Global Annual Conference

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Áine Rogers Leads Cisco’s Small Business for the UK& Ireland. She is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of this segment executing on Cisco’s defined go to market combining global short mid- and long-term strategies with developing existing local routes to market in new ways to best serve smaller enterprises on their digitisation journey whose technology adoption, consumption and needs have changed drastically in recent years. Áine is passionate about supporting and advising small businesses thrive as we move forward.

Áine Joined Cisco from Oracle in 2010 and has held numerous roles within Channel managing and growing every profile of partner to great success. After 8 years in channel, she joined GMSI supporting both the UKI Commercial and Small segments as a Segment Business Partner. Áine re-joined the UKI sales operation to head up small business in 2020.

Áine is passionate about people, her team and talent. An advocate for organic growth of talent within all organisations Áine works to connect people, teams and businesses to invest in the future talent of this industry.

Áine is married with two young children and their dog Winter. The family spends a lot of time outdoors and in the sea on the east coast of Ireland. Áine continuously educates herself in fitness, nutrition, and well-being in her spare time.

Alison Rose was appointed Chief Executive of NatWest Group plc in 2019 having joined the bank as a graduate in 1992. The first woman to lead one of the UK’s big four banks, Alison has previously been shortlisted for the 'most influential woman in investment banking' award by Financial News, included in the Women in FinTech Powerlist and named in Vogue’s Top 25 Most Influential Women.

Alison’s diverse career at NatWest has included a number of senior leadership roles, including Deputy CEO NatWest Holdings, Chief Executive of Commercial & Private Banking, Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Markets & International Banking and Global Head of International Banking Capital and Balance Sheet.

A passionate supporter of diversity and executive sponsor for the bank’s employee-led networks, Alison was commissioned by the UK government to report on the barriers to women starting businesses. She now sits on the Rose Review Board and is responsible for driving forward its recommendations.

Alison sits on the Board of Directors for the Institute of International Finance and is a member of the International Business Council for the World Economic Forum. A Trustee of Business in the Community (BITC) and Chair of the Scottish BITC Advisory Board, Alison is also a Non-Executive Director of Great Portland Estates plc and sits on the board of the Coutts Charitable Foundation.

Alok Sharma was appointed full-time President for COP 26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, on 8 January 2021.

He was previously Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and President for COP 26 between 13 February 2020 and 8 January 2021.

He was previously Secretary of State for International Development from 24 July 2019 to 13 February 2020, and Minister of State for Employment at the Department of Work and Pensions from 9 January 2018 until 24 July 2019.

He was Minister of State for Housing and Planning, for the Department for Communities and Local Government from 13 June 2017 to 9 January 2018.

Parliamentary career

Alok was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 17 July 2016 to 13 June 2017.

He has served as a member of the Commons Treasury select committee, a member of the Commons Science and Technology select committee, a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Treasury and from 2012 to 2015 as a Conservative Party Vice Chairman. Alok was appointed in 2016 as the Prime Minister’s Infrastructure Envoy to India.

He also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who had overall responsibility for the Cabinet Office. He was elected as the Conservative MP for Reading West in May 2010.

Career outside politics

Prior to entering Parliament, Alok qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte, and then worked for 16 years within banking, first with the Japanese firm Nikko Securities and then Enskilda Securities (the investment banking arm of SE Banken), where he held senior roles based out of London, Stockholm and Frankfurt, including serving as a member of the bank’s Corporate Finance Global Management Committee.

Family

Alok is married and lives in Reading Borough with his wife and 2 daughters.

COP26 President - Responsibilities include:

• leading preparations for the 26th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), to be held in Glasgow in November 2021.
• chairing the Climate Action Implementation Cabinet Committee to coordinate government action towards net zero by 2050

Andrew Mitchell was appointed a Director General at the Department for International Trade (DIT) in May 2020.

Andrew was previously Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe, responsible for the Department for International Trade’s work promoting trade and investment with the countries of Europe.

Prior to this he held senior positions in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Andrew led the government’s international work on Prosperity and was the FCO’s Director for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Andrew served in Germany and Nepal and was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Sweden. Andrew’s work in the private sector focused on major international events, including World Expos and Olympic Games.

In his current role as Director General for Exports and UK Trade, Andrew is responsible for the department’s work on exports, UK Regions and the Devolved Administrations, and global supply chains.

Ms. Anita Leviant, Adv., President of the Israel-British Chamber of Commerce, heads LAGC ltd., a full- service platform that offers tailor made solutions based on legal, financial, and regulatory capabilities in cross-border transactions and investments.

Ms. Leviant holds LL. B, from the Tel Aviv University Law School and has been admitted to both the NY State and Israeli Bars. She is of -counsel at STR&CO, a Tel- Aviv leading Boutique Law Firm and is a Certified Mediator. She serves as NED in a NYSE listed company focused on Renewable Energies and serves as Member of the EU-Israel and the Federation of the Israeli Bi- Lateral Chambers of Commerce.

