Supriya Banerji
Head of Policy Group – Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
Based in India, Supriya Banerji currently heads the CII’s International Division. Prior to this she was head of the Policy Division and Media Department. Her current responsibilities entail looking after the CII’s international activities in India and their operations overseas. She has also been the Regional Director of CII Southern Region where she has networked with industry and government in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu. Supriya was also in charge of CII operations in the UK, based in London, where she networked with government departments, the Commonwealth Secretariat, industry associations / Chambers of Commerce, universities and various educational institutions. She joined CII in 1984 at the CII regional headquarters in Mumbai. Supriya Banerji holds a postgraduate degree in Industrial Sociology from the University of Mumbai. Supriya was awarded the OBE in 2006.
Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL
Founder of Cobra and Chairman of The Cobra Beer Partnership Ltd
Born in India, Lord Karan Bilimoria graduated in Law from Cambridge University and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst and Young. Karan is famed for developing Cobra Beer – a less gassy, premium lager brewed to specifically appeal to both ale drinkers and lager drinkers alike and to complement food. Karan spent twenty years building the Cobra Brand name and grew his reputation as a major UK entrepreneur on the speaker circuit. In 2009 Karan went into partnership with Molson Coors who bought 50.1% of Cobra Beer. Karan is the Representative Deputy Lieutenant of the London Borough of Hounslow and, among many other positions, serves as Chancellor of West London University – making him the UK’s youngest university chancellor. Karan is also one of the first two “Visiting Entrepreneurs” ever appointed at Cambridge University and serves as National Champion of the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship. He sits on the Government’s National Employment Panel (NEP), and from 2001 to 2005 he was Chairman of the NEP’s SME Board. Additionally, Karan serves as UK Chairman of the Indo British Partnership, and lectures extensively in the UK and abroad on entrepreneurship, business, education, and the Indo-British relationship. He has won numerous awards in recognition of his business achievements and charitable work, including the RSA’s Albert Medal in 2004: the Society’s 250th anniversary year. In June 2006, Karan was appointed Lord Bilimoria, of Chelsea. Karan still spends a great deal of his time back in India, where his family and other business interests remain, and has been pivotal in helping advise on the Business School’s marketing effort in India.
Ghaleb Cachalia
Managing Director – Interbrand Sampson, South Africa
Based in South Africa, Ghaleb’s experience in business management spans over twenty years. He is Managing Director of Interbrand Sampson, South Africa – the African associate of the Interbrand group which is listed via Omincom on the NYSE. Immediately prior to this he was Executive Director of Baird's - one of the largest full-service public relations and public affairs consultancies in Southern Africa. From 2004 – 2007 Ghaleb was Group Executive & Head of De Beers Group Corporate and External Affairs. He also spent three years as a partner in the international strategy firm Monitor, where he was Global Account Manager. He has consulted on infrastructure projects in Africa and on strategy for leading global firms. He has founded and managed manufacturing operations in South Africa, Malawi and Mozambique, and managed consulting projects at Board level in the UK, Europe and South Africa. As a Fund Manager at the private equity firm Cycad Fund Managers, he was responsible for raising the Women's Private Equity Fund. Ghaleb has served on the Boards of a number of diamond mining companies across the SADC region and boards of numerous business and educational bodies internationally. He is also chairman of a strategy and investment advisory company focusing on Indo-African businesses.
Dr Derong Chen
International Consultant
Based in China, Derong Chen is Consultant to various international companies. Before setting up on her own in 2006 she was the Chief Representative of Hydro Aluminium Beijing Office. She joined Norsk Hydro in 1998 as Business and Organisation Development Director in Beijing and subsequently held the position of General Manager of Norsk Hydro Magnesium Xi’an which was Hydro’s first wholly owned company in China. Previously, she was Human Resources Manager of ICI China and Organisation Development Director of SmithKline-Beecham in China. Dr Chen was Dean of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) from 1987 to 1989 when the school was set up in Beijing jointly by the European Commission and the China State Economic Commission. In the 1970s and 1980s, she worked with Chinese state-owned companies for more than ten years as an engineer and manager. She received her BSc in Material Science from Beijing University of Science and Technology in 1968. In 1986 she obtained her MBA from CEIBS, whilst working at the school. In 1993 she gained her PhD in Organisational Behaviour from Aston University, UK. She published her PhD thesis: “Chinese Firms between Hierarchy and Market: the Contract Management Responsibility System in China” with Macmillan in 1995. Her other publications include ‘Three Dimensional Rationales in Chinese Negotiation in Negotiation Eclectics’ (Harvard Law School, 2000), and ‘When Chinese Companies Negotiate with their Government in Organisation Studies’, 1995.
