General Assembly 2025
EBIA 26th General Assembly – London, 18–19 September 2025
We are delighted to welcome our members and partners to EBIA’s 26th General Assembly, taking place on 18–19 September 2025 at the London Marriott Hotel Regent’s Park.
This year’s GA will bring together leading voices from across the bedding industry and beyond, offering two days of strategic dialogue, expert insights, and unique networking opportunities.
The GA will also feature:
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Strategic updates on governance, marketing, and industry initiatives
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A Gala Dinner at the House of Parliament, an evening to remember
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Cultural and leisure activities around Regent’s Park
Gala Dinner
Meet the speakers
Ruud Veltenaar
With over 30 years of experience inspiring global audiences, Ruud Veltenaar is a leading futurist and transformational thinker. His keynote, “What We Owe the Future”, will explore how leadership and innovation can help build a more just, resilient, and sustainable world. Expect a thought-provoking vision on how industries like ours can play a role in shaping tomorrow.
Julien Lafargue
Julien Lafargue brings deep financial and market expertise, having led equity strategy roles at both Barclays and J.P. Morgan Private Bank. In London, he will share his perspective on investment outlooks, global economic trends, and their implications for our sector, helping members better understand the forces shaping consumer behavior and industry growth.
Richard Naylor
Richard Naylor will take us on a fascinating journey through 77,000 years of sleep history. From prehistoric bedding to modern foams, his presentation will explore how materials, science, and culture have shaped mattress design — and what lessons history holds for today’s innovators.
Giulia Taveggia
Giulia Taveggia will deliver a deep dive into sustainability and market trends in the European mattress industry. Drawing on CSIL’s latest data, she will provide insights on market outlook, competitiveness, trade flows, and sustainability across the value chain, offering members actionable knowledge to anticipate change.
Carlo van de Weijer
As an expert in AI and mobility innovation, Carlo van de Weijer leads the Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute. With decades of experience bridging academia and industry, his talk “A future with AI, who’s at the wheel?” will challenge us to reflect on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in engineering, production, and consumer markets.