Six-time Olympian - Athens, Sydney, Barcelona, London, Rio and Tokyo and Gold medalist - Dressage.

Carl Hester was raised on the Channel Island of Sark from the age of four, educated at Elizabeth College in Guernsey. Aged 19, he applied for a job with horses in the UK at The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy and on the centre's skewbald mare, Jolly Dolly, he won the 1985 Young Dressage Rider Championship. Moving to Bourton-on-the-Hill he competed at the first Blenheim Horse Trials and won the Spillers Dressage with Jumping Championship.

He next rode for the late Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer (father of Laura Bechtolsheimer) and in 1990 went to the World Championships on Rubelit von Unkenriff, the European Championships in 1991 and in 1992 the Barcelona Olympics on Georgioni. Hester became the youngest British rider ever to compete in an Olympic Games.

In 2011, Hester riding the horse Uthopia, was part of the British team that won the team gold medal at the 2011 European Dressage Championship in Rotterdam. Hester also won individual silver medals in the Grand Prix Freestyle and Grand Prix Special.

In 2012, Hester was selected with three others to represent the United Kingdom at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London in the Individual and Team Dressage events. The UK dressage team won the gold medal with Hester riding Uthopia. In 2016, aboard Nip Tuck, Carl was part of the team that achieved Silver at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Hester was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism and is cited as one of the greatest riders of our era

For eight years Paul headed up external and internal comms for Sony Music UK during a period of massive change for the company and the entire music industry. He was instrumental in forming the new company culture after Sony and BMG merged, one that has been described as best-in-business. His daily work saw him liaise with a huge number of internal and external parties to present a positive image of Sony Music as it fully embraced the digital era.

Prior to this, Paul ran the artist Press office for BMG Records for over six years during one of the most fruitful periods in its history. He oversaw press campaigns for a wide range of recording artists including; Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Kasabian, The Script, Outkast, Pink, Natasha Bedingfield, Britney Spears, Foo Fighters and Usher.

His independant company Eagle Owl Communications to date has worked with clients such as Sony Music UK, Help Musicians UK, Olivia Grace London, Three Six Zero, The state51 Conspiracy, James Grant Group, Century Club, Tonik Music, Jaguar Land Rover, The Wise Music Group, Primary Talent, Karma Music, Groove Platforms, Akira Records, uduX and IFPI. Paul will provide excellent insight in how to manage communications and social media, as well how riders can handle the press. Further to this, he will advise how they can manage scrutiny and criticism online.

Six-time World Champion and a two-time Olympic Gold medallist 2012 and 2016 - Rowing

Double Olympic Champion and multiple World Champion, Alex Gregory has been a full member of the men’s squad since 2006 and was awarded the MBE in the 2013 New Year’s Honours list.

Since making the change from sculling to sweep in 2008, he has twice been crowned Olympic Champion with the men’s four – at London 2012 and Rio 2016 – and won a fantastic five World Championship gold medals.

The proud father of Jasper, Daisy and Jesse, Alex is patron of the British Exploring youth charity and a graduate of the GB Rowing Team Start Programme, the ground-breaking talent identification and development initiative supported by National Lottery funding. He is also the current captain of Leander Club.

Through Stuart we will hear all about the working of the British Olympic Association and Team GB. From talking about previous Olympic Games, Paris 2024 and looking forward to Los Angeles 2028, Stuart will provide insight into the working of the organisation.

Further to this, he will touch on how the BOA , together with their partners, ar using sport as a gateway for change. They are helping children access sports for the first time, tackling stigmas like mental health and inspiring the next generation. From working with tight-knit communities to make sport accessible, to breaking down taboos and driving the sustainability agenda, Stuart will illustrate the breadth of the organisation that works across and has more impact in areas that we may be unaware of. We are so grateful for their support of this event concept.

Joe is the son of Olympic showjumper Tim Stockdale. He grew up around horses and they’ve always been part of his life, although he never really focused on being a rider – it was more for fun and enjoyment. He was a member of the Oakley Hunt West Pony Club as a child, starting with mounted games competitions before moving onto tetrathlon, showjumping and cross-country, and also competed on his school showjumping team. As a teenager, he took the ride on the grey stallion Gunner (known as Romeo) and jumped a few Newcomer classes.

Cricket was always Joe’s plan and he was signed by an Australian team, but unfortunately injury meant he had to pull out. It was during this time that Tim became ill, so Joe took over the riding – he found that his injured knee didn’t hurt in the saddle. Joe and Romeo qualified for the Horse of the Year Show, where they finished ninth and clear in the Grand Prix, and Joe also won the Five Fence Challenge with a borrowed horse.

These successes gave Joe the confidence to start riding full-time – something he’d never felt was an option before – and take over the yard with his father’s blessing. Tim sadly died shortly afterwards. Joe continues to have great success in his showjumping career.

Grand Prix Dressage Rider - Great Britain

Image courtesy of Rose Lewis

Grand Prix Dressage Rider - United States

Image courtesy of Elena Dotoli

Grand Prix Dressage Rider - Great Britain

Image courtesy of Rose Lewis