In the past she held several senior positions at Hapoalim Banking Group where she led the Group’s international financial projects and cross-border transactions.

Anne-Marie Martin is currently leading the strategy and growth of BCC’s Global Business Network, an international membership programme of British chambers of commerce and business organisations across the world. An experienced senior business executive, Anne-Marie Martin has worked in industry and the not-for-profit sector at Board level over many years. Most recent roles have included that of former CEO of COBCOE, the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe and before that CEO of the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce.

A Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, Anne-Marie was awarded the King Mihai I of Romania Medal for Loyalty for services in promoting business, social and cultural relations between Britain and Romania.

Ben Francis is the Founder and ambitious entrepreneur behind leading UK fitness brand, Gymshark.

Ben founded Gymshark when he was 19 years old, while still a student at Aston University. In addition to his full-time commitment to his studies, Ben juggled working as a pizza delivery man to fund his Gymshark venture.

Ben made the decision to step down as CEO in 2017, to allow him to continue to focus on the things that have always set Gymshark apart - innovative design, creative content and consumer first thinking.

Gymshark has gone from being an entrepreneurial start-up to becoming a global brand with millions of customers in 170+ countries via its 13 websites. Driving sales by 140% PA to £176.2m in 2019, with operating profits of £18.6m.

In August 2020, Gymshark became the first DTC brand in the UK to achieve Unicorn status with no external capital funding. The recent investment partnership with General Atlantic will see Gymshark become a true global brand.

Bridget Rosewell is an experienced director, policy maker and economist, with a track record in advising public and private sector clients on key strategic issues. She has worked extensively on cities, infrastructure and finance, advising on projects in road and rail and on major property developments and regeneration.

Bridget has been a member of Commissions looking at the future of public services, city finance, the North East economy, the City Growth Commission and the London Infrastructure Commission. She has also served as Chief Economic Adviser to the Greater London Authority (2002 to 2012) and her book, ‘Reinventing London’, was published in 2014.

Bridget lives in the East Midlands and is Chair of Atom Bank, based in Durham. She is also founder and Senior Advisor of Volterra Partners and Chair of the M6 Toll Road. She was appointed CBE in December 2018 and is also a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Christopher (Chris) currently serves as Vice Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce and given his international experience he brings a strong focus on the integration of the Global Network.He is also a member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committees.

Chris spent a decade as a member of the Governing Council of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, including a 4-year mandate as President, having previously lived in Portugal, France and his native United Kingdom.His executive role is at Hays Recruiting experts worldwide, where Chris has been Managing Director for Spain since 2008.

An alumnus of Aston University and ESSCA where he studied International Business & Modern Languages, Chris has also completed executive education at Ashridge Business School and IMD. Chris was awarded an MBE in the 2020 New Year’s Honours list for his services to British business in Spain and is a Non Executive Director on the board of the British Embassy in Spain.

Claire Walker is Co-Executive Director at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) a role she shares with Hannah Essex. BCC sits at the heart of a business network that spans the length and breadth of the UK, with links to markets across the world.

Claire and Hannah lead the British Chambers campaigns, communications, public affairs, policy and senior representative work on behalf of the Chamber Network.

Claire and Hannah joined the British Chambers of Commerce 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 the only Executive level job -share partnerships in the country, they are considered trail -blazers in the concept of co-leadership.

Together, they have a combined 35 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.

Dawn Bébe is a founder and director of Crowdfunder.co.uk which she set up with Rob Love and Simon Deverell in 2012 in Newquay, Cornwall, where they established a digital innovation hub, initially to support renewable energy innovation, but this quickly morphed into Crowdfunder which they founded to tackle society's biggest challenges by connecting projects that matter with a community that cares.

Since inception Crowdfunder has funded more than 35,000 projects raising over £100m from the crowd and unlocking millions more. The platform now welcomes more than 200 projects a day and has a supporter base of more than 1 million. Dawn leads local partnerships for Crowdfunder and has cemented over 30 local partnerships across the UK.

A graduate of Britain's top journalism college, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Dawn's previous entrepreneurial track record in consumer media includes leading the development of the launch of UK Grazia and she published Red and Elle magazines while MD of Hachette Emap Ltd. Dawn subsequently founded her own PR company and has worked with brands as diverse as River Cottage, Visit Devon and Urban Splash. And, as the multi- award winning editor of New Woman magazine, Dawn advised Tony Blair on how to talk to women - she's still not sure if it worked!

Debbie is the Local Enterprise Manager for NatWest’s Enterprise team covering Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire – responsible for building and nurturing community relationships and local stakeholder engagement alongside other business support organisations. Entrepreneurial support is provided through a series of NatWest events, signposting and delivery of their 8 programmes to support businesses from idea-stage through to scale-up. Prior to this Debbie supported entrepreneurs with 121 coaching and programme delivery on the NatWest’s Accelerator– a 6 month intensive business programme to help scale-up stage (sector agnostic) business owners maximise their potential and overcome challenges.

