Reimagining non-executive directors

Alex is Non-Executive Director of Aurora UK Alpha PLC, a London-listed investment Company. He is Independent Non-Executive Director of Margetts Fund Management and of University of Sussex SU Trading Limited and was previously Non-Executive Director of Apax Global Alpha, a FTSE 250 listed private equity investment company, and oversaw its privatisation in a bid at a 30%+ premium to its immediate previous share price.

Alex is also Chair of the nominations committee of the Association of Investment Companies and trustee at the Nautical Archaeology Society. Until 2022, he was managing director and head of investment trusts at Pantheon Ventures, a private markets asset manager, and was formerly head of investment trusts at Fidelity International, a long equity public markets asset manager, where he spent almost 20 years.

Jonathan has a long-standing connection with the IoD and was appointed Director General in October 2019.

Jonathan spent 30 years working in the professional services sector, most recently at Grant Thornton International, where he was responsible for the organisation’s interest in China. He is the author of three books about China and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Jonathan is a fellow of the IoD, and prior to his appointment as director general, he was chair of IoD Yorkshire and North East region.

Jonathan studied Geography and Archaeology at the University of St Andrews specialising in underwater archaeology. Outside of work his interests include hill walking and fell running. He was a rally team navigator for 20 years, and following two years of training in extreme environments, walked to the North Pole in 2006. He has completed other expeditions in Norway, the Canadian Arctic and the Everest region.

Megan is a Senior Director at board technology and advisory firm Board Intelligence, where she is responsible for research, brand, communications, and content.

Since joining the business in 2018, she has held roles within the Business Development, Customer and Marketing teams. Previously, as Market Director, she led the team serving Board Intelligence’s clients in the Private Equity and Trust & Corporate Services sectors.

Prior to joining Board Intelligence, Megan spent nine years at Skillcapital, an executive search and transaction advisory firm focused on the private equity market. As a Director in the Technology, Media & Telecoms practice, she led assignments in Europe and North America, building boards and management teams for private equity-backed businesses and supporting private equity firms with deal origination and due diligence.

Before joining Skillcapital, Megan worked in strategy consulting with L.E.K. Consulting, working on projects for corporate and private equity clients across a range of industries.

Pippa is the CEO of Board Intelligence, a board technology and advisory firm she co-founded in 2009. Trusted by more than 80,000 leaders globally, Board Intelligence enhances board effectiveness with AI-powered software tools and advisory services.

Pippa has played a vocal role in shaping governance best practice internationally. She is a guest lecturer at Henley Business School and the co-author of ‘Collective Intelligence: How to build a business that’s smarter than you’, which has been featured in the Financial Times. She has also won numerous awards including EY Entrepreneur of the Year (London & South East) and was listed in Management Today’s 2025 Women in Leadership Power List.

Pippa started her career in financial services, working for HM Treasury and leading global investment manager Russell Investments after graduating from Cambridge University with an MA in Natural Sciences.

Irene-marié Esser is a Professor of Corporate Law and Governance in the School of Law at the University of Glasgow and Subject-Head of Commercial Law. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

She is also Dean of the Graduate School, College of Social Sciences. Since 2020, she has been an Extraordinary Professor at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and also a Visiting Professor at the National Law University Jodhpur, India. She was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2005. Her research spans doctrinal and empirical approaches, covering the UK, EU and South Africa in the field of corporate governance, company law and corporate social responsibility. She regularly conducts training and provides advice on corporate governance issues and women and leadership.

Rachel has 25 years’ experience in executive search and is a Partner in the Board Practice at Odgers, specialising in non-executive appointments.

For almost 20 years, she has advised boards across sectors, size of business and ownership structure and offers experience of working with international clients from FTSE 100 to AIM-listed as well as privately owned businesses. Following graduation with a degree in economics from Cambridge, Rachel began her career with Arthur Andersen in the private client services practice. She joined Odgers in 2005.