Hasan Çolakoğlu
Chair – Turk Ekonomi Bankasi
Based in Turkey, Hasan Çolakoğlu is Chairman of TEB Group, which is involved in providing financial services in commercial and investment banking, securities brokerage, insurance, leasing, factoring and asset management. He is on the Boards of various companies belonging to the Çolakoğlu Group, a privately owned business group engaged in steel and container manufacturing, energy production, shipping and international trade. Hasan is also an Executive Board Member of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey.
Andraea Dawson-Shepherd
SVP Global Corporate Communication and Affairs – Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC
Andraea joined Reckitt Benckiser PLC in 2008. Reckitt Benckiser is a world leader in household, health and personal care products. The company is truly global, with over 60 operating companies, 49 manufacturing facilities worldwide, and sales in more than 180 countries. Her accountabilities include all external communication and internal leadership and change communication, including corporate and financial PR, crisis communication and the company’s corporate presence online. Previously Andraea was Global Communication Director of Cadbury Schweppes PLC for seven years, with global responsibility for Cadbury’s internal and external corporate communications, supporting the business’ mission of being a values-led and performance-driven business passionate about both performance and stewardship. Prior to joining Cadbury Schweppes, Andraea co-founded Hedron: one of Europe’s leading internal and change communication consultancies. She has worked in and with a wide range of global corporations including Diageo, Aon, Shell, HSBC, Avon, De la Rue and Lloyds TSB. Andraea started her career working in the Houses of Parliament and then in Government Affairs in UK and Europe. After this she moved into financial PR and then into marketing and corporate PR and advertising. She was educated at CASS Business School, where she did her MBA, and Oxford and Exeter Universities where she was an undergraduate in Chemistry. She has been a visiting lecturer on Services Marketing at CASS Business School. Andraea has authored several articles on communication and change management, and co-edited ‘Understanding Organisational Dynamics’ (Routledge).
Baroness Rita Donaghy CBE, OBE
Former Chair – Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service – ACAS 2000 - 2007
Lady Donaghy began her career as a university administrator and trade unionist who went on to hold significant industrial positions in public life before being created a Labour Life Peer in the 2010 Dissolution Honours List, when she became Baroness Donaghy of Peckham. Prior to becoming a Baroness, Rita was awarded the OBE for services to industrial relations in 1998, then created CBE in 2005 for services to employment relations. Lady Donaghy was chair of ACAS for seven years where she drove the ACAS mission to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. Prior to this appointment, Lady Donaghy was President of the TUC 1999 to 2000. She served on the National Executive Council of NALGO/UNISON from 1973 to 2000, including a spell as President. From 1987 to 2000, Lady Donaghy was a member of the TUC’s General Council and has also served on the executive of the European TUC. She was a member of the Low Pay Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission Task Group on Equal Pay. She was appointed a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (The Graham Committee) in February 2001. Lady Donaghy holds a Fellowship of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, and a Fellowship of the RSA, and honorary degrees from the Open University, Keele University and Greenwich University.
David Gilbey
Co-founder – Aubert Park Venture Ltd, and Wood for Trees Digital
(Former Vice President – AOL)
David co-founded Aubert Park Ventures in 2007, a privately-funded digital start-up that is creating digital consumer offerings targeting mainstream audiences in the UK and beyond. David is also a co-founder of Wood for Trees Digital, which helps organisations identify and take advantage of digital opportunities. From 2003 to 2007, David was Vice President of AOL responsible for the overall online consumer offering for AOL UK and for AOL’s international video and TV propositions, where he created and served the UK’s most engaged mass online audience. Prior to AOL, David was UK Managing Director of Synapse, a $300 million division acquired by Time Inc. Prior to that, David was Vice President of Time Inc. in New York and London, where he worked on brands including Time, Fortune and Money, both online and off-line. David graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Birmingham in 1986.