A previous entrepreneur herself, Debbie successfully scaled and exited a chain of Hair and Beauty Salons before starting a career in coaching and is still involved in Salon Industry support organisations and is a passionate ambassador for Apprenticeships and Women In Business.

Ed Miliband was elected MP for Doncaster North in 2005, serving as minister for the Third Sector from 2006, and secretary of state for energy and climate change from October 2008.

He served as leader of the Labour Party from 2010–2015 and was appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in 2020.

Eithne joined CISL in 2019 and is responsible for the strategic development and delivery of the Accelerator for entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Prior to this, she was a founding director of an incubator that has hot-housed over 200 community energy projects and set up the UK’s first revolving investment fund for community energy.

Eithne was also one of the founding members of the first Impact Hub, which is a growing network of over 100 globally. In addition, she has worked in the built environment and sustainability, with new developments and infrastructure planning.

Faye has been Director of Business Development at the BCC for four years. She is responsible for securing the organisation’s commercial partnerships, managing those long term strategic relationships and overseeing the delivery of the associated partnership activity. Faye works closely with the Chamber of Commerce Network and our strategic partners including Amazon, Cisco, Drax, GoDaddy, NatWest, Stagecoach, Smart Energy and TSB.

Graham Stuart was elected as the Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness in 2005. He joined the Department for International Trade in January 2018 as Minister for Investment. In February 2020 he was appointed Minister for Exports.

Graham was born in Carlisle. He attended school in Scotland before going to Selwyn College, Cambridge to read philosophy and law.

At Cambridge he chaired the Cambridge University Conservative Association, and founded ‘What’s On in Cambridge’.

After university, Graham developed a successful career in publishing, and was a member of Cambridge City Council from 1998 to 2004.

In Parliament Graham:

• chaired the Education Select Committee (2010 to 2015);
• was Assistant Government Whip with responsibility for the Department of Health; and
• later for HM Treasury and the Ministry of Defence (2016 to 2018).

His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex is the youngest child of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh and a full-time working member of the Royal Family. The Earl supports The Queen in Her Majesty’s official duties – often alongside his wife The Countess of Wessex - as well as undertaking public engagements for a large number of his own charities.

The Earl supports a range of charities and organisations, spanning the arts, sport and non-formal education and learning. HRH is especially passionate about organisations and causes which provide opportunities to young people. The Earl’s work has a particular focus on the development of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the International Award.

HRH is Chairman of Trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and previously chaired the International Council for 17 years. He is a Gold Award holder and is also a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award – United Kingdom.

Image credit Millie Pilkington

Hamad Buamim is the President & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 2006. He also serves as the Chairman of the World Chambers Federation (WCF) and board member of the International Chambers of Commerce’s (ICC) Executive Committee based on Paris, France.

In addition to his role at the Chamber, Buamim also is the Managing Director and board member of Dubai World. Within this capacity he sets at the boards of CityCenter Holdings LLC. Nevada, USA, International Hotel Investment Plc. Malta, Inchcape Shipping Services World Ltd. London, UK.

Previously, Buamim held number of board positions including Kerzner International Holdings, Mandarin Oriental New York, UAE Central Bank, Emirates NBD Bank, Emirates Financial Services, Emirates NBD Capital, Network International, and Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance in MENA.

Educated in the USA, Buamim holds MBA (Honors) in Finance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He also obtained a Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Hannah Essex is Co-Executive Director at the British Chambers of Commerce, a role she shares with Claire Walker.

As Co-Executive Directors, Claire Walker and Hannah Essex 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.

Helen builds innovation strategies for corporates and draws on the successes and failures learned from 17 years leading digital transformation initiatives in the city. In 2012 she co-founded innovation consultancy, Blukudu, which has created multi-million-pound partnerships between corporate clients and start-ups including, most recently, Standard Industries, the world’s largest roofing and weatherproofing manufacturer.

Helen holds two degrees in Fine Art, is a staunch champion of women in business and STEM, judge for Saïd Business School Executive MBA in Entrepreneurship and a mentor at London Business School. She has been nominated for several awards including 50 Most Influential Women in IT, the Top 100 Women in Fintech and the top 30 inspirational innovators in the city.

In her spare time, Helen teaches business skills to young adult's pro bono and when not working she can be found under a tent in very remote corners of sub-Saharan Africa.

Henrietta is CEO of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The GBCC is a not for profit business membership organisation that exists to Connect, Support & Grow local businesses. At age 30, she is the youngest CEO in the organisation’s 208 year history.

