish Wholesale Association conference this June. The focus on Kaizen resonates deeply with my aviation background – in the flight deck, we are constantly making small adjustments to stay on course and constantly adapting to small (but sometimes significant) changes throughout the day.

“It’s also exactly how I approached building my charity Project Wingman from scratch during the pandemic. Whether you’re flying a multi-million-pound jet or running a wholesale business, success comes from those continuous improvements and the courage to adapt.

“I can’t wait to share how my grounded leadership approach – bringing humanity, humility, and a good dose of humour to the table – can help your teams find those ‘rainbows in dark clouds’ while delivering exceptional results.”

In addition to the business session, the SWA conference will feature an exhibition featuring some of Scotland’s finest produce, as part of the SWA’s commitment to a strong, resilient, local supply chain.

The exhibition will showcase food and drink producers that have participated in the SWA’s Delivering Growth Through Wholesale (DGTW) programme, in collaboration with Scotland Food & Drink and SAOS. A panel session will explore the importance of a resilient supply chain, the opportunities for members, and key advice from those who have benefited from the training programme.

Bookings can be made at scottishwholesale.glueup.com/event/swa-conference-2025-kaizen-126838/home.html