Barefoot entrepreneur and acclaimed businesswoman Dawn Gibbins MBE will be acting as a catalyst for change at a national conference – set to attract young people from across the UK.

Dawn, a former Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, takes to the stage at the event, organised by Junior Chamber International UK (JCI UK), being held at Nottingham University between 5 and 7 September. Boots are the main sponsor.

JCI UK - an organisation for anyone in their 20s and 30s who wants to bring about positive change in their lives - is now in its 80th year, a celebration marked with the theme of ‘Exploring Inspiration.’

Dawn kicks off the conference by exploring the concept of 'A Walk on the Wild Side'.

She will provide real-life examples from her own successful career as an entrepreneur – including her experiences in founding the multinational Flowcrete Group – which she sold for millions of pounds earlier this year.

Dawn, who starts off the event on Friday afternoon, will also explain how she is injecting inspiration and innovation into her luxury lifestyle brand, Barefoot Floors, currently being launched.

The Cheshire-based businesswoman said: “JCI UK is a fantastic national organisation, which is making a real difference in the UK by developing young leaders."

“Exploring Inspiration is a wonderful, motivating theme for their annual conference and I’m looking forward to taking part in the event.”

Other speakers at the conference include Steve Parks, author and entrepreneur, as well as Sean Chapple, known as the ‘Ice Man,’ - a polar expedition leader, who explores the business of winning.

The conference culminates in a black tie dinner, and, in-keeping with JCI’s 80th anniversary celebration - the theme will be the 1920’s.