Prior to becoming CEO in 2021, Henrietta was Director of Policy & Strategic Relationships leading the GBCC’s research, policy, stakeholder engagement and campaigns activity as well as management of the GBCC’s top tier of membership: the Patronage group. Henrietta was appointed to the role in 2015. In 2018 she was appointed to the GBCC Board as an executive director. In 2019 she was named as one of Birmingham Live’s Brum 30 Under 30. Outside of work, she is a Trustee of the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students and a graduate and supporter of the UpRising Leadership Programme.

Ioana Surpateanu is Chief Strategy Officer at DIA Association and Principal for DIALabs, a vehicle designed to support the DeFi ecosystem development, empower women in emerging tech and enable partnerships with entities on the traditional side of the spectrum as well as regulators and policymakers. She is also an Executive Board member of the Multichain Asset Managers Association ( MAMA), a global community of organisations working to transform asset management through blockchain technology.

Prior to joining DIA, Ioana was Co-Head of European Gov’t Affairs and Innovation Strategy lead for Citi, where she coordinated the policymaker interaction on emerging tech and crypto. In addition, she seconded into Citi’s markets infrastructure investments team to work on FinTech investments.In parallel, she was Vice-chair of the European Parliament Outreach Task Force in AmCham EU. In that capacity, she led the EU Institutions outreach strategy with focus on high-profile political leaders throughout Europe. She joined Citi from the European Parliament where she was Head of Cabinet for the VP of the European People’s Party (EPP) Group and senior adviser on issues related to the digital single market (DSM), EU budget and the inception of the European fund for strategic investments (EFSI).

Ioana holds two master’s degrees on politics, economics and international relations from the University of Tel Aviv and University of Bucharest. She appears on Innovate Finance’s WIF Powerlist and was shortlisted for the WIBF Tech Star Award. She is a competitive skier, occasional Kart racer and Formula One aficionado.

James is Director of Policy for the British Chambers of Commerce, with responsibility for the BCC’s policy and analytical output.

Prior to joining the BCC, James worked major retailers focusing on a range of policy areas, including cyber-crime and resilience, and, before that, in Whitehall, where he leads on policy and strategy work ranging from reforming how people are able to bring legal challenges of government action to the long-term future of the prison system and improving prisoner working and reparation.

James Ramsbotham is Chief Executive of the North East England Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber celebrated 200 years of championing business in the North East in 2015. It has almost 3,000 members and delivers a range of business membership services, especially international trade advice.

He is also a Non-Executive Director for Hargreaves Land, part of Hargreaves Services PLC. He was Chairman of the Darlington Building Society until December 2017.

Previously James was Vice Chairman of the Esh Group – the award-winning North East construction group. Prior to that, he spent 14 years Corporate Banking in Barclays Bank plc (throughout the UK), latterly as Marketing Director. He had 12 years soldiering in the Royal Green Jackets (throughout the world) and benefitted from executive education at Harvard (USA), INSEAD (France), and Oxford University after graduating from Durham University.

He is Honorary Colonel for The Rifles in County Durham, Chair of Trustees for the Durham Light Infantry Museum, Trustee for The Foundation of Light (Sunderland AFC) and a Deputy Lieutenant for Co. Durham. He also gives time to Durham Cathedral, Sunderland University, and various other charitable organisations.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by Sunderland University in 2016; made an Honorary Fellow of the Association of International Accountants (FAIA Hon.) in 2017; and made a CBE for services to business and the North East economy in the 2019 New Year’s Honours.

James and his wife, Carolyn, have two adult children and live in the Durham Dales. His wife is involved with a range of event management and tourism related activities across the region. They enjoy sailing, skiing and all outdoor country pursuits.

John May OBE DL is the Secretary General of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award; a campaigner, teacher and youth worker, who has spent his career working with and for young people around the world.

He works with senior leaders from business, government, education and civil society to improve the opportunities and aspirations of the next generation. He speaks and writes on leadership, education and responsible business practice, drawing on his experience in the classrooms, youth centres, civic halls and boardrooms of different countries.

John is himself a Gold Award holder, following participation at school and university. Trained as a teacher, John has worked with children and young people in a variety of situations, ranging from schools in suburban England to refugee camps in Uganda. He became a Headteacher at 28, going on to develop a reputation for regenerating underperforming schools.

John believes in the transformative value of non-formal education and learning as the key to unlocking young people’s infinite potential and is committed to the Award’s global strategy to reach every eligible 14-24 year old by 2023.

Jonathan Guthrie is an associate editor of the FT and the head of Lex, the agenda-setting premium commentary service on companies and investment. For six years he was City editor and writer of Lombard, an irreverent column on the Square Mile and corporate Britain. He has also been enterprise editor, Midlands correspondent and UK companies editor.

He has led investigations into Eurasian Natural Resources Corp, British Biotech and the “Gem of Tanzania” accounting fraud. Aside from Lex, he contributes occasionally to the opinion pages of the FT.

Katherine joined the HVM Catapult as CEO in June 2021 following a 16 year career at Airbus, including as Senior Vice President leading the company’s external engagement and strategy in the UK.

