Iain Semple | Regional Stores Director | Sainsbury's
I have worked within the retail industry for the last 20 years.
I started my career with Tesco, moving across to Sainsbury's 18 years ago. I worked across many areas of our business, spending the majority of my time working with colleagues and supporting customers across many of our stores in Northern Ireland. I was a Store Manager for 10 years and in the last six months have been given the opportunity to lead the team in Northern Ireland as the Regional Stores Director. Growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles has profoundly shaped my perspective on conflict, division, and the importance of change. The tension, unrest, and deeply rooted divides I witnessed as a child left an indelible mark on me, teaching me the devastating impact of inequality and intolerance. In a society where communities were divided by political and religious lines, it became clear that the consequences of injustice, exclusion, and lack of understanding could lead to long-lasting harm. I saw first hand how fear, mistrust, and a lack of dialogue could fuel conflict, and I began to understand the power of inclusivity, empathy, and, most importantly, change. As an adult, these experiences have instilled in me a deep desire to make a difference. I became passionate about creating environments, whether in my personal life or in the workplace, where everyone feels valued and heard, regardless of their background.
Rajeshpal Sangha | Global Head of Collateral Management Middle Office | Nomura
I am a proud British Asian who has worked in Banking for around 25 years, having graduated in Law from London School of Economics.
I started my career at Morgan Stanley in a variety of different roles, and moved to my current employer Nomura approximately 15 year ago. During my career, I have been so fortunate to work with and learn from a huge number of talented colleagues. Meeting people of different backgrounds, cultures and experiences has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. Diversity is essential in workplace as it challenges assumptions, fosters collaboration, creativity and drives innovation - critical to any successful business.
Dimuthu Ratnayake | Senior Trader, Equities. Vice President | Northern Trust
Senior Equities Program Trader with 18 years' experience in the industry.
Graduated with first class honours at the top of my class in Computer Systems and Networking before enjoying a decade long career in banking technology roles at Fidessa, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays Capital, and JP Morgan. In 2017 I joined the EMEA Equities Trading desk at JP Morgan as a Program Trader, specialising in executing complex portfolio and index rebalancing trades. I joined Northern Trust in 2021 as Vice President to help grow the brokerage business and improve capacity and resiliency, especially in transition management and outsourced dealing on behalf of buy side institutional clients. I am currently on the executive committee of two business resource councils, mentor to two junior colleagues, and a primary contact in the brokerage business to our DE&I council.
Rob Preston | Finance Operations Director | Amazon
Rob Preston is currently Director of Finance Operations at Amazon, where he is instrumental in adapting financial systems and processes to new regulations across the world.
Leading a global team of finance professionals, Rob has been instrumental in scaling financial operations to meet the rapid growth demands of one of the world's largest, rapidly growing e-commerce and technology companies. With nearly 25 years of experience in financial leadership in the UK, China, Thailand and the Czech Republic, Rob has developed particular expertise in financial analysis, process optimization, and building high-performance teams. Since joining Amazon, he has successfully led several key initiatives, including improving receive accuracy for inventory from suppliers and marketplace launches across Europe. Rob's career in finance began at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he developed a strong foundation in financial accounting and auditing and gained his ACA qualification. Before Amazon, he held progressively senior Finance and Audit roles in the Fashion, Space Tourism and Grocery Retail industries, consistently delivering results through innovation and team development. A graduate of Oxford University with a BA in Mathematics, Rob combines deep financial acumen with strategic vision. He has championed the use of data analytics and taking an end-to-end mindset to solving complex cross-functional problems, resulting in significant improvements in efficiency and effectiveness across his department. Rob is particularly passionate about developing future finance leaders and has a strong track record of mentoring and coaching individuals within and outside of his teams.
Cathal Kelly | Vice President for North Sea, Hydrogen and CCS | bp
Cathal is the Vice President for North Sea, Hydrogen, and Carbon Capture & Storage projects at bp, bringing nearly three decades of international leadership and expertise.
Throughout his career, he has led transformative initiatives around the world including the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Angola, Sunbury, Azerbaijan, the Middle East, North Africa, and Egypt. His accomplishments are highlighted by his leadership in launching major projects most recently as the ACE (Azeri Central Expansion) in Azerbaijan and Raven in Egypt, as well as ramping up full production at Shah Deniz and managing the installation of a new buoy at Supsa in the Black Sea. In recognition of his significant contributions, Cathal was honored with the "Medal of Progress" by the President of Azerbaijan in November 2024, underscoring his impact on global energy projects. His career is defined by a steadfast commitment to safety, ethical practices, and competitive project delivery, positioning him as a dynamic and results-driven leader. Outside of work, Cathal is equally passionate about people and community. Whether he is spending quality time with his family, skiing, boating, traveling, or meeting new people, he embraces every opportunity to learn and grow. Within his professional sphere, he is a vocal advocate for breaking down barriers that hinder talent progression. Cathal has actively chaired and sponsored several initiatives aimed at promoting gender equity, fostering respectful workplace cultures, and supporting local schools in enhancing STEM education. His leadership not only drives business success but also inspires future generations in the energy sector.