Dr Rebecca Harding
Managing Director – Delta Economics
Rebecca is Founder and Managing Director of Delta Economics Ltd and the World Entrepreneurship Summit as well as Chief Policy Advisor to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Entrepreneurship. Between 2002 and 2007 she was Director of GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) UK, the world’s largest single-country study of entrepreneurial activity. During the latter period she was also Executive Director of GEM Worldwide, a research consortium of 42 countries around the world led by London Business School and Babson College. As part of this, she organised the GEM Forum in 2007 and brought together 450 leading academics, thought leaders, policy makers and business leaders from around the world to debate the role of entrepreneurship in economic development. During this period Rebecca also held the roles of Associate Director of Research at Deloitte and Chief Economist at The Work Foundation as well as a Senior Fellow at London Business School. During her time at Deloitte she developed the Deloitte Competitiveness Index, a means of measuring economic growth potential through innovation and entrepreneurship. She has worked with the Institute for Public Policy Research, a London-based think-tank, on entrepreneurship and venture capital policy and was a Senior Lecturer at the Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex. Rebecca is a Director of the German-British Forum, a management board member of the Trestle Group Foundation’s Venture Fund and a member of the International Advisory Board of Global Angels. She is a contributing editor of the Business Strategy Review and writes a regular column for The Director magazine. She is the author of 9 books and over 150 academic and policy articles and reports.
Bob Herbert
Company Director and Chairman – InnovationXchange Network, Australia
Based in Australia, Bob Herbert is well regarded across the senior echelons of industry, government and public service. He was Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group from 1996 to 2004. In 2004 he was admitted as a Member of the Victorian Manufacturing Industry Hall of Fame. In 2005 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to industry, industrial relations and skills development. His various appointments include: Company Director with the Skilled Group Limited and Mainco Melbourne Pty Ltd. He is Deputy Chairman of the Industry Capability Network Limited and a Director of The Union Education Foundation. He has an active interest in the field of innovation and industry research and development as former Chairman of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Manufacturing Advisory Council (2002 to 2006) and now as Chairman of IXC Australia Limited – the InnovationXchange Network. In addition, he has consultancy roles with, amongst others, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, and has recently completed a major industrial relations study for the Victorian Government. He is also Executive Chairman of the National Manufacturing Forum with responsibility for developing a strategic agenda of action for all Australian State and Territory Governments.
Renate Hornung–Draus
Managing Director – Confederation of German Employers (BDA)
Based in Germany, Renate Hornung–Draus is Managing Director and Director of European and International Affairs of the Confederation of German Employers (BDA). This is the top business organisation representing the interests of private employers in the field of employment, labour and social affairs in Germany covering all sectors of the German economy. Via its sectoral and regional member organisations it represents the interests of 2 million companies employing 80% of the work force in the private sector. Renate directs BDA’s activities worldwide. This includes representing the employers’ views through the European institutions (European Commission, EP, Council) and the international organisations (ILO, OECD, UN-organisations), providing advice and services to member organisations and companies on European and international issues, such as European works councils, international framework agreements, corporate social responsibility, labour law and industrial relations issues. She is chair of the UNICE (Voice of European Business) Employment Committee, Vice-chair of the employers’ group of the European Economic and Social Committee and Employer-Vice-Chair of the ILO-Governing Body Subcommittee on Multinational enterprises. Previously she was Director of social affairs at UNICE (1992–1994) and Director of the BDA’s EU representation, which she established in Brussels (1990–1992).
Anji Hunter
Director - Royal Academy of Engineering
Anji was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was educated at St. Leonard’s school, St. Andrews and St. Clare’s Hall, Oxford. After gaining a first in History (BA Hons) at the University of Brighton she worked in a London law firm and taught English in Spain and London. In 1987, she joined Tony Blair as a Political Researcher, rising to be Head of the Private Office in 1994. She ran the Prime Minister’s election campaign in 1997 and entered Downing Street as Head of Presentation and Planning, playing a critical role in implementing the Government’s communications strategy. In 2001, she became Director of Government Relations, where she had particular responsibility for links with media, business and foreign governments. She joined BP as Director of Communications in February 2002 where she was responsible for the co-ordination and direction of a range of communications activities that included pro-active communications planning and execution, both internal and external, group reputation measurement, sponsorship, electronic media and events management. Anji left BP in 2008 and became Group Head of Government and Social Affairs for Anglo American, one of the world's largest mining corporations, which she left to join the Board of The Royal Academy of Engineering in 2011.
