Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), the continent’s leading event for licensing and brand extension, has announced that the full programme for its 2024 event is now live, including an array of newly unveiled sessions that complete the event lineup.
The schedule will now also include educational sessions on museum and heritage brand licensing, sustainability, European variations and opportunities, resilience, and career advice.
BLE 2024 is taking place from 24 to 26 September at ExCeL London. Tickets for the free event are available by registering here.
Three weeks to go
The expert speakers for the 2024 event represent a variety of licensing disciplines and categories, as well as the wider sector. The schedule includes representatives from Xbox, Crafters Companion, Primark, MoMA, The Met, STUDIOCANAL, The Lego Group, The Walt Disney Company, Jazwares, Sanderson Design, Paramount UK, and many others.
Ella Haynes, BLE event director, says: “This year’s programme includes a free, inclusive three-day conference programme, valuable networking opportunities and lots of fun ‘not-to-be missed’ events – all great complements to the thousands of pre-planned and spontaneous, business critical meetings taking place on the show floor.
“We are now less than three weeks until show time – over 2220 meetings have already been arranged online between brands, retailers and manufacturers, so time is ticking, and I urge everyone to make the most of the BLE online Event Planner to find the right brands, people and businesses to book meetings with, and get those schedules filled to avoid disappointment.”
New sessions
The new sessions in event programme are:
Wednesday 25 September
- The art of museum licensing
The panel will discuss the current museum and heritage licensing environment, share successful case studies, and reveal key insights into the trends driving future consumer behaviour.
The session will be moderated by Esther Jolley, director of brand extension, Stobbs, with speakers Josh Romm, head of global licensing and partnerships, The Met; Robin Sayetta, head of business development, MoMA; Maxine Lister, head of licensing, Natural History Museum, and Marijn Veraart, head of global partnerships and licensing, Van Gogh Museum. 11.45am – 12.15 pm. - Turning a heritage brand into a global phenomenon
STUDIOCANAL’s Françoise Guyonnet, EVP kids brands and CEO copyrights, and Sissel Henno, head of global sales licensing and retail, will speak about the firm’s ambitious worldwide strategy for the popular Paddington IP. This exclusive session will delve into Paddington’s continued journey from a classic character to a global cultural phenomenon, ahead of the eagerly awaited release of the third film, Paddington in Peru, in November. 2 pm – 2.30 pm. - Doing licensing in Europe. The distinct characteristics of the industry on the European mainland
A comparative analysis of competitors in the licensing industry chain, with an emphasis on the unique features, traits, and market growth opportunities for European enterprises.
This session will be moderated by Cristina Angelucci, editor-in-chief, Licensing Magazine, with speakers Fabienne Gilles, CCO consumer products and family entertainment, Peyo Company, Belgium; David Pérez Balaguer, founder, Mad House, Spain, and Christopher Becker, director licensing and partnerships, Tonies, Germany. 3 pm – 3.30 pm. - Futureproof your brand: gaming’s role in shaping tomorrow’s IP landscape
Adam Woodgate, VP Research Solutions, The Insights Family, will discuss the ways that technology and distribution platforms are reshaping IP choices. 3.15 pm – 3.45 pm. - Mapping a sustainable pathway: how the industry is adapting to new demands
A panel session moderated by Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO, Products of Change, with speakers David Boyne, managing director, Bravado; Jeremy Orriss, director of licensing, Difuzed; Michelle Papayannakos, sustainability director, Paramount UK; Jakob Max Hamann, senior manager, business development and sustainability governance, The Lego Group, and Anna Halford, associate principal council, The Walt Disney Company. 4 pm – 4.45 pm.
Thursday 26 September
- Unlocking careers in licensing: advice, and opportunities
Steve Manners, head of global marketing and UK managing director, Licensing International, will moderate this session, and will be joined by speakers Olivia Wiggett, licensing manager, Jazwares; Emily Farrugia, head of product development, WildBrain CPLG, and Corinne Duckworth, commercial executive, Dreamtex. 10 am – 10.30am. - Is resilience key to navigating industry change?
