2023

Griselda Togobo

Griselda began her career as an electrical engineer, she then veered into business having been influenced by the challenges and successes that her parents experienced as entrepreneurs. She trained and qualified as a chartered accountant with one of the BIG 4 professional services firms but now runs her own businesses, Novi included. Griselda is a

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Simone Robinson

Simone is a dynamic speaker, published writer and thought leader committed to dismantling barriers and creating positive change in the workplace and beyond. As Global Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Manager, Simone has played a pivotal role in driving diversity initiatives within GKN Aerospace, implementing strategies that go beyond mere representation to create a culture of

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Khadija

Dr Khadija Owusu

Dr Khadija Owusu is an award-winning Leader, International Speaker and Junior Doctor. She is the Founder of AKAYA, Director of Programmes at Melanin Medics, Equality and Diversity Board Member at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, Ambassador at GUBA-Enterprise and Trustee for the charity Raising Futures Kenya. Khadija is a change agent, a voice for thousands of

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Bonita

Bonita Norris

Bonita Norris was the youngest person ever to reach both the summit of Everest and the North Pole. She has been on five Himalayan expeditions and has reached the summit of some of the world’s highest mountains. In 2017 her memoir, The Girl Who Climbed Everest was released, and topped the mountaineering books chart. In

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Anna Gray

Anna Gray is Head of Marketing & Communications at Severfield plc, the UK’s market leader in structural steel where she has worked for over seven years. Prior to this she worked in a range of communications roles for Nestlé, the Science Museum Group and the NHS, and is a passionate communicator and advocate for inclusivity

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Genelle Aldred

Genelle Aldred is an Author, Broadcaster and Consultant for all things communication. She is currently Deputy Chair of Women in Journalism. Genelle also provides social and political commentry for Sky News, BBC Radio London and Canadian News. She previously enjoyed a successful career as a journalist and newsreader for over 15 years. Since 2007 Genelle

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Sheridan Ash

Sheridan, 2022 Forward Ladies Business Woman Of The Year, is a leader in Technology Innovation at PwC, and Founder and Co-CEO of charity Tech She Can. Sheridan set up the charity to improve career opportunities in technology for children and women. She’s a thought-leader on technological innovation and its contribution to productivity in the UKO.

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Emma-Byrne

Emma Byrne

Emma is an honest-to-goodness robot scientist who, when she’s not developing intelligent systems, writes for Forbes, the FT and the Guardian. She frequently appears on Sky News and the BBC talking about the future of artificial intelligence and robotics. She has spoken to audiences as diverse as the Women in Journalism network and parliamentary special

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Gillian Hosieer

Gillian Hosier

Gillian is Head of Philanthropy for The Open University and brings over 11 years’ experience in fundraising for the higher education sector, working with a diverse range of trusts and foundations, corporate organisations and private indivdiuals. Gillian grew up near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and is passionate about supporting the local area, having served as

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Hannah Duraid

Hannah Duraid

Hannah Duraid is a multi-award-winning young entrepreneur, best known for founding The Great Escape Game, an immersive escape room attraction. Since launching in January 2015, the business is approaching its 10-year milestone and has expanded to three sites, including a location at the prestigious Royal Armouries Museum. Across these sites, the business offers 17 unique escape room

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Julianne Antrobus

Julianne Antrobus

Julianne is a nuclear energy specialist with over 20 years experience of working in the sector in strategic, commercial and operational roles. She describes herself as “a passionate leader who works with an exceptional team and delivers success by building high performing teams and creating an environment of empowerment, inclusivity, respect, trust and most importantly

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Emma Davies

Emma Davies

Emma is a partner at Grant Thornton, one of the UK’s largest professional services firms. She is Practice Leader of the Sheffield office and a partner in their national Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) team. Emma’s passion is helping finance directors and their teams navigate change and periods of intense activity, by providing practical and pragmatic

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Ajaz Ahmed

Ajaz Ahmed is best known for being the founder of Freeserve, which was once the UK’s largest ISP and is now known as Orange broadband. He came up with the idea when he bought a computer and nobody in the store could tell him how to get into the internet, the rest, as they say,