Mushtaq Kazi
Senior Consultant – ABB Group
Based in Switzerland, Mushtaq joined ABB in 2000 and has supported strategic IT initiatives globally. ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance, whilst lowering the environmental impact. Mushtaq has held several positions at ABB in both Europe and America and is currently collaborating with the group’s technology ventures. Mushtaq started his career with Rover Group, as a Design Engineer working on various car and 4x4 programmes. As part of the BMW Group, Mushtaq was appointed manager for BMW projects, within the Information Systems department. Mushtaq is passionate about education and has done a lot to support youth development in the West Midlands area. He was a founder member of the Aston Youth Forum established in July 2000 – a fully constituted voluntary organisation working with young people, to enable them to gain opportunities for personal development. Mushtaq did his MBA at Birmingham Business School in 2006, returning to Switzerland immediately after, where he has since helped create international project openings with his clients for MSc and MBA students.
Pauline Ko
Assurance Risk Management – PwC
Based in Singapore (though originally from Hong Kong), Pauline started working with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong as an Assurance Associate and then Senior Associate. She worked primarily with consumer and industrial clients, including China-Joint Venture enterprises, and subsidiaries of multinational corporations. During this time she was also the Chairperson of the Birmingham University Alumni Association Hong Kong. Pauline relocated to PricewaterhouseCoopers Singapore in 2002 to continue as an Assistant Manager in the Assurance Management Group.
Anna Lin
Chief Executive – GS1 Hong Kong
Based in Hong Kong, Anna Lin and her husband graduated from the Birmingham MBA in 1988. In 1989 Anna joined the Hong Kong Article Numbering Association, rising to Chief Executive. She is now Chief Executive of both GS1 Hong Kong and EPCGlobal Hong Kong. EPC is Electronic Product Code and it is anticipated that in the next 15 years RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) will be the universal method of tagging consignments. Anna and her organisations are concerned with the development, adoption and dissemination of universal technological and management platforms and standards in international supply chains. The overall aim is, broadly, to link virtual supply chains enabling companies across the world to communicate through a common business language.
Kwan Lo
CEO – Taste International Limited
Based largely in Hong Kong, Kwan founded Taste International, a manufacturer of hand protection products with a factory in China employing over 300 workers, as well as offices in Taiwan and London. Kwan is fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese and is involved in numerous joint ventures throughout China. Kwan was born in Hong Kong in 1962 and graduated with the MBA from Birmingham Business School in 1988. He then joined Valin Pollen, an Investor Relations Consultancy in London, as a management trainee. He moved to Burson Marsteller (part of the WPP Group) in 1990 as Account Director specialising in stock surveillance.
Jane Lodge
Partner – Deloitte
A graduate of the University of Birmingham, Jane was a partner in Deloitte (formerly Touche Ross) 1986 to 2011. She has extensive experience in advising global businesses in a variety of sectors including manufacturing, financial services, construction and house building. As a partner, Jane held various senior roles at Deloitte. She was head of the Deloitte Manufacturing Group in the UK, leading the firm’s development of business with manufacturing clients and representing the UK on the Deloitte Global Manufacturing Executive Group, and she also held the position of Practice Senior Partner in the Midlands. She was the partner responsible for the firm's UK assurance and advisory training and development, and also spearheaded a global learning taskforce which is now used as the de facto standard for development and implementation of global learning programmes which have been rolled out to offices around the world. She was a member of the Deloitte UK Board of Partners for a 2 year term. In October 2001 Jane was awarded the prestigious title of Midlands Business Woman of the Year and three years later Jane received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Birmingham and West Midlands Society of Chartered Accountants for her services to the profession. In 2006 she was nominated to the Manufacturing Power 50 by The Manufacturer magazine sponsored by Barclays. Jane chaired the Audit Committee of the University of Birmingham for 7 years and was a member of its Council for 9 years. A former council member of the West Midlands CBI, she is currently member of the CBI Manufacturing Council. Jane is a Board member of the Black Country Living Museum.