Hosted by Helen Lynch, retail brand licensing consultant and coach, this session will explore the critical role of resilience in the licensing industry. Speakers include Richard Pink, MD at Pink Key Licensing; Will Stewart, founder and CEO of Point.1888 and True Purpose enterprises Ltd, and Gabrielle Simms, director of partnerships and licensing at Sanderson Design Group plc. Noon – 12.30 pm.
Extensive programme
The full BLE 2024 event schedule also includes:
Tuesday 24 September
- Navigating the Brand Licensing Europe show floor
With speakers Ella Haynes, BLE event director, and Lily Drennan, BLE event manager. 9.45 am – 10 am. - Licensing 101
With Steve Manners, head of global marketing and UK managing director, Licensing International. 10 am – 10.45am. - Show floor tour with members of the BLE team 10.45 am – 11 am.
- State of the Nation
With speaker Ben Roberts, License Global EMEA content director. 11 am – 11.45 am. - The future of retail: elevating customer experience through immersive retail
Featuring speakers Ryan Stana, CEO, RWS Global; Amanda Raposo, chief experience officer, CAMP, and Sarah Jackson, global director of license and brands, Primark. 11.30am – noon. - The famous BLE character parade
Tiles on the show floor will share this year’s new route for hi-fives and selfies. 11.30am – noon.
- Keynote 1: When everyone plays, we all win: next-level consumer products & licensing with Xbox with John Friend, head of Xbox Gaming Consumer Products 12.30 pm – 1.15 pm.
- How to build a lifestyle brand
With Tim Smith, SVP, licensing, IMG; Marta Ballesteros, global licensing manager, Perfetti Van Melle Group, and Lauren Sizeland, head of licensing & business development, V&A. 1.45 pm – 2.15 pm. - A quarter of a century as a brand licensing lawyer – what I’ve learned
With speaker John Burns, partner and head of brands, JMW Solicitors. 2.30 pm – 3 pm. - Unlock your brand’s potential at BLE
Featuring Matthieu Battini, EMEA sales director, Global Licensing Group; Greg McDonald, business development and account director, Global Licensing Group, and Cassius Anderson, business development manager, Global Licensing Group. 4 pm – 4.20 pm. - Brand Licensing Europe’s 25th birthday party at the BLE Birthday Bar and BLE x One Piece Bar 2024 5 pm – 7 pm.
Wednesday 25 September
- The trends to watch in 2025
With speaker Elizabeth Foster, VP of content and communications, Licensing International. 9.30 am – 10am. - Licensing 101
Featuring Susan Bolsover, MD and founder, Lightbulb Licensing. 10.15 am – 10.45 am. - Innovating fashion: the future of adaptive clothing in licensing
With Character.com’s Karen Hewitt, chief of retail and licensing; Emma Wilkins, brand manager, and Elizabeth Layte, buying manager. 11 am -11.30am. - The famous BLE character parade returns for the second day 11.30am – noon.
- Keynote 2: Crafty licensing: transforming a business through brand licensing with Sara Davies MBE, founder/director, Crafters Companion 12.30 pm – 1.15 pm.
- Retail Mentoring Programme 2025 drop-in session
For retail badge holders only. 3 pm – 4 pm. - Retail happy hour partnership with Care Bears
For retail badge holders only. 4 pm – 5 pm.
Thursday 26 September
- What makes a sustainable and ethical brand in 2024?
With William Sankey, director of The GOOD Shopping Guide. 11 am – 11.30 am.
The full event schedule is available on the BLE website, with an Event Planner tool allowing registrants to plan their itineraries.
Last month, the BLE team celebrated the event’s 25th anniversary by sharing a list of 25 must-see experiences at the 2024 event.
