The Future of Business in Kent An IoD & CUBE workshop

Dr Anthony Manning is the Dean for Global and Lifelong Learning at the University of Kent. In this role, he oversees the development, implementation, and review of lifelong learning initiatives spanning degree apprenticeships, professional development training, professional practice degrees, executive education and short courses. Anthony is also experienced in internationalisation of the curriculum and the creation of accessible pathways to higher education for underrepresented groups. He is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE, a National Teaching Fellow, a member of the British Council’s English Language Advisory Group, member of the NCUK’s Academic Quality Committee, and Chair of the British Accreditation Council’s (BAC) Accreditation Committee which overseas the inspection of diverse training provision offered by colleges and universities int he UKL and 20 different countries.

Dr Samantha Evans is Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University of Kent and the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead for Kent Business School. Samantha’s research examines diversity in organisations and how social class impacts the experiences and opportunities of employees. Samantha is currently working on a British Academy funded research project exploring social class-based differences in the workplace experiences of menopausal women. Her research has been published in journals such as Work, Employment and Society; The International Journal of Human Resource Management; Management Learning; Employee Relations & Personnel Review.

Loch Associates Group are experts in developing solutions to help organisations manage and look after their people. They provide a unique combination of employment law, HR, health and safety, wellbeing and mediation to ensure clients have access to a range of services form a single trusted partner.

Matt is the Employer Engagement Manager within the University of Kent's Careers and Employability Service. Matt and his team work with local and national organisations to help them recruit graduate talent, build brand awareness around campus and facilitate work opportunities.

Rebecca leads the University of Kent’s ASPIRE (Accelerator Space for Innovation and Responsible Enterprise) which supports students and graduates who are starting their own businesses. Currently seconded onto the Growing Kent & Medway project, Rebecca runs a mentoring programme working with start-up and SME businesses across the full horticulture supply chain. Previously, Rebecca has organised the delivery of the Kent & Medway Business Summit. She has also worked as a journalist and an actor.

Simon is currently working at the University of Kent in Canterbury as University Strategic Partnerships Manager. His role is to create and build links between academics and industry to solve challenges relating to increasing productivity and addressing grand challenges including Net Zero, AI and data. Throughout his 40-year career in industry, engagement in supply chains, new technology, leadership and value have all featured strongly in his experience. His role has included successfully facilitating new national and international collaborations

to address net zero solutions in the field of transport and industrial applications. In 2020 he wrote a report to understand the basis of demand for hydrogen in Thames region in 2050. He developed the concept of Digital Readiness Level as pathway to accelerating and quantifying take up to digital technology and systems.

Director of Steel Homes Ltd. An experienced Business Development Director.

Sweena shares her expertise through leadership marketing, strategy and a commercially astute. Sweena has worked at Ernst & Young and Kent County Council in senior roles. A champion for Women in Leadership and a great connector in the business world.

Sweena is the current Chair for the Institute of Directors Kent Branch, stepping up from Vice Chair with a Team of 12 Ambassadors who are Directors & CEO’s of their own organisations.

Sweena also a representative for the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership Board.
Sweena also engages as an active Speaker and is a role model in the community.

Zaid is the Head of Business Development at Kent Students’ Union where his role is to focus on brand partnerships for our events and key projects as well as manage the media sales and advertising function. He has previously been the SU President at KSU for 2 years which taught him a lot about higher education and more importantly the student experience.