CIH Presidential Address and Charitable Appeal 2026

We can't wait to see you in person on the evening of 5 February in The Brewery, London. 

During the evening we will hear Julie Haydon's vision for CIH and her presidential campaign, followed by a three-course meal and speeches. 

We will be taking the opportunity to raise funds for this year’s chosen charity.

There's no formal dress code for our events - please wear whatever you feel comfortable in.

A cloakroom will be available at the venue.

By tube

The Brewery is within walking distance of Barbican (6 minutes), Moorgate (7 minutes) and Liverpool Street (12 minutes) tube stations.

By bus

At least ten bus routes serve the Brewery.

By car

There are no car parking facilities on-site at The Brewery. The nearest public NCP car park can be found at The Barbican. There is also limited pay and display street parking available.

• 19:00 – Drinks reception
• 19:45 – Guests called to seats
• 20:00 – Welcome by Julie Haydon, CIH president
• 20:15 – Starters
• 20:45 – Main course
• 21:30 – Guest speaker, Mandy Hickson
• 21:45 – Desserts and coffee
• 00:00 – Carriages

Mandy Hickson

Finding a love of flying early in life, Mandy fought hard to achieve her ambition to be a Royal Air Force pilot. She was only the second woman to fly a Tornado GR4, completing three tours of duty and 45 missions over Iraq. She became the Squadron’s Combat Survival and Rescue Officer, working closely with the US, instructing Squadron members on Escape and Evasion tactics. Mandy served in the RAF for 17 years and since leaving the RAF, she continued her support for the services in the Volunteer Reserve (VR), through flying on the Air Experience Flight. She is on the Board of Trustees at the Victory Services Club, London and on the Advisory Board for Positive Planet UK and the Women's Entrepreneurship & Venture Incubator Program, giving focus on encouraging entrepreneurship in non-traditional sectors.

Now, as managing director of Hickson-Experience from the Front Line she works as a business consultant focusing her sessions on overcoming the fear of failure; self-belief; teamwork, leadership and the empowerment of your team; decision making under pressure; communication; and risk taking. She looks at the critical role of the human in the system to transfer these experiences from the front line to the corporate boardroom.

Mandy is also a highly demanded keynote speaker in the business and education sectors, where she talks with humour and great passion to inspire those around her. Her latest challenge is to climb Kilimanjaro in October on a fundraising expedition with 20 women from all walks of life.

Our CIH events are built for our members, with content centred around current issues and inner workings of the sector. We would ask all individuals who attend our CIH event to be kind to all, act with integrity and respect, maintain a professional demeanour, and be accountable and responsible during your time with us.