Annual Conference 2019

Book Now arrow_forward

Will Gardiner is Chief Executive of Drax Group plc, a large British energy company that supplies electricity and gas to over 300,000 business premises. Will is committed to helping Drax’s business customers become more efficient, use more renewable power, take control of their energy costs and to reap the benefits of the revolution taking place in the electricity market.

Prior to joining Drax Will was Chief Financial Officer of CSR plc, a global semiconductor business. He had previously been a Divisional Finance Director of BSKYB and Chief Financial Officer of Easynet Group plc.

At both CSR and Easynet Will’s focus was on driving transformational change to take advantage of new market opportunities. He is also a non-executive member on the Board of Qardio plc, a wireless medical devices company. Will is also a Trustee of the Institute for War & Peace Reporting, a London-based charity that supports local journalists and civic activists in areas of crisis and change around the world.

Will graduated from Harvard University with a BA Magna Cum Laude in Russian and Soviet Studies and from Johns Hopkins University with an MA in International Relations. He spent the early part of his career in corporate finance with Citibank and JP Morgan.

Alison Rose is the Chief Executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Corporate, Commercial & Private Banking business and a member of the RBS Executive Committee. She leads over 8,000 people and is accountable for market-leading brands such as Coutts and Lombard. She has worked at RBS for over 20 years and prior to her current role, was Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Markets & International Banking. Previously shortlisted for the 'most influential woman in investment banking' award by Financial News, Alison is a passionate supporter of diversity and is executive sponsor for the bank’s employee-led networks. She also champions RBS’s partnership with Entrepreneurial Spark, an innovative initiative that is supporting start-up businesses across the UK.

Keir was elected as Labour MP for Holborn & St Pancras in May 2015. In October 2016, Keir was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet, taking up the role of Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the EU. Prior to becoming an MP, Keir was a human rights lawyer. He co-founded Doughty Street Chambers in 1990, and conducted cases in a wide range of international courts, including the European Court of Human Rights. In 2008 Keir was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service for England and Wales, a role he held until 2013.

The Mayor's role as the executive of London's strategic authority is to promote economic development and wealth creation, social development, and improvement of the environment. The Mayor also has various other duties in relation to culture and tourism, including responsibility for Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square.

Nigel was appointed Group Chief Executive in 2012 having joined as Group Chief Financial Officer in 2009.

Nigel won the ‘Most Admired Leader’ award at Britain's Most Admired Companies Awards 2017, for Management Today. He was also City AM “Business Personality of the Year” in 2014. In 2015-2016 Nigel was a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group.

Nigel was Chairman of the Investment Association’s review of Executive Pay (2016-2017) and the government’s review of Mission Led Business (2016- 2017). He was also a member of the governments Patient Capital Review Industry Panel (2017–2018) and a Commissioner in the Resolution Foundation’s Intergenerational Commission (2017–2018). He is currently a member of the expert group’s advising on the government’s Social Care Green Paper and the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy Implementation Board.

Qualifications include a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was a Kennedy Scholar, and a recipient of the Alfred P Sloan research scholarship. Nigel also worked at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

Previous appointments include, McKinsey & Co (where clients included BP, Citibank, Cadbury’s, Santander and Kingfisher); Group Commercial Director of Dixons Group Plc.; Managing Director of Stanhope Properties Plc.; Chief Executive, Corporate, Guinness Peat Aviation (G.P.A.); Managing Director, Viridian Capital and Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer UBM.

Nigel was Senior Independent Director (SID) of The Capita Group plc. from 2009 until 2012, and was SID / Chairman of Halfords Group Plc. from 2006 until 2011.

Nigel has won numerous national masters Athletics Championships. He has five daughters. He is leading the 50/50 by 20/20 gender diversity initiative.

Pawel Adrjan is the UK Economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab. Before joining Indeed, Pawel spent over a decade in investment banking, holding senior roles in risk management, credit ratings advisory, and treasury at Goldman Sachs and Barclays in London and New York. His research focuses on a wide range of labour market issues such as wages, pensions, and the impact of technology on jobs. Pawel speaks Polish, Spanish and French. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Oxford.