Alex Jonas | Management Consulting Director | Accenture
Born in Salford, grew up in Bury. After working intensive hard throughout school I managed to gain access to the University of Warwick and complete an undergraduate in Maths and Economics before starting the path of Industry in Financial Services with RBS.
Starting out a Retail Graduate and Branch Manager; I realise quickly that working with people and technology is the heart of what I like to do. Completing my charter banker professional qualification and pivoting to Accenture and Technology Consulting, I built over 15 years of experience in Financial Services, specializing in Platforms, Mergers and Acquisitions, Cloud & Security. With one evidence of my success being promoted and today operating as a highly commendable leader at Accenture Strategy & Consulting Financial Services. I lead high-performing teams in delivering solutions like Cloud Transformations, Programme Management, and Security Platform Control Management across multiple clients and I also set up and lead teams internally both regionally and global level to drive advocate for inclusion and diversity and encourage STEM careers, aiming to improve customer and colleague experiences using positivise of technology and ingenuity while safeguarding against potential job threats like the use of AI.
Steve Hyndman | Director of Transformation Risk | Aviva Investors
Steve is the Risk Director responsible for managing Risk for Transformation, Financial Crime, IT & Cyber Risk and Operational Resilience, across the global Aviva Investors business, reporting to the Chief Risk Officer.
Steve has 25 years' experience across audit, investigations and risk management, prior to joining Aviva Investors in 2015, he held Head of Financial Crime roles at the Phoenix Group and Bank of Ireland, after training at Deloitte. Steve is Co-Chair of the AI's Gender Balance Workstream and is an accredited coach. Over the last 5 years he has provided leadership coaching to a range of people across Aviva, and including working closely with Global Graduate Programme.
Caius Datt | Trainee Solicitor | Prince Evans Solicitors LLP
Caius is a trainee solicitor at Prince Evans Solicitors in Ealing, where he works on a broad range of litigious matters, including construction disputes, company issues, and contentious probate cases.
Alongside this, he is undertaking part-time studies for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) with BPP University, balancing both practical experience and academic development. Caius graduated with a first-class degree in Law with Business from the University of Exeter in 2024, where he was an active member of the student community, taking on a variety of leadership roles. He served two terms on the student council, ran a highly successful football club, and was a dedicated course chairperson, advocating strongly for an improved student experience and driving positive change within the academic community. Although his career remains in its infancy, Caius is a tenacious and ambitious professional with a desire to promote equity within the legal sector. In an industry often regarded for its rigidity, he is particularly passionate about advocating for greater trust in young professionals, believing that fresh perspectives are essential for the evolution of the profession. His drive and adaptability position him as an emerging voice in the sector, eager to contribute meaningfully to its growth and modernisation. Outside his career, Caius is extremely musical. He is a freelance musical director for theatre groups and frequently performs as a choral singer (tenor). His leadership experience has equipped him with a creative approach to problem-solving and communication, complementing his work and broader professional aspirations.
Ian Cunningham | VP Enterprise Sales | Colt Technology Services
Ian is Vice President of Enterprise at Colt, reporting directly to Colt's Chief Commercial Officer, Annette Murphy.
In this role Ian is responsible for all of Colt's Enterprise and Indirect customers. Prior to joining Colt, Ian held several senior executive roles within the communications and technology industries, most recently serving as vice president for Lumen EMEA's sales and customer success organization. Prior to Lumen Ian served as managing director at both Zayo EMEA and Experian and has held senior sales leadership positions at Level 3 Communications, Vodafone and BT. Ian has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Studies and outside of work enjoys playing golf, football and being part of a friends running group as well as spending weekends as an avid supporter of both his son and daughters football teams. Ian lives with his wife and 2 children in Hertfordshire.
Param Bhatia | Director of Employee Listening | MetLife
I am an award-winning business leader with a diverse career spanning engineering, management consulting, and leadership in global transformation initiatives.
My journey began in engineering at Rolls-Royce, followed by roles at Accenture and GlaxoSmithKline, where I honed my skills in managing large-scale projects and end-to-end product development for FTSE 100 and S&P 500 companies. I'm recognised for my ability to deliver high-impact solutions in complex, matrixed environments, with a focus on global project management, data-driven decision-making, and operational excellence. In 2019, I was honoured with an MBE for my contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), a cause I'm deeply passionate about. Beyond corporate leadership, I've been actively involved in fostering inclusive cultures through mentoring and creating platforms for women in business and technology. With a Master's in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sheffield, I blend technical expertise with strategic vision, making me a sought-after leader in driving transformational change.