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Sahar Hashemi

Sahar Hashemi

In 1995 Sahar Hashemi founded Coffee Republic, and built it into one of the UK’s most recognised high street brands with a turnover of £30m. Giving up a job as a lawyer in London, she staked everything on a dream – and made Coffee Republic one of the main players in the ‘coffee revolution’ that

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Professor George Lodorfos

Professor George Lodorfos

Professor George Lodorfos is Dean of Leeds Business School at Leeds Beckett University. He is an electrical and electronic engineer by first degree, he holds Masters degrees in Automation and Control as well as in Innovation and Technology Management, and a PhD in Strategic Management of Research and Development. In addition, he has supervised to completion

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Lisa Kelly

Lisa Kelly

Lisa assumed the role of Head of BTC UK & Ireland in January 2016. She is also a member of the BASF Plc Leadership team. Having a strong passion for diversity & inclusion, Lisa represents BASF with WISE (Women in Science and Engineering). She also currently Chairs the Executive Committee for BACS (British Association for

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Lara Oyesanya

Lara is a seasoned financial services chief legal officer, general counsel, and company secretary with international experience. She’s skilled in regulatory, payments, enterprise risk management, consumer protection, SME law, offshore, employee relations (contentious and non-contentious), corporate transactions, and commercial banking. An Independent Non-Executive Director at PensionBee Group plc, a Board Trustee at Shaw Trust, a

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Ali Gayward

Ali has over thirty years’ experience in the travel industry working with British Airways, American Express Travel, Sabre, American Airlines, ASM, AG Consultancy and now easyJet. Ali is easyJet’s UK Country Manager, responsible for enabling easyJet to create the winning environment in the UK and overseas. Responsibilities include being the ‘face and voice’ of easyJet,

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Debra White

Recently retired Customer Experience Director, Small Business Banking, HSBC UK Debra White has been a Retail and Commercial Banker with HSBC Group for the last 40 years and in September 2016 took on the national role of Customer Experience Director for Business Banking Small Business. Previously Debra was the Regional Director for Small Business in

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Rachel Hannan

Rachel has gained experience in the corporate world, as founder of her own businesses, and as an Angel Investor. Co-founding a public sector executive search and leadership development company, she grew this into a £multi-million leader in its field before she successfully exited to go on to become one of the most active women Angel

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Professor Nigel Lockett

Professor Nigel Lockett is a senior academic, experienced mentor, serial entrepreneur and community leader. Currently an Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde, mentor to founders of innovative startups in the TwinklHive business accelerator and contributor to the Qualitas GP Pathway to Partnership programme. Nigel is also a Fellow and past President of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and to raise awareness he blogs as The Dyslexic Professor. He also has more than 30 years’ experience

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Sheridan Ash

Sheridan, 2022 Forward Ladies Business Woman Of The Year, is a leader in Technology Innovation at PwC, and Founder and Co-CEO of charity Tech She Can. Sheridan set up the charity to improve career opportunities in technology for children and women. She’s a thought-leader on technological innovation and its contribution to productivity in the UKO.

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Matt Turner

Matt is the Group CEO of Ello Group, the customer engagement specialists helping brands to acquire, retain, reward and excite customers through a number of recognisable offerings including tastecard, Coffee Club and Gourmet Society. It powers some of the biggest loyalty schemes in the UK, including Vue Pass and Meerkat Meals. 

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Novi-winners-stage

Breaking Barriers

Now in its 13th year, the Forward Ladies Leadership Summit and Awards honours the impact of female leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in business. We continue to use our platform to showcase the achievements of women breaking barriers across the public and private sectors, giving them the recognition and visibility, they need to inspire the next

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Joanna Jensen

Joanna Jensen

Joanna Jensen is the Founder & Executive Chairman of the UK’s number one baby and children’s toiletry brand, Childs Farm. In July 2020, she also launched an adult brand Farmologie following huge demand from women and parents. As well as being an entrepreneur, Joanna is a mother of two, Mimi and Bella.  They were the

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The Londoner Hotel

Browse Accommodation Options The Londoner is located in central London’s iconic Leicester Square, which is just next to Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Soho and The Strand. Heathrow airport is the nearest to The Londoner. From Heathrow airport take the Piccadilly Line on the Underground to Leicester Square.  explore preferential rates Parking Service Valet parking

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