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StepChange Connected 2025

Thursday 16 October

The Queens Hotel, Leeds

Our annual partner event, StepChange Connected will return on Thursday 16 October, once again welcoming leading professionals from a range of sectors to debate the emerging trends affecting consumers in financial difficulty.

We’re delighted that this year’s event will take place at The Queens Hotel, Leeds. Having recently undergone a £16 million renovation, the venue offers fabulous conference facilities and accommodation.

Our 2025 speakers

StepChange Connected brings together experts and thought leaders from a range of sectors to explore key themes and challenges affecting those in financial difficulty, and how, together with partners, we can bring better long-term outcomes to more clients.

We’ll cover topics ranging from financial inclusion and building resilience to AI and strategic partnerships. Find out more about the fantastic speakers and panellists driving the conversation at the event.

View the full agenda  

Our speakers

Vikki Brownridge

CEO, StepChange

StepChange’s CEO since 2023, Vikki is soon celebrating 20 years at the charity. She has previously held several senior leadership positions across operations and client experience, playing an instrumental role in the launch and evolution of our online debt service, strategic relationships and funding, and shaping the wider sector alongside other debt advice charities.

Martin Clift

Chief Operating Officer, StepChange

With a background in financial services, Martin joined StepChange in 2024 to lead our client-facing Operations department, which covers Debt Advice and Client Support, physical estates and facilities, health and safety, and sustainability. He’s passionate about ensuring good client outcomes enabled by digital first services backed by trusted experts, taking the lead as executive sponsor for our Digital Transformation programme.

Charlotte Chambers

Chief Technology & Information Officer, StepChange

Charlotte is accountable for all Digital & Change Services across the group including the charity’s digital transformation, IT operations and support services, which is key to underpinning StepChange’s long-term strategic outcomes, as well as delivering our existing products and services. She’s also passionate about coaching and mentoring, empowering women and girls in tech.

Alex Pitcher

Chief Risk Officer, StepChange

As Chief Risk Officer, Alex is responsible for ensuring that threats to delivering StepChange’s strategy are well-managed and that we deliver good outcomes for all clients. He leads our risk management, governance, legal, data protection and regulatory compliance functions, and is also a trustee at C3 Life Church and Oasis Community Housing.

Gail Arkle

Chief Growth Officer, StepChange

Gail joined the charity in 2019 and has since held positions as Head of Insight, Strategy and Business Development, Director of Client Experience, and Chief Growth Officer. Now leading insight and strategy, strategic partnerships, business development, bid management, and commercial and innovation, her role is integral in driving StepChange’s long-term growth and delivering good long-term client outcomes.

Martin Coppack

Professor of Practice in Financial Inclusion and Consumer Policy, CHASM,
University of Birmingham

Martin uses research and advocacy to create change for consumers, placing low income and vulnerable consumers at the heart of policymaking within essential services. He’s held a range of positions at organisations including the Financial Conduct Authority, Big Lottery Fund and Fair By Design, and is a member of the government's Financial Inclusion Committee.

Peter Tutton

Head of Policy, Research and Public Affairs, StepChange

As Head of Policy, Research and Public Affairs, Peter plays a critical role in StepChange’s efforts to champion the consumer voice, proactively shaping the debt policy agenda. Over the last two decades, he has driven change across a wide range of debt policy issues including credit and mortgage market regulation, debt management practice and financial inclusion, to name a few.

Sophie Morris

Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager, StepChange

Sophie joined StepChange as a Public Affairs Adviser in 2023. Now, as Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager, she oversees the charity’s public affairs activity, including the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and Personal Finance. Sophie’s broad experience includes roles within public affairs at The Wine and Spirit Trade Association and as a political consultant at WPI Strategy and Hanover Communications.

Steven Donovan

Consumer Vulnerability Lead, OVO Energy

Steve is the Consumer Vulnerability Lead at OVO, focusing on enhancing customer experience for those in vulnerable situations. His work with the Extra Support Package ensures that customers can access vital resources tailored to their unique needs, while the Priority Services Register (PSR) identifies and prioritises those who require additional assistance.

Vanessa Northam

Partnerships Director, StepChange

Vanessa has held her position as Partnerships Director at StepChange for over five years, leading the Partnerships function, securing strategic relationships, driving significant funding increases, and developing market-leading propositions with energy suppliers. Her previous experience includes Open Banking innovation and leading E.ON’s award-winning support strategy for vulnerable customers.

Fiona Cameron

Risk & Customer Vulnerability Director,
British Gas

Fiona is Conduct, Risk & Customer Vulnerability Director of British Gas Energy, having joined in 2023 with a focus on applying consumer protection principles effectively to drive good outcomes for customers. She has over 20 years’ experience managing regulatory and conduct risk in financial services.

Jamie Evans

Research Fellow, University of Bristol

Jamie is a social researcher with a background in human geography, who focuses on issues related to financial wellbeing, financial inclusion, financial technology and consumers in vulnerable situations. In collaboration with StepChange and Ofgem, he’s involved in a project seeking to improve referrals from energy suppliers into debt advice.

Martin O’Donnell

Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer,
Debt Stream

Martin is one of the co-founders of DebtStream, which launched to market in March 2020, providing white label self-serve solutions to the collections and debt management industry through an award-winning platform, offering businesses an end-to-end digital service capability across the life cycle. Previously, he led the digital strategy at Arrow Global.