Katherine’s previous employment was with Vauxhall Motors where she headed up their government affairs function and prior to that worked for Hill and Knowlton Public Relations in London, working with a range of industrial clients.

Katherine was awarded the Order of Commander of the British Empire in January 2019 for services to the aerospace and aviation sector. She has served on various boards of public/private enterprises. She is on the Board of the Aerospace Growth Partnership (part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy), the Investment Council of the Department for International Trade, the Made Smarter Commission and of the Wales Government Science and Innovation Council. Katherine will also be joining the Automotive Council.

In November 2019 Katherine was appointed as Chair of the Western Gateway, a cross government and local authority initiative which will aim to promote and maximise economic growth across south Wales and the West of England. Katherine managed the public affairs for VentilatorChallengeUK which was led by the HVM Catapult.

In July 2018, Katherine founded the UK’s Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter which is committed to building a fair and balanced industry for women in this sector and served on the Board of the International Aviation Women’s Association. Katherine has an Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University.

Karen Beardsley has worked for Unipart Rail for over 20 years and as Managing Director of Rail Operations she leads the Supply Chain operational activities across UK sites that supports the UK and international rail operations, including supply chain outsourced operations for Siemens, Anglian Water, Thales and RSPB. Her role is to support and grow the business through delivery of high levels of operational excellence and engagement with current and new clients.

She has worked in a variety of senior management roles across a range of business sectors in the UK and internationally and has over 40 years experience in Supply Chain Management, Lean development and Business transformation.

She is also a NED for Doncaster Chamber and the SCR LEP Board.

Unipart Rail, part of Unipart Group are experts in Supply Chain and Technology & Product Solutions for the Rail Industry. Unipart Rail addresses the challenges of the rail industry by working collaboratively with our partners to deliver technology and supply chain solutions that improve performance, reduce risk and optimise cost.

Karima-Catherine Goundiam (KC) is the founder and CEO B2BEEMatch & Red Dot Digital, a digital strategy and management consulting firm launched in 2014.

She is also the founder of Tech Canada Advocates (TCA), an international grassroots tech community linking over 20,000 business leaders, experts and investors.

KC has twenty years of international integrated campaign and project management experience. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she managed digital and social media for Deloitte Canada and she directed social media for Ford.

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. Keir studied law at Leeds University and St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and has published several books including Three Pillars of Liberty: Political Rights and Freedoms in the UK (1996) and European Human Rights Law (1999).

Keir was first elected as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras in 2015, and to Leader of the Labour Party in 2020. He lives in the constituency with his wife and two children and is an avid Arsenal fan.

Kwasi Kwarteng was appointed Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 8 January 2021.

He was previously Minister of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Kwasi was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Exiting the European Union from 16 November 2018 to 24 July 2019.

Kwasi read classics and history at Trinity College, Cambridge, and then attended Harvard University on a Kennedy Scholarship. He earned a PhD in economic history from the University of Cambridge in 2000.

Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Kwasi worked as an analyst in financial services.

Kwasi was elected the Conservative MP for Spelthorne in 2010. From 2010 until 2013 he was a member of the Transport Select Committee, and in 2013 he joined the Work and Pensions Select Committee where he was a member until 2015.

In October 2016 Kwasi joined the Public Accounts Committee, where he was a member until May 2017.

In 2015 Kwasi was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords, and in 2017 he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Personal life

Kwasi’s passions include history, music and languages. He has lived in and around London for most of his life. He has authored several books, including Ghosts of Empire, War and Gold and Thatcher’s Trial.

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy which brings together responsibilities for business, industrial strategy, science, innovation and energy. This includes:

• developing and delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy and leading the government’s relationship with business
• ensuring that the country has secure energy supplies that are reliable, affordable and clean
• ensuring the UK remains at the leading edge of science, research and innovation
• tackling climate change

Lewis Iwu specialises in campaigns, social purpose, presentation and debate coaching and building coalitions between corporates and NGOs. Lewis was the founding Director of the Fair Education Alliance, a national advocacy coalition of almost 100 non-profits and businesses. He has also worked with a range of companies and organisations on ESG issues, including Natwest, Sky, Nesta, bp, BT, AT&T, The Grantham Institute, F1, Pfizer, Avast, Novo Nordisk and Sage. As a trustee, he currently chairs the Ethical Fundraising committee at the British Red Cross.

He is also a global public speaking and debating expert, having participated in or moderated over 1000 debates. He is a former World Debating Champion and has coached England to win the World Championship in 2016. He is the author of a book about debating social issues called Words that Win.

He has written about social issues for The Economist, The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent and the New Statesman and has made numerous TV appearances. Lewis has also given a TEDx talk about social mobility. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East London for his social justice work in 2019.

Lisa Witter is an award-winning executive, serial entrepreneur, writer and public speaker. She is an expert in the intersections of communications, government, politics, philanthropy, technology, women's issues and behaviour change. She has counselled CEOs, Nobel Peace Prize winners, politicians, philanthropists, scientists and academics.

