Industry Panel: Change as Opportunity
Julie Hawley, BOSS Chairperson will host a panel of senior leaders from the industry discussing how their businesses have embraced change.
Julie Hawley
Jeanette Caswell
Elliot Jacobs
Simon Weavers
Liz Stevenson
Julie Hawley, BOSS Chairperson will host a panel of senior leaders from the industry discussing how their businesses have embraced change.
Julie Hawley joined YPO in May 2021 as Finance Director from her previous role as Managing Director of Office Friendly, a leading buying group in office products. She previously worked for Kingfield Heath Wholesale and has over 30 years' experience in the office products industry. Julie was awarded Professional of the Year in 2018 and European Professional of The Year in 2019. Julie leads the organisation's Finance, Business Change and HR functions.
Elliot Jacobs career in stationery goes back to his first Saturday job as a 13 year old in a stationery shop in North London. Today a retail entrepreneur and the driving force behind UOE, one of the UK’s leading independent Post Office and stationery retailers, he's known for embracing disruption as a catalyst for growth.
He was the first ever Postmaster to be elected to the position of Non-Executive Director of the Post Office and was recently appointed to chair the Postmaster Panel - ensuring fair treatment and transparency across Post Office. Elliot is committed to playing a central role in shaping the future of the UK’s postal and stationery retail landscape. From reimagining customer experience in local branches to influencing national strategy, he combines entrepreneurial instinct with a deep understanding of how to deliver meaningful transformation. His story is a compelling example of what’s possible when businesses stop fearing change - and start leading it.
Elliot has steered UOE through multiple reinventions: divesting his successful B2B office supplies division in 2019 to focus on a retail only model when most were doing the opposite and most recently leading the successful acquisition of 30 additional branches from the Post Office. This bold move will more than triple UOE’s footprint to 40 stores by October 2025 and accelerate its transformation into a modern, multi-service high street brand forecasted to serve over 9 million customers in 2026. For Elliot, change isn’t a challenge to be managed - it’s an opportunity to be seized.
Simon has worked in Sales and Commerical roles for over 25 years including Phones 4U, Universal Pictures and sustainable SME ecoegg. He has personally taken innovative products to new markets and store shelves in over 40 countries including Tescos, Sainsburys, Waitrose and numerous outlets globally.
He joined The Cheeky Panda just over 2 years ago to lead the International Retail side of the business but switched over to the head up the B2B team in 2023. With a focus on the Business and Office Supplies sector he gained nominations for Professional of the Year and Executive of the Year at the BOSS & EOPA Awards.
Outside of work Simon is kept busy with his three young children, studying for a masters degree and keeping active playing football for two veterans teams.
Liz Stevenson is the Strategic Director at ACS Group, bringing over 20 years of marketing expertise to the role. Her journey began with a student placement at Supplies Team, and after a brief three-year stint outside the industry, she returned to join ACS in 2009. Liz plays a pivotal role across multiple areas of the business—including Marketing, Vendor Management, Sustainability, and even leading a niche sales channel.
With a deep passion for culture and employee engagement, Liz has been a driving force in shaping the ACS story—helping to define its identity, evolve its culture, and bring its values to life. She spearheaded the strategic rebrand from ACS Business Supplies to ACS Group in 2022, a move that boosted the success of its brand divisions and reinforced its market presence.