Caroline Marshall | Founder | Upsource
Caroline Marshall is the founder of a multi award winning Virtual Assistant Agency, Upsource.
A growing team of VAs who provide Business, Executive and Virtual Assistance. Including Outsourced PA / EA, operations, financial admin, HR and content services to Entrepreneurs, HNWs, Startups, Scale ups and SME’s.
Having a background in Personal Assistance, Business Support and Events, Caroline transitioned to the Virtual Assistant industry in 2016, firstly as an employed VA, and then ultimately launched her own agency in July 2020.
Upsource has seen significant growth since 2020 and Caroline and her tips have been featured in the Metro, Daily Mail, Grazia, Stylist, Waitrose Magazine and The Guardian.
Her personal experience of motherhood, the workplace, redundancy, the pandemic, furlough and finding freedom with starting her own business has led her on the path of creating a podcast ‘Bump to Business owner’ to hare the stories of other Founders who are also Mothers and ‘how on earth we do it’.
Jennifer Countess von Walderdorff | Sustainable Fashion Consultant | Look at the Labels
Jennifer is a recognized fashion merchandising and retail expert, with a notable achievement as the author of the modern shopping guide ”Look @ the Labels.” Raised in New Cross Gate, southeast London, her love for fashion and numbers bloomed early, influenced by her Nigerian heritage passed down from her parents.
In 2011, Jennifer ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing Cheeky Poppins Shoe Clips. This inventive concept focused on enhancing footwear with accessories instead of purchasing new items, which garnered awards and recognition. An early-stage eco-conscious brand.
She has since been appointed ambassador for non-profits DKS and Sustainable Fashion Week in 2023. She is a member of UN Women UK and has been nominated for the Speaker Award by the Women`s Business Awards 2024. Today, she stands proud as a sustainable fashion freelance consultant, author, and speaker. She works with fashion brands, building strategies towards carbon zero, and integrating sustainable practices in their businesses. She has also built the Look at the Labels platform to assist and support people on their sustainable fashion journey. She also creates content and continues to grow her 5k audience via social media to educate people on the principles she shares in her book “Look @ the Labels”, how to get sharp, style right, and buy smart for a more sustainable future of fashion for all.
Dr Sania Shahbaz Hasnain | Technical Product Manager | Salaso
I am a physician by background with an MD in Hospital Administration with 7 years of experience in health tech.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working at the intersection of healthcare and technology, witnessing the transformative power of digital solutions in improving patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.
My experience has equipped me with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in the digital health landscape.
My professional journey in the healthcare field has been marked by a steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional patient care and driving transformative change through innovation. My experiences have honed my ability to lead and collaborate effectively in demanding healthcare environments while upholding the core values of healthcare.
I bring a wealth of experience at senior clinical leadership levels in medical management, with a strong emphasis on retaining a meaningful clinical and research profile. I have constantly kept abreast with the latest development in healthcare research and have published 8 articles in my area of expertise and will continue to upskill with new information and knowledge to contribute towards patient care.
I regularly mentor product managers to help them hone their skills and excel in their field. I do this in an attempt to give back to the community and help individuals as I believe we never grow in isolation and it takes a community to exalt a person. By sharing my experience and insights, I aim to foster a collaborative environment where we all grow together.
Julie Hammond | Portfolio GP | Advanced Medical Aesthetics Practitioner | NHS | Dr Hammond Aesthetics
Dr Hammond is an NHS GP specialising in women's health, family planning, mental health and aesthetic medicine.
She is based in Kent and is a passionate advocate for health equity. Dr Hammond has worked to raise awareness to support the health of the Afro-Caribbean community and reduce the gap in health inequalities experienced by this community as a Steering Group Member for the London Inspire Programme. To further her mission to narrow healthcare inequalities and ensure equitable healthcare, Dr Hammond is a Health Governor for the Kent Community NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Clinical Entrepreneur, Core 20 Ambassador for NHS England, BMA EDI Advisory Group Member, North Kent Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership member, member of the Wellbeing of Women’s Health Collective and the Kent and Medway LMNS Equity and Equality Oversight Group, Trustee of West Kent Mind and co-chair of diversity, equity and inclusion subgroup, Director of Events of Black Female Doctors UK and a UN Women UK delegate.
Dr Hammond is currently working with the Kent and Medway ICB to improve access to and reduce inequalities in maternity care for women and birthing people from marginalised communities.
She has also collaborated with NHS England and several grassroots organisations as part of public health promotion campaigns, including Black Women Rising, CoppaFeel!, The Motherhood Group, The Essential Baby Company, Dope Black Dads and MumsPride. In 2023, she was selected as a GEMS Recipient recognising emerging health and social care leaders from minoritised backgrounds who are making a difference in the sector.
Annie Terry | Cyber Reinsurance Broker | Lockton Re
I joined the Lockton Re Specialty Team in January 2024 as a Broker; with a sole focus on Cyber risk.
I started my career at Marsh in 2019 following the achievement of a 1st Class Business and Economics Degree.
During my time at Marsh I qualified as ACII and spent time in various client facing roles including Advisory, Sales and Cyber; dealing with high value accounts.
