Directors Dinner: Leadership - Rising to the Challenge

Date and Time

Thursday Feb 5, 2026
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM GMT

Location

Hilton Garden Inn
Leger Way
Doncaster
DN2 6BB

Fees/Admission

Members Only
£65+VAT (2x complimentary tickets for Gold and Silver members if allocation hasn't be used)

Gold members get a 10% discount for paid tickets
Charity Members get 25% discount for a paid-for ticket.

Contact Information

Events Team
Send Email

Description

Doncaster Chamber's Directors' Dinners, welcome together the region’s most influential business leaders for an evening of collaboration, insight, and opportunity. This exclusive event offers a unique chance to be part of a dynamic in-conversation panel, where top industry experts share their experiences, challenges, and vision for the future. As you enjoy a refined two-course dinner, you’ll also have the opportunity to engage with fellow senior business leaders.

THE CONVERSATION

In moments of uncertainty and pressure, true leadership reveals itself — not in ease, but in the ability to rise, adapt, and inspire others through challenge. Join us for Leadership: Rising to the Challenge, an evening dedicated to recognizing those who lead with courage, clarity, resilience and conviction when the stakes are high. Whether responding to crisis, navigating transformation, or guiding teams through the unknown, we welcome two business leaders tonight to share their experience on how resilience, integrity, and vision shape not just outcomes, but people.

THE PANELLISTS

Mick Mills OBE, Governor
HMP Hatfield
Mick joined the service in 1992 at HMP Leeds before spending 3 years working at HMP The Mount in London. Having

returned to Yorkshire in 1995, initially specialising in Security, he took up his first Operational Managers role in 2005 and has worked in a wide range of establishments and roles in both the adult and the youth justice estate. Prior to taking his current role he undertook the role of Staff Officer and subsequently the Head of Office for 6 years working to 3 successive Prison Group Director managing up to 15 prisons. In 2025 Mick was awarded an OBE in the Kings Birthday Honours list in recognition for his contribution to Public Service with a particular focus on employment for offenders In 2019 he took up the role of Governor at HMP Hatfield, standout successes have included 2 outstanding HMIP Inspections with both achieving 4 x 4’s and a Good at Ofsted. The prison has a real focus on employment and housing on release with over 125 prisoners working in full time paid work in the community every day. Mick has a really keen interest in the employment sector knowing what a difference it makes to successful resettlement and as such chairs both the Regional Regimes meeting as well as the wider Yorkshire Employment Board a subgroup working to the Yorkshire Rehabilitation Board.

.
Virginia Perkins, CEO
Hesley Group

With a career spanning 30 years of multifaceted experience across health, social care and education, Virginia holds a deep commitment to fostering supportive high-performing environments. Dedicating much of her career to enhancing organisational culture and business performance, whilst making a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the UK, has been her privilege.
Investing her earlier years to international charitable work and the public sector, this experience shaped an understanding of the unique challenges faced in educational and social care settings and helped develop a passion for making a positive impact in the lives of vulnerable children, young people and adults with varied support needs. Virginia's academic studies have been instrumental in enabling the achievement of a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management, bolstering understanding of organisational and people development, a sector that understands the importance of investing in these crucial areas to drive overall success. Joining the Hesley Group has been a strategic move that allows Virginia to leverage the full range of skills acquired throughout her career, providing a strong foundation to drive impactful contributions and further growth of services for the people they support.

WHAT TO EXPECT...
🥗 Two course meal provided
🫂 Build your network - exchange ideas, share experiences & create new partnerships.
🌟 Inspiring conversation, stories & experience from industry leaders.
👗Smart business dress code
🏢 Experience a local venue

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ENQUIRE ABOUT RAISING YOUR PROFILE & SPONSORING THESE EVENTS PLEASE CONTACT: events@doncaster-chamber.co.uk

Sponsorship: £1000+VAT per event
Includes:

2 tickets to attend
5 minutes to address the room
Opportunity to bring 2 banners and run a business card draw raffle
Inclusion on all social media posts around event
Inclusion on website
Full page A6 advert in event booklet
Logo on all marketing relating to event