Speakers
Charlotte Valeur, IoD Chair
Charlotte Valeur was appointed Chair of the Institute in September 2018. As Chair, Charlotte is responsible for championing the IoD’s values, promoting its Objects and providing leadership to the Institute, ensuring it delivers maximum impact for its members and stakeholders.
Over the last decade, Charlotte has been a director of 7 public companies, including three appointments as chair. Charlotte is a corporate governance expert and a keen advocate for diversity in the boardroom, underpinning this advocacy with action by founding Board Apprentice. This not-for-profit organisation provides individuals hands-on experience at the very top of business, and has been cited in the Government’s recent reviews on ethnic and gender diversity in UK boardrooms as a resource for bringing about real change.
Anna Daroy, Executive Director & Board Member, Institute of Directors (IoD)
Anna has worked in both private and public sectors for 30 years successfully leading organisations through complex change and turnaround across multi-cultural and political environments.
An active member of the IOD for over 15 years, Anna brings an established track record during her career as Partner Ernst Young, MD at IBM EMEA, and Vice President Mercer. Her successes include extensively growing operations across USA and Europe, Middle East and Africa and leading international business operations with revenues of up to £13bn.
Bola Tinubu, Founder, The Cece Yara Foundation
(London event only)
Bola Founded The Cece Yara Foundation, a child-centered non-profit organisation established in 2016 to prevent child sexual abuse. She is responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation and is an ardent promoter of gender equality and diversity, and supports young women to take upper management levels in organisations.
Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley
(Birmingham events only)
Jess Phillips is a Labour Party politician who became the MP for the constituency of Birmingham Yardley at the 2015 general election.
Jess has committed her life to improving the lives of others, especially the most vulnerable, and spent five years working for Women’s Aid supporting and defending women. She became a councillor in 2012 through the Labour Future Candidates Programme.
Since becoming an MP, Jess has continued her fight to support those who need it the most and has been appointed to the Women and Equalities Committee, the Backbench Business Committee and Chair of the Women’s PLP. Jess has earned a reputation for plain speaking since being elected, unfazed by threats and calling out sexist attitudes as she promotes women’s rights.
Samuel Kasumu, Managing Director, Inclusive Boards
(Birmingham, Cambridge, Newcastle and London events)
Social entrepreneur Samuel Kasumu is currently Managing Director of Inclusive Boards, an agency that supports organisations seeking to improve diversity at board level. He is the youngest member of the Prime Minister’s Race Disparity Advisory Group, and Chair of the African-Caribbean Alumni Network (A-CAN).
Rebecca Long Bailey MP| Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(Manchester event only)
Rebecca Long-Bailey is a British Labour Party politician from Salford. She has been the MP for Salford and Eccles since May 2015. Since February 2017 she has been the Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy with responsibility for business support, the UK’s industrial strategy and R&D strategy, energy policy and tackling climate change. She previously held the position of Shadow Chief Secretary and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. Before becoming an MP Rebecca worked as a solicitor, specialising in commercial contracts and property law.
Mandy Fowler
(all events)
Mandy Fowler has 25 years commercial experience in some of the UK's largest marketing and media companies. Her role is to support and challenge leaders and teams on their Journey of Trust as well as have responsibility for the Foundation’s business development.
Richard McKenna, MD, Inclusive Employers
(Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and London events)
As a commercially astute "Inclusioneer", Richard develops inclusion and diversity strategies that are rooted in the business/ organisational objectives and have successfully embedded these as 'business as usual' activity to help companies measure the success and reap the rewards of a truly inclusive culture. Richard is also the founder and director of Strudel, a 15 year old creative communications agency in London that works with organisations committed to positive social change.
Thomas Duncan Bell, Managing Director, The Kingsman
(all events)
Thomas Duncan-Bell otherwise known as ‘The Bipolar Businessman’ runs two businesses and is also diagnosed with bi-polar and personality disorders, and has balanced his mental health issues while developing his start-ups through the growth journey. Thomas is a proud campaigner for mental health in business and works closely with the IoD to share his experiences with others.
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, CEO, Consultancy 20-first
(Cambridge event only)
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox is CEO of consultancy 20-first. 20-first works with progressive global companies interested in gender balancing their leadership teams and optimising 100% of the talent pool and 100% of the market. She helps CEOs, Executive Committees and managers build ‘gender bilingual’ organisations.
Irene Afful, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion expert, Leadership Development & Well-being Specialist. Professional Coach & Consultant
(Manchester event only)
Irene Afful has had a hugely successful career to date including becoming the
first ever black female Inspector in the history of Merseyside Police. Her career
incorporated critical incident management, professional standards and
specific responsibilities for gangland murders. During this time Irene has received
many accolades and commendations and has recently been shortlisted
for a Northern Power Women Award.
