Annual Conference 2020

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Dr Adam Marshall has been Director General since October 2016. He was previously Executive Director for Policy and External Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce.

Charged with representing the interests of many thousands of companies, Adam works at the highest levels of business, government, and the media to tackle many of the key issues facing firms in Britain today.

Prior to joining the BCC, Adam helped start up the Centre for Cities, build commercial links between industry and universities, and worked in the broadcast media. He holds a BA from Yale University, and MPhil and PhD degrees from the University of Cambridge.

Pawel is head of European labour market research at the global job site Indeed in London. Prior to joining Indeed, he 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. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Oxford.

Annie Auerbach is an author and co-founder of trends agency Starling. Her book FLEX is  a  revolutionary guide to living and working on your own terms.She has worked flexibly for 20 years and four years ago, she founded Starling which specialises in understanding socio-cultural change so that brands can be more relevant and do better. Starling’s clients include Nike, Google and Unilever.

Annie is proud to be named a Timewise Power Founder alongside a range of trailblazers who are changing the future of work.

Jane works with a wide range of businesses but focuses on global clients in the Energy & Resources and Consumer Products sectors.

Jane represents Deloitte’s Regional Audit practice on Deloitte’s UK Audit Executive, leading on wider strategy – including the recruitment, retention and development of people - as well as having operational responsibility for the regional Public audit practice.

She has been a pro-bono non-executive director and a member of the audit committee at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce since 2014, and was President of GMCC from 2017-2019, leading her highly successful ‘Future of Skills 2028’ presidential campaign.

Peter joined Coutts as Chief Executive in March 2016 and, under his leadership, the iconic private bank has undergone a significant transformation across all of the Bank’s key performance targets, encouraging clients to recognise that Coutts is ‘more than a bank’. 

In November 2019, Peter was invited by Alison Rose to join the executive leadership team of NatWest Holdings and to become the banks Executive Sponsor of its Enterprise strategy.

Peter was born in Australia and has over 30 years of experience in financial services across Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa.

https://natwestbusinesshub.com/

Vegware is the global specialist in plant-based compostable foodservice packaging. The Edinburgh-based SME sells to 70 countries worldwide, and features in the 2020 Sunday Times International Track 200 for export growth. Vegware’s turnover has grown to £46m in 2019-20, up from £20m two years ago. Vegware works with world’s largest contract caterers and distributors, helping foodservice meet sustainability and waste goals. Lucy offers insights into the opportunities and challenges of a born-global SME.

Emma is the Executive Director for Expansion at Heathrow. She moved to this role in October 2016, her previous role was the Strategy Director. Prior to joining Heathrow, she held a number of senior positions within the telecoms industry, latterly Group Director of Industry Policy and Regulation with BT Group plc.

Emma is a qualified Barrister, called to the Bar in 1996 and holds a degree in Law and Marketing. She also sits on the Board of Signature Aviation.

Greg Hands was appointed Minister of State in the Department for International Trade on 13 February 2020. He was previously Minister of State in the Department for International Trade from 2016 to 2018. He was elected the Conservative MP for Hammersmith and Fulham in 2005, and for Chelsea and Fulham in 2010. Greg Hands has been a Government Minister since October, 2011.

Jason Groves is Director of Communications at Marsh and Chair of Dive In – the Festival for promoting greater diversity and inclusion in the global insurance sector. 

Prior to joining Marsh in 2006, Jason was Editor at The Review, one of the world’s oldest financial magazines and a leading commentator on the insurance sector.

He is the founder and executive sponsor for Marsh’s UK Pride Network and acts as a mentor to many LGBT business executives in the insurance and charity sector.

Matt was elected Conservative MP for West Suffolk in May 2010, entered government in September 2012 and has served in a number of Ministerial Roles, including for skills and business and as Paymaster General. He oversaw the expansion of apprenticeships, and championed the digital transformation of government.

From July 2016 he served at DCMS as Minister of State for Digital and was responsible for broadband, broadcasting, creative industries, cyber and the tech industry. He was previously Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport before taking up his current position.

As Executive Group Director of Corporate Affairs, Clare leads the Group’s internal and external communications, brand, public affairs and corporate social responsibility strategies. She also has responsibility for sustainability, regulation, policy and compliance.

Previously she was Director of Corporate Affairs at Heathrow Airport, Director of Communications for the Ministry of Justice and Head of Communications for E.ON UK. A graduate of Southampton University, she is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Fellow of The Society of Leadership, St George’s House, Windsor Castle, and is on the Board of Energy UK and the CBI Board for Energy & Climate Change.

