Spring Dinner

Maxine Laceby Co-Founded Absolute Collagen in 2017 alongside her eldest daughter Darcy, and within 12 months, they had turned the kitchen table product into an award-winning supplement. Within three years, Absolute Collagen became the multi-million-pound business it is today and secured investment to grow the business further.

Before launching Absolute Collagen, Maxine had been a happy full-time mum and Darcy, a full-time student. Launching a formula into a market that didn’t exist with no previous business experience was hard work. Being named 4th in The Times' 100 fastest-growing companies in 2022 was an incredible moment for Absolute Collagen.

Paul Faulkner is chief of staff and operations for the Richardson family business – a leader in growth capital and real estate investment with a business portfolio that is embedded across the world.

Prior to taking up this role in early 2021, Paul was chief executive of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, having previously been CEO of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

A history graduate from Cambridge University, Paul began his career at MBNA Bank, completing the Bank’s Graduate Management Scheme and working in a variety of roles across the organisation in both the UK and the US.

Paul is also Chairman of Sport Birmingham and a board member of the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club. He has previously served as a Trustee of Birmingham Womens and Children’s Hospital Charity, Cure Leukaemia and Performance Birmingham Limited (PBL) which operates the Town Hall and Symphony Hall in the city. He lives in Sutton Coldfield and is married with two young sons.