Ashes-winning England cricket captain Andrew Strauss and All-Blacks rugby captain Sean Fitzpatrick will be among the speakers at this year’s Yorkshire International Business Convention.

The name of this year’s keynote speaker will be announced soon. Previous events have attracted names such as former US President Bill Clinton and Sir Bob Geldof.

Convention chief executive Mike Firth said: “For the past two years we have used the ‘can do’ theme to reflect the fact that businesses in this region were surviving despite the recession. “Now we want the focus back on winning rather than just surviving because, let’s face it, winning is what we do best in Yorkshire, and these are two guys who know all about winning.”

The event, now in its 16th year, will again be held simultaneously at the Harrogate International Centre and Bridlington Spa on Friday, June 10.