Griselda Togobo, Mphil, ACA
(London event only)
Griselda is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, engineer and chartered accountant. She uses her vast experience with multi-national businesses to assist small and medium enterprises on ambitious growth targets. She trained as a chartered accountant with Deloitte LLP and holds an MPhil in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management from Wolfson College, Cambridge University.
John Blakey Founder – The Trusted Executive Foundation
(all events)
John's role in the Foundation is to inspire and motivate senior leaders through delivering thought-provoking, pragmatic keynote sessions based on the best-selling books ‘Challenging Coaching’ and ‘The Trusted Executive’, as well as working 1-2-1 with CEOs as an executive coach to help them build the habits of trust and challenge in their day-to-day leadership roles.
Laura Bache, Senior Manager Diversity and Inclusion, Jaguar Land Rover
(all events)
Global lead for Diversity and
Inclusion at Jaguar Land Rover. Working with all levels in the business, I have
introduced a 5 year vision, strategic objectives and the plan to deliver these,
focusing on empowering and educating our employees and leaders to make small
but impactful changes to deliver sustained impact. I am an Occupational
Psychologist with experience of delivering people and behavioural change
projects both inhouse and in consultancy roles.
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Author, Lawyer, Public Speaker, Journalist & Women Rights Champ
(all events)
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu has a broad area of specialism and interest in Leadership, Diversity, Gender Equality, Women Empowerment & Rights; Corporate Governance; International relations & Diplomacy; Law & Society; Politics; Business & Entrepreneurship; and Education. She is deeply passionate about diversity, socio-legal values and mentoring people to be visionary and achieving their goals, and has recently been nominated for Diversity Champion Award: Charity Sector in the Excellence in Diversity Awards 2017. She is also a Women4Africa Awards 2017 finalist; shortlisted for Author of the Year and Career Woman of the Year.
Neil Tomalin, Managing Partner, Saintclair Partnership
(all events)
After a traditional career in financial services, including sales management, product design and consultancy roles, Neil formed his own practice in 2002. Initially focusing on risk management - getting boards of directors to understand how and why their businesses can fail, it changed in 2011 when he qualified as a Business Coach, training with Meyler Campbell.
Jonathan Richards, Founder & CEO, Breathe
(all events)
Jonathan is the CEO of Breathe, a highly successful, fast growth HR software company that helps small businesses unlock productivity and grow. They do this by freeing small business leaders from the ever-increasing burden of employee admin, allowing them to focus on what they do best – growing their businesses.
Founded 6 years ago, Jonathan has helmed Breathe to a near doubling in size every year and it now supports over 6,000 small businesses, employing more than 200,000 people, across the UK.
In May 2019, Breathe won the Best Tech Place to Work category of the prestigious National Technology Awards, underlining Jonathan’s success in developing a highly positive workplace culture for his people.
Andrew Owen, National Consultancy Manager, Premier Companies
(all events)
I have over 30 years’ experience in financial services, working in senior advisory and management roles with some of the country’s leading financial services organisations. I am a Chartered Financial Planner. My specialisms are At Retirement planning, Wealth Management and Estate Planning for individuals and business owners.”
Razia Aziz, Director, The Equality Academy
Along with a 30-year track record in equality, diversity & inclusion, her work draws upon a repertoire which includes facilitation, training, coaching, investigation, resolution, spiritual counselling, voice and bodywork, performance & presentation and ministry – all of which she is qualified to offer professionally. Razia’s style is distinctive, balancing the quest for truth & authenticity with the power of compassion and a sense of humour.
Teresa Boughey MA Chartered FCIPD Founder and CEO, Jungle HR
(Birmingham only)
Jungle HR is a National Award Winning strategic HR Consultancy Practice that works with Executive Boards and Leadership Teams during times of change and business transformation.
Described by her peers as personable, innovative and high energy. Teresa has operated at Senior level within a variety of industries and sectors including FTSE 100 and 250 companies, Financial Services, Retail, Travel Industry, Private and Public Sectors, Charitable Organisations and a Sunday Times Top 100 Company that grew 30% year on year.
Liz Johnson, Athlete mentor & Corporate Speaker, Sports commentator & Pundit. Managing Director & Co-Founder at The Ability People
(All events bar Newcastle)
Liz Johnson has earned success as a Paralympian, media commentator, public speaker, athlete mentor and community ambassador. Her outstanding contribution as an athlete was recognised at London 2012 where she was selected to take the Paralympic Oath on behalf of all competing athletes and teams. Alongside commentary positions in the media and charity work, Liz is a regular speaker at corporate events. She shares her personal journey in overcoming the challenges posed by cerebral palsy and explains how the obstacles life throws at us can help us achieve success.
As TAP’s Managing Director and Client Ambassador, Liz leads the team and represents us with corporate partners, outlining and embodying the values that make our organisation unique