Harry Kelly | Director, Medicinal Chemistry Recruitment & Talent Development | GSK
After completing my BSc and PhD at the University of Glasgow, I joined GSK as a medicinal chemist.
In my early career, I took on roles of increasing responsibility which resulted in being appointed leader of a medicinal chemistry programme designed to identify a novel treatment for cardiovascular diseases. In 2004, I was appointed Chemistry Operations Manager and in 2013, was promoted to Director of Medicinal Chemistry Recruitment & Talent Development. This role involves the recruitment of chemists at all levels, from apprenticeship positions to senior leader positions.
I have also played a central role in transforming talent development within GSK chemistry, through the creation of a two-part, modular approach to training, complete with external validation, robust assessment, and recognised qualifications. This incorporates two formally recognised programmes, the GSK Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development in collaboration with the University of Kent, and the GSK/University of Strathclyde Collaborative PhD Programme, both of which I am the GSK Director.
ED&I is of paramount importance to me and I am notably invested in supporting female scientists in the area of medicinal chemistry. In recognition of my contributions to the ED&I culture within GSK, I won the Race Champion award at the inaugural 2022 GSK Embrace Awards.
Rebecca Valori | Associate Director | Royal Bank of Canada
I am a lawyer in the financial services industry specialising in litigation and investigations.
I spent eleven years working for a magic circle firm before moving in house to work at the Royal Bank of Canada.
Scott Freeman | Culinary Director - ESS | Compass Group UK & Ireland
I started my career in Hospitality at the age of 15, and worked in Restaurants in London, Australia and New Zealand, before returning to the UK with a passion to inspire, teach and train the next generation of Chefs.
I taught for 8 years, and found new opportunities afterwards with Compass Group, developing the Chef Apprenticeship Academy, recruiting 16–19-year-olds into the business and supporting their training.
In 2014, I became Head of School for the UK’s first Career College for Hospitality and Enterprise with Bromley College – delivering GCSEs to 14–16-year-olds within a Hospitality environment; building a College from a blueprint and opening a fully functioning restaurant where Students were employed and learned their new trade as well as gaining their GCSEs through industry-sponsored Hospitality projects.
In 2015, I returned to Compass Group as Exec Chef for ESS Government Services, which later led to a Nationwide role. Three years ago I was promoted to Culinary Director, where I’m responsible for the food offer for our clients in the UK Military.
I’m still a supporter of helping young people into my Industry, and support Springboard UK and also Compass’ own Apprenticeship programmes.
My role also extends globally and I hold one of the nineteen positions on the Compass Global Culinary Council, advocating and supporting positive changes for our Chefs worldwide. I represent the UK on a “People” sub-committee, discussing gender and race equality, levelling up of pay, responsibilities, job roles and understanding how to support Chef-colleagues in my position.
Mario Furriel | Head of UHNW Private Solutions | HSBC
I am currently Head of Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) Private Solutions UK at HSBC Private Bank servicing UHNW clients with their Investment and Corporate banking needs.
I started my career over 18y ago starting at Banif Investment Bank and then worked at Barclays in a similar role before moving to HSBC.
In my day-to-day, I deal with sophisticated UHNW, Family Office and Entrepreneur clients with non-traditional Private Banking needs which includes M&A, Capital Raising, Equity/Debt Capital Markets, Institutional Financing, Corporate Banking and opportunities to invest directly into businesses via our unique Direct Investment service.
David Morgan | International Treasurer | Royal Bank of Canada
I am currently Royal Bank of Canada`s International Treasurer where I have responsibility for managing RBC`s financial resources wisely and efficiently across our offices in Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.
Recognising the immense value in diversity of thought and experience for risk management as well as innovation in our business, I`ve actively striven to build diverse teams. Over 14 years, as my team has grown in size and in global reach, our composition has evolved and I am proud to lead my current highly talented team of global colleagues, where the gender balance is 50/50 with women comprising 50% of Director and above positions.
Within RBC I am an executive co-sponsor of RBC`s European Women`s Network, RWomen. The network currently has more than 800 members with big ambitions to grow. As co-sponsor I am responsible for convening the RWomen committee and helping support its growth and development. Our committee consists of 28 members across all levels and business segments of our organisation.
Prior to RBC i spent ten years at the Financial Services Authority, designing and implementing regulations to support the safety and soundness of the banking sector.
Outside of work i have spent 11 years on the board of a local credit union that supports the financial resilience of communities in some of London`s poorest wards. I am also the Chair of Coin Street Community Builders, a social enterprise working in Waterloo and North Southwark creating a diverse and welcoming place for people to live, work, and play.
Dominic Baker | Managing Director | Marsh McLennan
Dominic Baker, Managing Director at Marsh McLennan, leading teams of colleagues in the Corporate & Commercial segment in the UK.
