Business Clinic 2026 Autumn Speaker Series

Each session features a lively, interactive 1-hour talk designed to spark ideas and discussion, followed by complimentary drinks and canapés—the perfect backdrop to expand your network and mingle with our vibrant community.

Time: Doors open at 4:30pm | Speaker begins at 5pm
Location: Senior Common Room / Waldegrave Drawing Room

Everyone is welcome! Whether you are a student, clinic alum, local business owner, corporate partner, or faculty member, we would love to see you there. Come for the insights, stay for the conversation.

26 September 2026 (Senior Common Room)

Kevin Murphy - Leading Through Complexity: How to Scale, Turnaround, and Succeed in Financial Services

Kevin is a high-impact CEO, Board Advisor, and Private Equity Partner who brings deep sectoral knowledge across FinTech, Consumer Finance, Cards, Payments, and Foreign Exchange (FX).

With an extensive track record spanning Europe, North America, and Australia, Kevin specialises in navigating complex market dynamics—from driving rapid growth and executing M&A strategies to leading turnarounds, restructurings, and regulatory alignments for major PLCs, privately owned firms, and top-tier Private Equity portfolios. His key areas of expertise include:

Executive Leadership: Strategic turnarounds, root-cause problem solving, and accelerating business growth.

M&A & Private Equity: Deal structuring, valuations, due diligence, post-acquisition integration, and negotiating high value exits.

Board & Regulatory Direction: Transforming operational ways of working, stakeholder management, and establishing robust risk and compliance frameworks.

Kevin will share invaluable, real-world insights into the evolving landscape of Financial Services, what leading PE firms and institutions look for, and how to navigate career opportunities in this dynamic industry.

29 October 2026 (Waldegrave Drawing Room)

Robin J. Birn – Market Research and Consumer Insight – Book Launch

The new book ‘Market Research and Consumer Insight’ explores how market research, consumer insight and data analytics inform and underpin marketing and communications planning.

Unlike other texts, this book considers how marketing research techniques are applied by marketing managers in practice to ensure more effective campaigns. It provides a holistic overview of the key developments within the field of market research, the main organizations, development of codes of practice and ethics, core concepts, frameworks and models.

Real- world examples and case studies are embedded through the text, demonstrating marketing and brand issues and business problems that use and apply data and research, both successfully and unsuccessfully. This text shows how to turn market intelligence into data-driven decisions, communications propositions, and campaign plans.

It is recommended reading for undergraduate, postgraduate and professional students studying Marketing Research, Digital Marketing Analytics, Marketing and Communications Planning, Management and Strategy. Online resources include PowerPoint slides and a Seminar discussion bank.

Robin is a marketing professional, management trainer, mentor and academic at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, UK. A Life Fellow and Life Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and The Market Research Society and member of the Academy of Marketing, Robin has worked with major brands in several industries both as a researcher and consultant for 50 years in the UK, the USA, Europe, Asia Pacific and South America. His experience was gained mainly in market research agencies and his own marketing consultancy working with major brands and small and medium- sized enterprises.

Robin is a British/US dual national born in the UK and is a Freeman of the City of London. He is author of several books and papers discussing specialist skills in using research to develop consumer insight and provide brands with marketing and communications propositions.

26 November 2026 (Senior Common Room)

Marc Newey - Driving Growth & Excellence in Sports Management: In Conversation with Marc Newey

Looking to forge a high-level career in sports management? Don’t miss our upcoming Business Clinic speaker session with industry expert Marc Newey.

With over 40 years of experience managing elite sports, commercial, and private member clubs, Marc brings an unmatched depth of operational and strategic expertise. As CEO of the multi-award-winning Roehampton Club for 18 years, Marc transformed the site into London’s premier sports facility—scaling annual turnover from £7m to £16m, delivering over £20m in capital developments, and securing multiple Sports Club of the Year titles.

A passionate advocate for continuing professional development, Marc served as President of the Club Management Association of Europe (CMAE) and made European history as the first manager to achieve both Certified Club Manager (CCM) and Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designations by examination. Currently a part-time consultant for GGA Partners mentoring General Managers, Marc will share key insights on strategic club planning, driving commercial growth, and building an exceptional career in executive sports leadership.

3 December 2026 (Senior Common Room)

Sam Salama - Using Insight to Transform the World’s First Modern Police Force

Sam Salama is the Insights Lead at the Metropolitan Police, where he leverages research to drive the strategy and effectiveness of the Met’s communications and public engagement. Prior to taking on this role, Sam spent years in agency environments leading mixed-methods research projects for a portfolio of major global brands. Beyond his work at the Met, he serves on the Market Research Society (MRS) Board and is the founder of ‘Uncommon Thread' a free library of inspiration designed to help researchers tap into creative thinking.

Ready to grow your business? Secure your free spot today, email us at businessclinic@stmarys.ac.uk