The CambsB2B North Business Breakfast kicks off Peterborough’s biggest business event of the year, in partnership with Peterborough City Council’s Opportunity Peterborough’s Bondholder Network, setting the tone for a day of insight, connection and opportunity.
Bringing together senior leaders and professionals from across the region, this year’s breakfast also marks a major milestone, celebrating 100 years of the Chamber of Commerce in Peterborough. Expect high-value networking, key updates and a strong start to a landmark event.
Tickets include refreshments and a light breakfast.
SPEAKERS
Matt Gladstone, Chief Executive – Peterborough City Council
Matt Gladstone has been serving as the Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council since January 2022.
Matt has extensive experience in both central and local government, having held various positions including Executive Director for Place at Barnsley MBC, where he led the regeneration and growth agenda. He has also served as a Corporate Director and Assistant Chief Executive and has experience in the private sector working on digital infrastructure.
Throughout his career, Matt has played pivotal roles in enhancing performance within local government and fostering strong relationships with key partners in the business and voluntary sectors to facilitate change and improvement. He is passionate about driving up standards and performance, achieving better outcomes, and improving the organizational culture.
Matt’s tenure at the National Audit Office has provided him with a solid understanding of finance, and he has since managed large and complex budgets.
Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy & Insights – British Chambers of Commerce
Kate joined the British Chambers of Commerce in December 2025, as Director of Policy & Insights. Kate is responsible for leading the team that produces research – which includes the UK’s largest independent survey of 5,000 businesses every quarter – and engaging directly with Government and policymakers on behalf of the Chamber Network and their members. She is a regular spokesperson for the organisation, frequently appearing in the media and on platforms to represent business views.
She came to the British Chambers of Commerce after 12 years at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), where she served as Deputy Chief Executive. During her tenure, Kate led the organisation’s policy, communications, research, marketing, sales and customer service functions.
Prior to her role at the REC, Kate worked at City & Guilds, latterly as Head of Policy and Corporate Affairs. She was a founding member of its Centre for Skills Development, with a focus on improving the reach and quality of vocational education and training in the UK and internationally. This instilled an ongoing passion for skills and the opportunities that can be created for individuals through well-designed learning programmes in Kate.
Kate has a broad background in policy and public affairs across business and membership organisations. Beyond her executive roles, Kate has previously been a governor for two London further education colleges, trustee of the House of St Barnabas, a board member for the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative, and an adviser to a range of external bodies, including Business in the Community, UNESCO Education for All, Youth Employment UK and Women in Recruitment. In 2025, Kate appeared for the third consecutive time on the ‘powerlist’ of the top 100 women working in trade associations.
Judith Barker, Executive Director of Place and Economy – Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
Judith Barker is the Executive Director of Place and Economy taking up the role in March 2026. She leads the delivery of the Local Growth Plan and the development of the Spatial Development Strategy. She joined CPCA as the Executive Director of Place and Connectivity in January 2024. She has considerable senior experience in partnership working, strategic and operational economic development and place shaping and has worked widely in the east of England. She joined CPCA from Central Bedfordshire Council, having previously been the Director of Programmes and Governance at the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership where she was responsible for the funding delivery to implement the Economic Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy as well as working with the private and public sector partnership Board. Previously she undertook numerous commissions, whilst self-employed, was a Head of Service at the East of England Development Agency and began her career in social housing and community regeneration. She is an advocate of wellbeing being at work and is the Corporate management team lead.
Garry Wiles, Partner – Price Bailey
Fellow of ICAEW (FCA) and Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA)
Whilst working with a broad base of corporate and individual clients on a daily basis, Garry’s particular area of expertise is in providing accountancy and taxation advice and services to small and medium sized businesses and high net worth individuals.
“After more than 30 years of working with a wide range of businesses and people, I feel that I can make the greatest difference to clients who allow me to get involved on a regular basis in all of the financial aspects of their business – rather than just acting as the ‘year end’ accountant.”
Location
Holiday Inn Peterborough West
Thorpe Wood,
Peterborough
PE3 6SG