To discover where these trailblazers will be speaking on the program, download the agenda.
Advisory Board

Dirk Beeckman

Dr Molly McAllister

Anna Bell

Charles Walder

Nathan Marafioti

Tess Caputo

Dirk Beeckman

Dr Molly McAllister

Anna Bell

Charles Walder

Nathan Marafioti

Tess Caputo
2024 Furnomenal Speakers
Dr Molly McAllister
Chief Medical OfficerMars Veterinary HealthBruce Truman
President and FounderBLT Technology & Innovation GroupCandise Goodwin
FounderOutlier AdvisorsBrendan Lynch
SVP, Urgent Care Hospitals and InnovationVCA Animal HospitalsStephen Kirton
PresidentCirca HealthcareRobert Diamond
Co-Owner & CEOIdenticareRobert is a successful entrepreneur with a track record of creating value from customer data.
Robert is the co-owner and CEO of identicare, the UK’s largest pet microchip registration and pet protection services provider. Identi offers recurring-revenue subscription services to over 4 Million pet owners. In Feb 2024 Robert bought out his joint venture partner (Animalcare PLC) with backing from Bridgepoint Group, one of the UK’s leading private asset investors, in a transaction valued at £30 Million.
At the same time Robert continues to oversee Fernbrook Partners, a private portfolio covering early-stage technology and lifestyle investments and commercial property acquisition, development and leasing.
From 2011 - 2017 Robert helped the acquisition, turnaround and successful sale of RAC, the world’s oldest motoring organisation. In his executive role as Managing Director Motoring Services, he oversaw the data assets of RAC’s 8.2 Million members and also ran six data / digital businesses. He was actively involved in the post-acquisition integration of RAC by Carlyle Private Equity and subsequent exit to GIC Singapore in 2014 and CVC Partners in 2015.
Prior to this, in 2001 Robert founded what became emnos - the leading provider of ‘customer centric’ services and decision-support tools. Clients included top retailers (Target, Walgreens, Morrisons, Waitrose, Boots, Co-operative Group) and their FMCG suppliers. The business was sold to Palamon Private Equity in 2007 and sold on to American Express in 2011.
Robert spent the previous 13 years in marketing and sales roles in the consumer and retail industries.
Robert is an elected member and former board director of the Young Presidents Organisation and regular media contributor (and TED talker) on the use of customer data. He lives in the UK with his wife and four children.
Miles Thorson
CEOOdie Pet InsuranceSusan Groeneveld
Foundersylvester.aiJeff Emmons
Vice President Venture & GrowthEMIL CAPITAL PARTNERSNelva Bryant
Airline Industry Veterinarian | CEO & FounderDelta Airlines | When Pets FlyJoe Watson
President & CEOPetlandMindy Cannon
Marketing ManagerEPiQ Animal HealthSteven Garlock
PartnerThompson Coburn LLPAndrew Poley
Vice PresidentSan Francisco Equity PartnersCal Lai
CEOAsk.VetDr Christie Long
Chief Medical OfficerModern AnimalEmmet Gustafson
Co-FounderFWDJamie Smith
CEOInnovative Pet LabJuan Reynal
COOBeefeatersMark Florence
CEO & FounderStealth Start-UpMildred Munjanganja
Chief Business Development OfficerAllivet by Tractor SupplyNadja Skale
Angel InvestorVANENatalie Marks
Chief Executive OfficerVANEDr. Natalie Marks is a small animal veterinarian with over twenty years of clinical experience. She owned the largest animal hospital in Chicago. More recently, she has been the founder and president of MarksDVMConsulting, an educational and strategy consulting firm working with companies of all stages nationally and internationally. She is also on the Executive Committee of VANE, the premier veterinary angel network investor group. VANE currently has 28 portfolio companies and provides direction, connection, and funding to start-ups in the animal health space.
Owen Ensor
CEOMeatlyOwen is the CEO of Meatly, a leading cultivated meat company. From a single sample of cells, they can create an infinite amount of meat forever without growing an animal. Their process uses ~80% less water, 90% less land, and 60% fewer GHGs than traditional agriculture. Start two years ago Meatly has dramatically reduced costs and aims to sell product this year. Owen is a serial entrepreneur who previously scaled an insect protein company.
Rich Kelleman
Founder & CEOBond Pet FoodsRich is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bond Pet Foods, a Boulder, Colorado-based start-up that’s working with biotechnology to make pet food from pure microbial and recombinant animal proteins like chicken, turkey and fish, without the animal. Before diving into the world of pets and food tech, Rich was a strategic planner at a number of advertising agencies for more than 20 years including CP+B, Upshot, FCB and Fallon, where he lead brand strategy for brands like Burger King, P&G, Kellogg’s, and Coca-Cola
Shawn Pate
Head of US PetTikTok ShopSteve Garlock
PartnerThompson CoburnTerry James
CEO & Founding PartnerOffleash’dKaty Briggs
Managing DirectorWilloughby DesignIn her role as Managing Director, Katy is focused on guiding brand strategy and uncovering consumer insights that lead to big ideas. Katy's career has been driven by developing a keen understanding of the human behavior that drives purchasing decisions. She has worked with world-class brands like Hallmark, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Helzberg Diamonds and Kohl’s. At her core, Katy is a problem solver and a storyteller. As a strong collaborator and thoughtful writer, Katy leads teams through the strategic process to simplify the complex and deliver succinct brand systems.