Toy World publisher John Baulch will be moderating the panel discussion ‘How can toy licensing recover its sparkle?’

BLE’s License Global Theatre will feature 25 sessions across the show’s three days on sustainability, publishing, animation, gaming, eSports, food and beverage, heritage, fashion, influencers, digitalisation, retail, Brexit and more.

Keynotes are scheduled for Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd October and will be announced in September. The current programme includes the following topics, among others:

Tuesday 1st October – 
• Introduction to licensing: Kelvyn Gardner, managing director, Licensing International UK

• Panel discussion: ‘Why you can’t afford to ignore the impact of sustainability on licensing’. Panellists include Trudi Bishop, director, Bee Licensing Consultancy

• ‘Opportunities in kids licensing’: Melissa Symonds, director UK toys, EuroToys

• Panel discussion: ‘How can toy licensing recover its sparkle?’ Moderator: John Baulch, publisher and managing editor, Toy World. Panellists TBC.

Wednesday 2nd October – 

• ‘Preparing for Brexit’: Brought to you by Licensing International and featuring Victor Caddy, partner, Wynne-Jones

• UK book brands: Trends and bestsellers in the children’s and food and drink genres: Hazel Kenyon, book research director UK & Ireland, Nielsen Book

• Heritage brands: How they evolve to stay relevant while seamlessly weaving stories of the past into the present
Helen Webster, licensing director, and Ellie Walton, licensing designer – brands, Style Library

• Panel discussion: ‘Successfully navigating the changing retail environment’: Moderated by Richard Pink, managing director, Pink Key Licensing.
Panellists include:
o Ruth Golightly, senior buying manager, George Childrenswear – girlswear and babywear, Asda
o Gabrielle Sims, head of licensing, Fat Face
o Will Stewart, founder and managing director, The Point. 1888
o Rachel Wakley, general manager consumer products, UK & Ireland, Warner Bros.
o Holly Oldham, managing director, Rubie’s UK

• The increased digitalisation of the kids’ ecosystem and the opportunities and challenges INXP (in-experience purchasing) offers the licensing industry
Nick Richardson, CEO, Insights People

Thursday 3rd October

• Introduction to Licensing
Kelvyn Gardner, Managing Director, Licensing International UK

• Panel discussion: From console to consumer – retail activation in the gaming world
Moderated by Ian Joynson, VP brand development, Tinderbox
Panellists TBC

• License This! Finale: Watch the six finalists battle it to win one of two License This! Awards in front of a panel of widely-respected judges from all areas of licensing and manufacturing.

BLE event director Anna Knight commented: “We are incredibly proud of this year’s conference programme – it’s comprehensive and cohesive and considerate of everyone visiting BLE. With sessions on gaming, publishing and heritage licensing, we have tied the educational content to this year’s themes, delivering rich, deep content that’s of real value to retailers and licensees.

“We cannot wait to announce this year’s two keynotes – one focusing on animation and the second on eSports – we just know they are going to be packed out. All BLE sessions are free to attend – just the like the show itself – and space will be available on a first come first served basis. When it comes to the keynotes, we recommend that visitors arrive at least 10 minutes before they start to avoid disappointment.”

BLE 2019 takes place at ExCeL London from 1st-3rd October. Register for free here.