Just prior to joining Lockton Re I spent 2 years at AON; where I was a successful Cyber, Technology and Media Broker on the Direct Insurance side; for clients between £250m-£2/3bn in revenue.
Becki Betts | Product and Propositions Manager | Aviva
Whilst studying for a degree in PyschoSocial Science, I took on an additional unit in Marketing and fell in love with the subject.
Upon graduating, I decided this was where my passion lay so sought out a role in a corporate organisation in order to work my way up into a marketing role. I joined a financial services company in the call centre and a chance encounter led me to a role in their B2B Marketing Team where I worked as a consultant for three years, marketing to insurance brokers. I left the company for four years to be a Social Media Lead for an education company, and have my first child, before returning to financial services once again. After four more years in B2B marketing, and the small matter of another baby and a global pandemic, I found myself keen to progress and in need of a change. I took on a role in the Product Development team where I learnt how to research, build, trade and manage insurance products, adding a whole new skill set to my career. I am still in this team today but have recently had the opportunity to be involved in a large transformation project and apply my experience and knowledge of communications in a change capacity.
Nadine Teape | Global Network Oversight and Controls Manager | Lloyd`s of London
Nadine's career path spans over a decade in the financial sector, in a variety of roles and disciplines.
Following a law degree from Reading University, she commenced her professional journey at the Financial Ombudsman Service, specialising in resolving insurance complaints while mentoring new starters and colleagues.
Starting at Lloyd’s of London, Nadine specialised in international regulation, navigating Lloyd`s complex regulatory landscapes and licenses.
Nadine transitioned to Lloyd’s commercial team, where she spearheaded governance oversight of the organisation`s global offices. Here, she played a pivotal role in developing and implementing robust governance frameworks to support strategic objectives.
Driving positive outcomes and fostering collaboration, Nadine continues to make significant contributions to the financial industry, leveraging her expertise and passion in mentoring to inspire excellence and drive organisational success.
Sarah Lightfoot | FI Growth Leader, Senior Vice President | Marsh
I studied Law at university before joining JLT on the graduate scheme in 2015.
I worked in the claims team for Financial Lines for 4 years, until the acquisition of JLT by Marsh. This role taught me the fundamentals of excellent client service, negotiation, technical expertise, harnessing great relationships, and delivery of a true `one team` proposition to our clients.
Upon the Marsh acquisition, there was much change within my team and the wider group. At what felt like a pivotal time in my career, this was incredibly daunting. I took the decision to move into a client servicing placement role within Financial Institutions at Marsh. This was a fresh challenge for me, but I was guided by the principles I had learned and practiced.
Soon into my time in the FI team, I was working on several flagship accounts as lead Client Executive, and I simultaneously developed a passion for growing existing client relationships through better delivery of the whole firm, and building and nurturing new relationships with prospects.
I have now developed into FI Growth Leader, building an internal profile and working to empower the team to foster a can-do growth mindset. We have developed a clear growth strategy, and I work to support the whole team to feel confident and supported in executing that strategy, as well as utilising the best of the group to respond to client needs with innovative, unique solutions. I am so glad I found the confidence to make the jump in 2019.
Sarah Watson | Senior Manager, Insurance Risk and Regulation | PwC
After graduating from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor`s degree in Natural Sciences, I worked for a decade at Goldman Sachs doing Equity Research.
However, after having two children, I was no longer able to continue a career in investment banking whilst being the sort of mother I wanted to be. At that point, I pivoted to Insurance, hoping it would set me up to build a long and sustainable career, even though it might mean an initial step backward in seniority. I started worked at the Bank of England, where I supervised insurance firms for four years, and then more recently at PwC.
In my two years at PwC, I have worked with insurance firms across a wide variety of projects to help them successfully manage significant regulatory challenges. My agility over this time means that I have broadened my areas of expertise from initially prudential and life insurance, to now also conduct regulation, and working across the general insurance, Lloyd’s and London Market sectors. Throughout it all, I have helped insurers navigate the regulatory impact of change driven by macro, technological and operational factors.
I grew up immersed in two cultures, with a Chinese mother and an English father. This, combined with the breadth of my career experiences, means I recognise the importance of understanding and celebrating people’s different perspectives and creating an inclusive environment. I am passionate about promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, and supporting other women in their career.
Emily Griffiths | Founder, Activist, Writer and Speaker | For The Women UK
My name is Emily, I’m founder of For The Women UK, a Social Impact organisation.
I’m an activist, writer and speaker, my work is focused on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, Women’s Health and Empowerment as well as Health Equity. I have campaigned on a political level working with local members of parliament involved in policy matters for changes. I have been a voluntary UN Women UK delegate for three years, a UN Youth Member and I have attended high level UN Youth Human Rights Meetings, as well as other large organisations.
I was delighted to hold a meeting with The Clinton Foundation about my activism work with Women’s Health. I speak at schools, colleges and workplaces to raise awareness on inequalities faced by Women and Girls in health, education and more. I’m dedicated to my work and I’m deeply passionate in creating meaningful changes.