She is the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Apolitical: a network connecting impactful public servants around the world to inspiring ideas, solutions to shared challenges, and the best professional resources and opportunities. Apolitical’s media tells the stories and shares the learnings of heroic men and women in government, and highlights what’s working in the public service globally. Its mission is to make government great for citizens everywhere.

She founded and is a special advisor to Assemblyfor, a B-Corp that applies behavioural science for social good and was partner and an executive for the largest public interest communications agency in the U.S., Fenton, for 13 years. She currently serves as a Special Advisor to Care.com and serves on the advisory boards of The Op-Ed Project and Girls20 and was a board member and Stonyfield (owned by DANONE), AllSay (acquired), and the Women's Philanthropy Institute at Lily School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. She studied at the University of California Santa Cruz, the University of Washington, the Universita di Padua and the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education.

In 2010, she was honoured as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and serves on WEF's Global Agenda Council for Behavior.

She is a frequent public speaker and moderator appearing on such media outlets and platforms as NPR, MSNBC, CBS, World Economic Forum, The Women's Forum for the Economy and Society, TEDWomen and The Skoll World Forum and has been published in publications including Fast Company, Alliance Magazine, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Newsday and The Seattle Times. In 2004 Witter was a contestant on the Showtime reality show, “American Candidate” - a program inspiring Americans to get involved in politics.

Lisa has served as an expert panelist for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Institute of Medicine and co-led the Clinton Global Initiative’s Action Network on Women and Girls. She is co-author of The She Spot: Why Women are the Market for Changing the World and How to Reach Them and co-founder of the award-winning SheSource.org and was honoured as an outstanding activist by Oxygen.com in 2000. In addition she has co-founded several political training institutes in the U.S. and internationally including The Institute for a Democratic Future, Emerge and Hoj Rosten.

Her passions are hanging with her two little dudes playing sports - adventuring in nature and doing the robot dance, skiing and snowboarding with her hubby, being an autodidact, late night movies alone, wearing pretty dresses, losing herself in music and feeling deeply connected (sometimes with red wine) to wherever and whomever she is with.

Her motto: "Be kind, work hard and have fun."

Born near Seattle, Washington, USA she resides in Berlin but lives globally, including a significant amount of time in New York City and London.

Liz Willingham is a Chartered public relations professional (CIPR) working in the UK Communications industry for 30 years, and founder of Liz Lean PR established in 1998.

NED of British Chambers of Commerce since 2019 and Past President and continuing NED of Dorset Chamber of Commerce, Liz has a passion for business and relationship building, profile raising, and championing the role of business in our society.

Her company, Liz Lean PR and its dedicated team of professionals, provides non-sector specific communications support with reputation management at its core to clients including OnBuy.com, Weird Fish, Nuffield Health, Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World, and Hall & Woodhouse.

A subject which is of high importance to her, Liz has developed initiatives with Dorset Chamber surrounding wellbeing in the workplace and the ‘Got Your 6’ (GU6) business leader resilience project.

Mark Price is the founder of WorkL for Business, a platform offering market leading employee engagement surveys and data to help businesses and organisations develop and engage their workforce. Mark’s mission is to help everyone get a little happier at work.

Mark is a writer and former government Minister of Trade. A former Managing Director of Waitrose, Deputy Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and President of the Chartered Management Institute, Mark has spent over thirty years unlocking the power of people in organisations. He is passionate about creating engaged and happy workforces who in turn create longer-term sustainable success for businesses.

Mary Wanjiku is a 4th year student at Laikipia University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Sociology. At 21 years old Mary is a Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award participant currently at the silver level and is Chairperson of the Award in Laikipia Award Unit. Mary enjoys using her skills and knowledge towards community service and recently opened a YouTube channel to widen my audience. Through the Award activities we has so far gained sewing, beauty therapy and hairdressing skills as well as leadership skills.

Being a member of Enactus Kenya as well, her dedication, commitment and passion to use entrepreneurial action to create a better world for us all inspired her to participate in the 18th Enactus Kenya Digital Expo in July 2020.

Mary runs a business by the name Crystal Beads Enterprise which mainly deals with Beadwork and crafts. She joined Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in June 2020 and became a member of the Laikipia Chamber Chapter.

Miranda Barker is CEO of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Chair of RedCAT, working for the members and the wider East Lancashire business community, providing advice, support and commercial services. Miranda is a Lancashire LEP Director and is co-chair of the LEPs Energy & Low Carbon strand, and Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce Chambers’ Climate Challenge Group.

Chamber Low Carbon is a multi-million pound program, part ERDF funded working across Lancashire with SMEs to help them reduce their CO2 emissions and plan their path to net zero, including providing a Lancashire low carbon grant. RedCAT, the Lancashire Centre for Alternative Technologies, backed by the Getting Building Fund, is an initiative developed and led by East Lancashire Chamber, in partnership with AMRC NW, Environment Agency, providing a pathway of financial and R & D support to accelerate the commercialisation of low carbon technologies.

