Leading Perspectives for 2025 - Chartered Directors' Business Breakfast
Join the IoD Chartered Director community for breakfast at 116 Pall Mall where we will consider the business and economic perspective for the year ahead, as well as hear from Chartered Director of the Year 2024 winner Sarah Walker-Smith.
Following an opportunity to network with the extended community over breakfast at the IoD London hub on Pall Mall, Dr. Roger Barker – the IoD’s Director of Policy and Governance – will provide a comprehensive overview of the critical policy shifts shaping the business landscape in 2025.
You will also hear also from IoD Chief Economist Anna Leach who will deliver an economic outlook, shedding light on the global and national economic factors that will influence business decisions in the coming year, and Sylvia Malo - IoD Content development manager - who will be highlighting opportunities for Chartered Directors, and how you can get involved.
Finally, Sarah Walker-Smith, winner of Chartered Director of the Year 2024, will join us for an open conversation, sharing her experiences and perspectives on effective leadership and the evolving role of directors.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage exclusively with the Chartered Director community of industry leaders and gain a competitive edge for the year ahead.
Speakers
Anna Leach, Chief Economist, IoD
Anna is Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors and has held this role since June 2024. She also sits on the steering committee for the Royal Economic Society Women in Economics Network, which seeks to support the career development of women in economics, where she’s responsible for partnerships. She is also on the steering group for the Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing.
Before joining the IoD, Anna was Deputy Chief Economist at the CBI, leading workstreams across macroeconomics, surveys and consulting and she has also worked in the Government Economic Service, in HM Treasury and DWP.
Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy and Corporate Governance, IoD
Roger has been the IoD’s Director of Policy and Corporate Governance since September 2020. He also served as Director of Corporate Governance and Professional Standards at the IoD from 2008-2016. He is honorary associate at the Centre for Ethics and Law at University College London and was previously managing director of Governomics Ltd, a corporate governance advisory firm. He is also the author of numerous books and articles on corporate governance and board effectiveness.
Sarah Walker-Smith, Winner of Chartered Director of the Year 2024
Sarah Walker-Smith is CEO of professional services group Ampa, having 20 years leadership experience in the legal sector. Ampa is the largest professional services B-Corp in the world. Sarah was the first female non-lawyer CEO in the legal top 50 and was recently named as the UK’s most influential legal leader on social media. She is also a qualified Chartered Accountant, Chartered Director and has been awarded an MBA.
Sarah is the independent Chair of the Eden Morecambe partnership, a founding associate of VocL, board advisor to Anthropy and a member of the Society of Leadership Fellows at St George’s House.

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