Jess Douglas
Chief Operating Officer
jessdouglas@confex.ltd.uk

1. What is your role at Confex and how long have you worked here?
   I have worked at Confex for 11 years. I'm Chief Operating Officer and take control of marketing, events and HR in the business.
2. What did you do before joining Confex?
   Before Confex, I was a journalist. I was a Sub Editor on a National Weekly Magazine at IPC Media. I also taught in a primary school for a short while when we moved out of London before having my own children.
3. What do you do when you’re not at Confex?
   Outside of Confex I mainly enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I have 2 sons and we have a lot of animals, so there is definitely enough to keep me busy! I love horse riding and also getting out on my bike and Pilates.
4. If you were able to retire tomorrow, how would you spend your time?
   If I was able to retire tomorrow, I would spend more time with my family and animals….and possibly have more! I would also definitely like to travel the world more and experience different cultures.
5. Who inspires you?
   I’m inspired by my husband who set up his own business from scratch 15 years ago and has gone from strength to strength – he is also a very level-headed, calm and positive person so helps manage my opposing character traits!
6. What type of business would you go into, if it wasn’t wholesale?
   I love cooking so would probably like to follow this passion more. I’m also always organising so think I could probably organise more people’s lives or events too!
7. What is the most interesting place you have visited and why?
   I love all of South East Asia – I have now visited Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. They are all so different but I love the culture, the people, the food and the scenery is breathtaking in all. I also loved Peru and would like to see more of South America.
8. What do you like about working at Confex?
   The people. From our Confex Team which is full of lots of different characters who all work together and bring out the best in each other and help one another when needed. The wholesale industry is a small place, so from members to suppliers, to colleagues across the industry there is a real feeling of being ‘in it together’.