Dr Anna Jerzewska is a Geneva and London-based independent customs and trade consultant with a combination of private sector, policy and academic experience.

Anna is an independent advisor with the UN International Trade Centre where she covers customs, market access and trade policy. She is also a trade policy and customs consultant for the British Chambers of Commerce in London focusing on Brexit.

Previously, Anna worked as a customs consultant for big 4 advisory firms in London where she advised clients on a wide range of global trade and customs issues. She holds a PhD in free trade agreements.

Philip held senior credit management roles in high-tech and communication sectors, distribution and retail, including spells at Olivetti and Vodafone. He was appointed Director General of the ICM in 2005, and later Chief Executive.

Philip architected the Prompt Payment Code (PPC) and is the author of Managing Cashflow Guides. Philip has worked closely with successive governments and championed best-practice credit management to support small business. He was appointed Interim Small Business Commissioner in January 2020.

John is responsible for leading a cross-government strategy on exports and overseas direct investment to support the UK’s underlying export potential. He is also responsible for leading a cross-government Foreign Direct Investment Strategy to ensures growth and prosperity across the whole of the UK.

Prior to joining the Department, John spent over 30 years in banking, working for JP Morgan and Barclays. He has worked in a variety of senior roles in banking in Barclays, most recently heading up Barclays Corporate Bank, providing banking services to medium and large corporations in the UK and around the world. 

Sam is the 32yr old serial entrepreneur. He is most well known as the CEO of Apothecary 87, a men's grooming brand. Started in 2013, with a start-up budget of just £1,500. Apothecary 87 quickly grew, turning over more than £370,000 in its first year and selling into over 135 countries.

Currently, Sam & his team are continuing to trade into global markets, as well as launching brick and mortar locations with the Apothecary 87 Barbers & Shop concept.

She is currently a Non-Executive Director at the Department for Education and Tideway; senior independent advisor at Mace Group; and chair of the Airport Operators Association. She is a member of the House of Lords Committee on Democracy and Digital Technologies, and patron of the Employers Forum for Equality and Inclusion.

Previously, she spent fourteen years at Mitie Group PLC – including a decade as CEO, as one of a small number of female CEOs in the FTSE 250. She also served as Chair of the Women’s Business Council, and has held a range of NED and public appointments and won a number of national awards during her business career.

Ruby was appointed CBE in 2011 for services to business and to diversity in business, and became a life peer in 2015.

Tom is founder and Chairman of Cambre Associates, an award-winning public policy and corporate affairs consultancy. He’s also President of the British Chamber of Commerce for EU and Belgium. With over 20 years of experience, he has extensive knowledge of European public policy and the wider corporate affairs environment.

Tom advises governments, industry associations and blue-chip companies. He lectures on EU affairs and political communications and is an active commentator on EU politics, policy and Brexit in the media.

Beckie’s current role has been to develop and implement the Fresh Start programme within Greggs retail & supply teams. Prior to this Beckie had a successful career as an Area Manager.

At Greggs, we believe that by not overlooking any potential employees because of their past, we can select the right person and develop them to their full potential.During the last 5 years Fresh Start programme has enabled Greggs to reach 4,328 candidates.

Join the businesses benefiting from employing ex-offenders

Over half of employers struggle to fill vacancies due to skills shortages. Well known businesses, such as Pret, Greggs and Halfords are now tapping into new pools of highly motivated people by employing ex-offenders.

To find out how ex-offenders could benefit your business or to register your interest visit offenderemployment.campaign.gov.uk

Claire Walker and Hannah Essex are Co-Executive Directors at the British Chambers of Commerce and together lead the BCC’s campaigns, communications, public affairs, policy, marketing and senior representative work on behalf of the Chamber Network.

Claire and Hannah joined the British Chambers of Commerce as a partnership in September 2018 from social enterprise Teach First, where they co-led the Communications Department. Claire covered Hannah’s maternity leave and they formed their partnership when Hannah returned in 2015. As one of very few Executive level job-share partnerships in the country, they are considered trail-blazers in the concept of co-leadership.

Together, they have a combined 40 years’ experience leading in a range of organisations, driving transformation and impact. Claire has held a number of trustee positions and led a range of community projects. Hannah is Vice-Chair and Founding Trustee of The Girls’ Network.