Dr Angela Maxwell, OBE
Director – Acuwomen
Angela Maxwell was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Birmingham and created OBE for services to Business in 2010. Angela was honoured by the Queen at Buckingham Palace, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to UK trade and industry 2007. She is on the Board of the West Midlands Regional Development Agency and was the sole SME representative in a major business round table discussion with Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2004. After graduating in Law from Oxford, Angela started out as Sales Manager for Vickers Caley Publications in Australia where she achieved the best sales in the company’s history at the age of 22 and was responsible for the ‘Harbour Connection’ magazine being recognised as the official guide to Sydney. On returning from Australia in 1991, Angela played a key role with Sheffield Theatres as Business Development Manager, where she spearheaded a sponsorship office from scratch, before becoming Director of the Compass Theatre Company in 1995. Thereafter Angela took over as Commercial Director of Fracino successfully transforming it into a leading brand manufacturer and exporter. Her sales and marketing drive quickly powered turnover from £400,000 to £2million with a greatly improved profit margin. This is where Angela’s passion resides: in the championing and acceleration of SMEs and her desire to support business growth in the West Midlands. Angela founded Acuwomen, the UK’s first consultancy to be staffed entirely by businesswomen, in 2005. Its client-base spans the public and private sector, and the enterprise has been featured in the Observer. Clients include Coors Brewery, Yorkshire Forward, the NHS and the Probation Service.
Winston Milner
Director of Business Development – EMBRAER Aircraft Manufacture
Based in Singapore, Winton Milner has two decades of experience in the airlines and aerospace industry. He completed his MBA at Birmingham Business School and is currently the Director in charge of business development for EMBRAER in Singapore where he has been directly responsible for generating revenue exceeding US$1B. He has acquired a wide spectrum of business competencies including board and corporate governance matters as well as strategic management. His other current appointments include: Chairman of the Tanglin Neighbourhood Committee – Grassroots leader; Executive Member of the Tanglin-Cairnhill Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) – Grassroots leader; Member of Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Focus Group Consultation on Landed Housing Guidelines for Singapore into the next decade; Member of Singapore’s Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Aerospace Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC); Anglican Diocese of Singapore Synod representative; Member of the Parochial Church Council of St. Paul’s Church.
Julie Moore
CEO – University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Julie is a graduate nurse who worked in clinical practice before nurse management during which she undertook an MA in Health Services Studies. While Nurse Director, she was seconded to work at the Department of Health on developing nursing roles. In 1998, Julie became an operational director in the 3000 bed Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. She was appointed as Executive Director of Operations at University Hospital Birmingham (UHB) in 2002. UHB became a foundation trust in July 2004 and Julie’s role was expanded to become the Chief Operating Officer. UHB is a high performing trust achieving 3 stars for four years and ratings of “good” and “excellent” from the Health Care Commission. It has 1200 beds, £410m turnover, 6700 staff and secured a £545m PFI programme for a state of the art new hospital that opened in 2010. It is also host to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine and the Birmingham Clinical Research Academy (a partnership with University of Birmingham established in 2007). In July 2006, Julie became acting Chief Executive of University Hospital Birmingham prior to being appointed as substantive Chief Executive in November 2006.
Robert Popeo
Chairman – Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo
Based in the US, Robert Popeo is Chairman and President of Mintz Levin and a member of the firm's Policy Committee. He practises in the Litigation Section from the firm's Boston office. Robert lectures widely in law and continues his studies to remain abreast of the latest legal developments, while finding time for the civic service he pursues so ardently. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia and is a member of the District of Columbia and Boston Bar Associations, as well as the Practicing Law Institute. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He received his A.B. from Northeastern University (1958), and his J.D. from Boston College Law School (1961).
Heather Ridout
CEO – Australian Industry Group
Based in Australia, Heather Ridout is Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, and previously held the positions of Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director – Public Policy and Communications. She has responsibility for the overall development and implementation of the Australian Industry Group's policies, strategies and services. Her policy interests embrace the whole of industry and she has been particularly active in developing AI Group's public policy in relation to industry, innovation, education and training.
Dr Sarindar Singh Sahota OBE BSc, Hon DEng, Hon DSc.