Dominic Joined the Industry in 2000 after leaving 6th Form in Swindon where he grew up in a single parent family with mum and three sisters, Amy, Patsy and Sylvie.
Dominic has worked for both large multi nationals and small owner managed business in London and the regions and advocates diversity of thought and that teams made up of a range of backgrounds and experiences delivers greater business results and more rewarding careers.
Rukevwe Laura Akpowaye | Technical Business Analyst | PwC
I am a Technical Business Analyst with a profound focus on driving innovation and digital transformation initiatives and fostering organizational change.
Throughout my career, I`ve undertaken diverse roles, from conducting user research and supporting digital product launches to implementing systemic changes. My focus extends to orchestrating comprehensive communication strategies that facilitate seamless transitions across varied business landscapes.
Beyond my professional capacity, I am fervently dedicated to making a positive impact within both the workplace and the broader community. My passion for social mobility, education, and gender equality is evident in my active involvement in initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion and bridging the digital divide, especially within the tech sector. My commitment to fostering a supportive workplace extends to my involvement in various committees where I constantly advocate for new joiners, ensuring their smooth integration into the organization while championing diversity and inclusion.
Engaging in social causes, I`ve volunteered with non-governmental organizations, leading sensitization workshops addressing teenage pregnancy, social misconduct, and abuse among young women. Recently, I`ve contributed to program design and implementation for a Tech upskilling initiative with a not-for-profit organisation in Africa, furthering my commitment to bridging the digital divide.
My journey reflects a persistent pursuit of excellence, leadership, and a profound belief in the transformative power of diversity and inclusion to fuel innovation and positive change. Through mentoring and active engagement in impactful initiatives, I aspire to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable future and become a seasoned leader in the Tech industry
Renata Yussupova | Senior Manager | PwC
I am an accomplished professional with a diverse background and a strong commitment to making a positive impact in the field of technology and energy sector.
Born and raised in Kazakhstan, I embarked on an academic journey that laid the foundation for my career: I was awarded a full sponsorship from the governmental program of Kazakhstan to pursue higher education in the United States, with a BS in Computer Science and MS in Technology Management.
I then returned to Kazakhstan with a desire to contribute to the development of local talent and give back to my home country. I initially worked in the space of audit and business processes. Recognising my passion for advisory work, I transitioned my career to provide strategic guidance to organisations specifically around ERP transformations.
In 2015, I moved to the PwC UK. I lead workstreams across the global implementation of the SOx program in a FTSE3 company. This experience further solidified my reputation as a capable and results-driven professional.
Building on this I was entrusted with a leadership role as a strategic PMO at an energy sector pan-industry program that I worked in for two years from 2020. In this capacity, I effectively coordinated over 150 program participants and five central delivery partners.
Since then, I have remained in the energy sector, focusing on delivering energy bill support schemes and conducting reviews for the energy regulator. My dedication and their ability to navigate complex projects have made me a trusted expert in my field.
Nicola Semple | Career and Confidence Coach | Nicola Semple Coaching
I am a Career and Confidence Coach, and host of The Career Confidence Podcast.
I help my clients to build their confidence, achieve their career goals and make maximum contribution to their organisation.
The theme of my 20 year + career has been transformation. I began at Accenture as a Business Change Consultant leading organisational transformation. I joined KPMG as the Chief Operating Officer of the Public Sector Advisory business. I then moved into Leadership and Talent Development at Ernst and Young, facilitating transformation through learning. Now with my coaching work, I support clients through their own personal transformation.
When I work with clients I draw upon my extensive training and coaching qualifications. I am accredited by the International Coaching Federation, a Certified Mindset Coach including NLP, Timeline Therapy, Hypnosis and a Professional Mindfulness Practitioner. I also hold Level A and B accreditation with the British Psychological Society.
My approach to coaching is based on 3Cs:
- Clarity: I help my clients to start with the end in mind. We create a tailored plan to get them from where they are to where they want to be.
- Courage: I support my clients to challenge the beliefs, habits and behaviours that have been holding them back.
- Compassion: My clients will hit bumps in the road. I encourage them to be kind to themselves and learn from the bumps.
Natasha Percy-Baxter | Principal | PercyBaxter Wealth Management
It was during the pandemic that I quit my job working in investor relations for a boutique corporate finance business because I knew it wasn`t my dream career.
After a bit of soul-searching, I discovered that I wanted to help people better understand their finances as well as create a strategy to harness the power of their money. The problem was, I wasn`t qualified, and I didn`t know how to get into the industry. After a lot of researching, I applied to join St. James`s Place Academy, and was happily accepted. This allowed me to retrain and get qualified as a wealth manager over a 6 month period. I then established my own wealth management practice - PercyBaxter Wealth Management - towards the end of 2021. It gives me great joy to work with hard-working professionals and small businesses to get their finances on track and instil in them the confidence of knowing they are making the right decisions when it comes to their finances and their future.