Speakers:

David Roth, CEO, The Store – WPP, Chairman BAV

David started his career at the UK House of Commons working for a member of Parliament. He swapped politics for the cut and thrust of advertising then Kingfisher’s B&Q, before joining WPP.  David was on the management team that led B&Q’s international expansion to Eastern Europe & Asia including China. David is an acknowledged expert in branding and consumer change in China. He is a leading authority on digital, Artificial Intelligence and Voice in retail, and has authored several books including: “The Thoughts of Chairmen Now: Wisdom and Insights from China’s Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs”; “The China Dream”;, "Dates with Destiny- Understanding China's Shopping Festivals". David is the creator and narrator of a documentary film on Alibaba “ Open Sesame - the Birth and Rise of Alibaba”

David broadcasts and lectures around the world including BBC, CCTV China, CNBC, Davos the World Economic Forum, Yale, CKGSB and Cambridge Universities. David sits on the board of China-Britain Business Council.

Monica Yan, Founder, CQ London; Partner, ZUOWEN; Cross-Cultural Practitioner

Monica Yan is a London-based cross-cultural practitioner and founder of CQ London. Over the past decade, her cross-cultural practice has centred on observing and participating in how elements of Chinese culture are understood, interpreted and reimagined through cultural storytelling within Western contexts.

Since 2016, Monica has witnessed the transformation of Chinese consumers from an era defined by imported brands and international validation to one increasingly shaped by cultural confidence, identity and homegrown cultural brands. Her work combines direct engagement with consumers, cultural institutions and businesses in both China and the UK, offering a unique perspective on how cultural narratives influence consumer behaviour and brand perception.

Alongside her design practice, Monica contributes to conversations around cultural storytelling, international brand positioning and the globalisation of Chinese aesthetics. Her work has been featured at London Fashion Week (2024, 2025), London Craft Week (2026) and Edinburg Festival Fringe (2026).

Antoaneta Becker, Director, Consumer Economy, CBBC

Antoaneta Becker is a China market strategist with more than two decades of experience living and working in China, helping international brands understand not only how China’s consumer market functions, but why it changes so quickly. Her work sits at the intersection of commerce, culture, and consumer behaviour, with particular expertise across luxury, beauty, fashion, food, and lifestyle sectors.

Most recently, as Director of Consumer Economy at the China-Britain Business Council, she advised British companies on market entry and growth strategies in China during a period of profound transformation in Chinese consumption, retail, and digital ecosystems.

Before joining CBBC, Antoaneta spent a decade in Beijing as a journalist and analyst for organizations including the Economist Intelligence Unit and USA Today. Reporting from China during the country’s defining growth years, she covered the structural shifts that reshaped the economy and society - from state-owned enterprise reform and free trade zones to the emergence of China’s digital economy and consumer class.

Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Antoaneta brings a rare combination of on-the-ground experience, analytical depth, and long-term perspective on China’s evolving relationship with global brands and consumers. She holds degrees in Chinese Language and Literature and Chinese Contemporary Literature and Film from Peking University.