Vice Chair West Midlands Regional Assembly and partner Nanak Electricals and Sahota Properties
Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Sarindar came to the UK to study at the University of Birmingham in 1971, after which he returned home to join the family business: Nairobi Terrazzo Contractors Limited in Kenya. He came back to the UK in 1989 and joined Nanak Electricals in Birmingham. He was unanimously elected to lead the regional business community as the Vice Chair of the West Midlands Regional Assembly. Sarindar is the Chair of the Single Regeneration Budget Round 6 N.W. Birmingham. He is the Deputy Chair of West Midlands Business Council, a non-executive director of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital NHS Trust and the Chair of Dudley Road Traders Association. He is the past Chair of the Asian Business Forum and Institute of Asian Businesses. He is also a trustee of Acorns Hospice. He was a non-executive director of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Prime Focus Regeneration Group. He is a member of the Governing Council of University of Birmingham. He sits on the Regional Housing Board, the Regional Planning Partnership and the Regional Advisory Council of ITV. Sarindar chaired the Strategic Review of Advantage West Midlands Regeneration Zones Panel for the Regional Assembly. The Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust awarded him the 2004 Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) award. He was given an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering by the University of Birmingham at their congregation in December 2004. Sarindar was awarded an OBE in the 2005 New Years Honours List for his work in regeneration. Sarindar was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Aston University in July 2005. Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry honoured Sarindar for his work for the Business Community in 2006.
Tony Sealey OBE,
Managing Director – Canefield Limited
Tony splits his year between his businesses in the UK and the Caribbean. In the UK, he is Managing Director of Canefield Limited a company operating multi-restaurant units under a business franchise partner agreement with McDonald’s Restaurants. In the Caribbean, he is the Managing Director of UHURU Global Trading Limited, the parent company for UHURU (Barbados) Limited that currently operates the “UK branded” Attiva Health & Fitness Clubs across the Caribbean region. Tony started his career in Local Government in 1974 where he held various positions in administration before leaving the service in 1984 to pursue self-employment as a Management Consultant and Managing Director of his own company. For the period 2003 – 2007 he served as a director with NCB Remittances Services Limited, the UK subsidiary of the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica. He is a board member of Advantage West Midlands (AWM), the Government’s Regional Development Agency (RDA) for the West Midlands. He has chaired the Local Enterprise Agency Black Business in Birmingham (3b) since 1989 and was previously a member of the National Ethnic Minority Business Forum (EMBF), the advisory body to UK Government on ethnic minority business issues. He chaired the West Midlands Ethnic Minority Business Forum 2000 – 2002 and he was awarded the 1999 Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship to visit the United States to study the work of the Minority Business Development Agency located in the U.S Government’s Department of Commence, resulting in his publication “Good Practice in Supporting Black and Minority Ethnic Entrepreneurs”. Tony was named the Carlton Television “Midlander of the Year 2002 for Business Leadership” in recognition of his contribution to the development of sustainable businesses in disadvantaged communities.
Marc Stone
Director - Stone Business Solutions
Marc graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1994 before joining Lucas Aerospace at the Shaftmoor Lane factory in Birmingham where he qualified as a CIMA accountant and became lean and six sigma trained. In 1999, Marc moved to GEC Marconi becoming Finance and Programmes Director for the Global Estates business, receiving a Special Recognition Award for the Project Inspirations programmes at Ansty, Coventry, Nottingham and Genoa working in partnership with AWM, EMDA, Learning & Skills Council, Coventry City Council, Turner and Townsend and Bovislendlease. In 2002, he moved to DHL Tradeteam to drive M&A and Network Integration activity, before receiving an Innovation Award in 2006 for successfully driving the commercial transformation programme. Marc set up Stone Business Solutions in 2008 to provide Executive Interim Management and Consultancy, with clients in the Airline and Insurance sectors. Being a passionate advocate of the region, Marc re-engaged with the Business School providing Executive Insight Lectures, sourcing MBA placements, mentoring students and supporting the successful EQUIS audit in 2010. Former Vice President of the CIMA Birmingham Board, Marc is now a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, and a member of the Birmingham Chamber Executive Club.
Gisela Stuart LLB
MP for Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Born in Germany, Gisela Stuart later relocated to the UK and has since become one of the country’s most respected Labour politicians, winning four consecutive General Elections to represent Birmingham Edgbaston since 1997 which, unlike any other UK constituency, has had a woman Member of Parliament since 1953. During the 2010 General Election Gisela was named in The Times as one of Britain's best MPs who should be voted in on merit regardless of party. Gisela was a Health Minister from 1999 – 2001. She has been a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee since 2001 and has represented UK Parliament at the Convention on the Future of Europe. Gisela wrote the Fabian Pamphlet “Writing Europe’s Constitution”. Before becoming an MP Gisela was Deputy Director of the London Book Fair and a Law Lecturer and Researcher.