The new year always brings with it the promise of fresh starts and renewed energy. This energy underpins LEAD, the UK advertising industry’s summit created by the Advertising Association, the IPA and ISBA.

The 2023 event will be held on January 25, 2023 at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in central London. LEAD 2023, will build on the legacy of the AA’s flagship event, which has run since 2012, and the success of  RESET 2021 and RENEW 2022, which were held during the pandemic lockdowns and saw the Advertising Association, IPA and ISBA come together to support the industry through unprecedented challenges.

LEAD 2023 will address how the advertising industry, working together across brands, agencies, media and tech companies, can best help the UK achieve economic and social recovery from the pandemic, work alongside the new government and tackle the many challenges facing the industry. 

The half-day summit will be hybrid, enabling people to attend online or in person. Speakers will be led by Presidents of the organising associations - the Advertising Association’s Alessandra Bellini, the IPA’s Julian Douglas, and ISBA’s Margaret Jobling.

The summit will include sessions on how to build an advertising workforce to meet the changing demands of the 21st century, how to make advertising even more effective and efficient and how creativity can be an accelerator for growth.

Phil Smith, Director General, ISBA, said: “As we face into an uncertain era for the economy and our industry, it's vital that we work together wherever possible to tackle the major challenges we face.”

Paul Bainsfair, Director General, IPA, added: “As we begin to focus on the months and years ahead, being an integral part of developing the agenda for LEAD is an important signal to IPA members and their clients, that post Brexit and post Covid, we are still working together as an industry to ensure a fruitful and open dialogue with Government and business leaders on the health of UK plc. We are looking forward to more dialogue on the key issues for 2023 and working with a new Prime Minister and their new team.”

The event builds on the partnership between the three trade associations formed in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Stephen Woodford, CEO, Advertising Association, explained: “Two of our industry’s biggest workstreams emerged during the pandemic through cross-industry collaboration – All In and Ad Net Zero. Looking ahead, as we deal with the economic repercussions of the pandemic, inflation and the war in Ukraine and face into the challenges of talent retention and recruitment, it is essential our industry continues its positive momentum and build back better, together.”

To find out more about LEAD 2023 click here.