Previously as a professional environmental consultant, Miranda established an environmental consultancy working with clients across food, chemicals, pharma, energy, waste, farming, manufacturing, FMCG, engineering, automotive and aerospace, in the UK, northern, western and eastern Europe, Brazil, USA and China.

Miriam González Durántez currently leads the trade practice of US law firm, Cohen & Gresser, splitting her time between California, Washington and London. She advises clients on international trade and regulation, with a particular focus on European Union law. Her practice also includes international sanctions, export control, and cross-border investigations.

She is Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board of UBS Europe SE, a Member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of the International Advisory Board of the Circulo de Empresarios in Spain.

Miriam is the Founder and Chair of Inspiring Girls International, a global charity dedicated to raising the aspirations of young girls by connecting schoolgirls and women role models.

Miriam holds a degree in Law from the University of Valladolid and a Masters in European Policy from the College of Bruges. She is the author of “Devuelveme el poder” and “Made in Spain”.

Paul Thwaite was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Banking in November 2019, and is responsible for the business supporting clients ranging from SMEs through to multi-nationals.

Paul has a track record of success in senior business and functional roles across Wholesale, Corporate, International and Retail Banking for the Group, and was most recently responsible for the bank’s SME franchise and commercial product businesses, including Lombard Asset Finance and Transaction Services. Prior to this, he held Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer roles in International Banking, based in the UK and the US and working across multiple geographies.

Outside the bank, Paul is a Non-Executive Director of Motability Operations Group plc, and member of the Whitehall Industry Group, various Financial Institutions advisory boards, and the Business Finance Council. Paul is a strong supporter of Diversity & Inclusion, and has been the Executive sponsor of D&I for the Commercial Bank since 2017.

Paul Farmer has been Chief Executive of Mind, the leading mental health charity working in England and Wales since May 2006.

Paul is Chair of the NHS England Independent Oversight & Advisory Group which brings together health and care leaders and experts to oversee the current mental health long term plan for the NHS in England. He co-authored ‘Thriving at Work’ for the government, setting out how to transform mental health in workplaces.

Paul is a Commissioner at Historic England. He has an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of East London, is an Honorary Fellow of St Peter’s College, Oxford, and The Royal College of Psychiatrists, and was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours 2016.

Richard Burge joined the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) as Chief Executive in February 2020.

Prior to this, Richard was an independent advisor on international affairs focusing on trade, conflict, and development with a portfolio of advisory and consultancy work. Richard’s varied career has seen him lead four multi-million pound organisations as Chief Executive over a total of 18 years. These comprised a famous charity, a UK government agency, a private company and a membership body.

He has been on the Board and a non-executive director of five multi-million pound operations including companies, charities, two government agencies, and a UK Russell Group university. Richard has worked in over 55 countries, specialising in Africa, the wider Commonwealth, and post-conflict situations.

He was Chief Executive, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council from 2017 to 2019. For the previous eight years, he was Chief Executive of Wilton Park (a Foreign and Commonwealth Office agency for conciliation and dialogue on global issues). He was also a Commissioner for Commonwealth Scholarships, and on the Council of Durham University.

Other roles include Chief Executive Officer of the Countryside Alliance, Director General of the Zoological Society of London, and for ten years he served with the British Council in Africa and the Middle East.

Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith is the President of the British Chambers of Commerce.

Ruby 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, Ruby 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.

Sarah Howard is Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce.

Sarah is a past president of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. She joined the BCC board in 2016 and became Chair in October 2019.

Sarah started her career as a management consultant at KPMG, moving to JP Morgan before setting up her own company, Sarand Business Software with her partner in 1994. The company supplies bespoke software to a wide range of clients.

Sarah chairs Abbeycroft, a large not for profit leisure trust. She is the independent Chair of the West Suffolk Alliance for the NHS and is also a Governor at West Suffolk College and a member of the Suffolk Academy Trust.

Shajjad Hadier Rizvi MBE was born and bred in London but has been based in Central and Eastern Europe since the fall of the Berlin wall and has played a lead role in the development of civil society in the region. He is one of the founders of Little People Romania, a charity that helps every child in Romania being treated for cancer.

In 2015 Shajjad co-founded Youth Cancer Europe, the leading voice on youth cancer in Europe. Shajjad is the founding chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh Romania, and from 2018 vice-chairman of the International Award association. In 2018 Shajjad was appointed development director at Resysten Clean Technologies and was appointed CEO in March 2020.

Shajjad is a Director of the British Romania Chamber of Commerce and Honorary British Consul for Cluj. In 2019 Shajjad was awarded an MBE for services to charity. “I was often labeled as ‘troubled' as a teen, and my way out was service to others which has since defined my life. I have devoted my life helping ‘troubled' youth find a rhyme, reason and meaning in a somewhat chaotic world.”

