We are so excited to reveal the first keynote speaker for Prolific North Live 2026 – transformation leader Russell Danks.
Taking place on 18 November 2026 at SISTER, Manchester, Prolific North Live will bring together more than 300 senior marketers, media professionals, agency leaders and technology innovators to explore The Next Big Thing for 2027 in Marketing, Advertising & Media. The event will focus on the trends, technologies and consumer shifts that will shape the year ahead, offering a full day of inspiring keynotes, panel discussions, practical insights and valuable networking opportunities.
Danks, who describes himself as a Generational Disruptive Strategist, has spent his career helping some of the UK’s best-known consumer brands adapt to changing customer behaviours. His leadership roles have included senior positions at PureGym, Greene King and KFC, alongside transformation projects across hospitality, leisure and retail.
Known for challenging traditional thinking and accelerating innovation inside large organisations, Danks has built a reputation for helping legacy businesses move faster, engage emerging audiences and create new growth opportunities before competitors catch up.
The session topic will be:
Gen Alpha Is Already Changing Your Business: Understanding the Trickle-Up Revolution
The oldest members of Generation Alpha will enter the workforce in 2027, but their influence is already being felt far beyond their age group. As the first truly AI-native generation, their behaviours, expectations and digital habits are reshaping how Millennials and Gen X discover brands, consume content and interact with technology.
In this thought-provoking opening keynote, former PureGym, Greene King and KFC transformation leader Russ Danks will explore the rise of ‘trickle-up change’ where younger generations are no longer following consumer trends but creating them. Drawing on real-world experience leading large-scale business transformations, Russ will reveal how organisations can identify emerging generational shifts, build faster innovation systems and reinvent legacy structures before disruption becomes decline.
Prolific North Live is the flagship gathering for the North’s marketing, media, creative and tech communities, bringing together the people shaping the future of the industry. Designed for senior decision-makers and ambitious professionals alike, the event explores the opportunities and challenges that will define the year ahead through inspiring content, meaningful conversations and unrivalled networking.
Expect practical frameworks, honest lessons and actionable strategies for leaders looking to future-proof their businesses in an era where consumer behaviour is evolving faster than ever before.
Russ Danks is the first speaker to be announced for this year’s event, with many more speakers, industry leaders and expert panels set to be revealed over the coming months.
Prolific North Live takes place on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at SISTER, Manchester. Tickets are now open via the link below.
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