Shevaun Haviland is Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce.

Shevaun joined BCC from the Cabinet Office where she lead Business Partnerships. She joined the UK government in 2016 and also ran the Inclusive Economy Partnership for HMG.

Shevaun started her career in consultancy in London and New York. She then moved to the Walt Disney Company in strategic planning before joining Disneyland Paris, opening the second theme park. Shevaun then joined the agency world, running global accounts for Millward Brown, Mindshare and WPP.

Following this, she became a partner in a start-up digital innovation agency and venture builder, Independents United, where she also became an Advisor for the Danson Foundation.

Most recently, Shevaun was the New Ventures Director for Avado, building new businesses in Edtech and founding the Academy of Digital Business Leaders. Shevaun has a passion for business as a force for good. She is a social impact investor, sits on the Ventures Advisory Board of UnLtd, and is Trustee of Barefoot College International as well as a board member of Women of the World Foundation.

Stefania Vilcu is a Gold Award holder, she started the Award at high-school and completed while at university. She continues her involvement in the Award programs by supporting young people doing the programme from around Romania and plays an active role as an Award Ambassador and as a leader overseeing young Romanians doing their Award.

Stefania found many different challenges on her Award journey, but managed to achieve her goals which greatly increased her adaptability, dedication to tasks and boosted her resilience. Stefania works in a media company, is passionate about Human Rights, and is excited to share her experience and the impact the Award has and is still having on her life.

Stuart Patrick is Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, committed to the business success of Chamber members and championing the economic growth of the Glasgow city region.

Stuart joined the Chamber in 2009 having previously spent 17 years at Scottish Enterprise specialising in urban economic development and the transformation of Glasgow where he led Scottish Enterprise Glasgow. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young, has an MBA from Strathclyde University and an accountancy degree from Glasgow University.

He is a member of the Glasgow Economic Leadership board, chair of the Wise Group and sits on the boards of Clyde Gateway, Scottish Opera and Glasgow Science Centre.

Uri has worked at Teva for 15 years overall.

He has served in multiple positions, including Director of Trade Activities in the API Products Division for Europe and Director of Business Development for Teva in the Indian Market.

Uri holds a BA in Economics & Business Administration and an MBA specializing in Finance and Marketing from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Alderman William Russell took office as the 692nd Lord Mayor of the City of London on 8th November 2019. He served as a Sheriff of the City of London in 2016-17 and, in that capacity, supported the then Lord Mayor, undertaking numerous visits and official functions. On 30th September 2020 William was elected to serve a further year in office, to provide continuity of civic governance during the Coronavirus emergency.

His mayoral theme for his time in office is “Global UK – The New Future”, supporting businesses through the COVID19 crisis, speeding the recovery and seizing the opportunities of the new future.

William has over thirty years’ experience in the financial and business City including holding senior positions in the national and international Banking sector. In 1987 he went to work for First Boston Corporation before joining Merrill Lynch in 1992 as an Investment Banker in Institutional Equity Sales, working in Asia, New York and London. William is currently Chair of CDAM, a London based Asset Management business and Senior Advisor to STJ Advisors.

William served on the Board of Innovate Finance, the industry body for the UK based Fintech community and is also an educational entrepreneur, as the co-Founder and Chair of Knightsbridge School and a Director of Knightsbridge School International (KSI). William is a member of the Campaign Board for Durham Inspired, a landmark philanthropic campaign focused on ensuring Durham remains at the forefront of learning, research and education for generations to come.

Alderman Russell has a number of charitable interests; he has served as Chair of the Development Board of the Royal Court Theatre, he is a Board Member of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is on the Council of the Royal Theatrical Support Trust. He is immediate past Chair of Prostate Cancer UK and is currently Deputy Chair of Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity. As of July 2019 he is a member of the Barbican Centre Board.

William was elected Alderman for the Ward of Bread Street in March 2013 and has since served on a number of the City of London Corporation Committees including the Policy and Resources Committee and the Education Board. William is also a Governor of the City of London School for Girls and is a past Governor of the Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, Adams Grammar School and Abraham Darby Academy.

William is a Court Assistant to both the Haberdashers’ and the Feltmakers’ Livery Companies, as well as an Honorary Liveryman of the Paviors’ Company.

Alderman Russell was born in London in 1965 and was educated at Eton College and Durham University. He is married to Hilary who also went to Durham University. They have four children: Edward (27), Nicholas (24), Alistair (22) and Helena (17). His interests include cricket, tennis, rugby and the theatre. William has a strong family history with the City of London. He is the fifth member of his family to be Lord Mayor in the past 110 years. His grandfather, Sir Ian Bowater, was Lord Mayor exactly 50 years ago from 1969 to 1970 and his great grandfather, Sir Frank Bowater, was Lord Mayor from 1938 to 1939.