Elena Garcia | Vice President - Infrastructure and Energy Capital | Macquarie Capital
I have a Double Degree MSc in Civil Engineering both by the Polytechnic University of Madrid and by the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris.
After having done a couple of internships in civil engineering in South America during my university years, I have worked in the UK in the financial sector since I left university back in 2015. I joined JP Morgan markets division straight after finishing university, first as a summer intern, and was then offered a full-time position within the Sales, Trading and Research division, focusing on balance sheet solutions and derivatives strategies for financial institutions in Europe. I stayed there for six years, and although I loved following the financial markets and the fast pace, I missed the tangibility of the infrastructure sector I had come to know as part of my university studies, and so I decided to pursue a career change. I then moved on to Macquarie’s Infrastructure and Energy Capital team, which invests Macquarie Group’s balance sheet in infrastructure projects across Europe, focusing on the energy transition, digital and socioeconomic sectors, mostly via private equity and debt instruments. Despite the unusual career path, I have not regretted my decision for a single day, the team covers a broad spectrum of sectors and capabilities, and I have had the chance to work with amazing professionals that I look up to and continue to learn from.
Lea Bellion | Project Manager | Cognizant
After gaining a first class honours degree in media production with animation from the University of the West of England, Bristol, Lea has had a varied career in events at the BBC, as a rep on a ship, organising events for a hotel, as an all-rounder for a start-up Will register, and in various customer-facing roles at Britvic Soft Drinks.
Following this, Lea worked at the engineering firm Renishaw for 10 years in various corporate head-office roles (projects, sustainability, trade compliance), where she also worked for over two of those years in Germany. Lea is now a digital marketing project manager at Cognizant, where she has been developing her project management and leadership skills, alongside studying for an MBA in Technology Management with the Open University. In addition to this, Lea is one of four volunteer directors for a community interest company that runs her housing estate of around 450 properties, and 1000 residents. In her spare time, Lea designs and makes silver jewellery and has this year pledged to donate some of her creations to support charitable causes. Lea has been conducting research into the sustainability and environmental issues surrounding jewellery making, initiating discussions with the Environment Agency, and bringing together various parties in the industry to tackle this important topic.
Navreet Kaur | IT Audit Associate | Northern Trust
Navreet Kaur is a dynamic IT Audit Associate with a strong foundation in data analytics, business intelligence, and risk management.
Born in Punjab, India, raised in Italy, and now based in London, she brings a global perspective and a deep passion for technology and finance. A graduate of University College London with a BSc in Information Management for Business, Navreet has been involved in improving the IT risk and control environment, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging data analytics tools like Power BI and Tableau to drive efficiency and implementing data driven solutions. Beyond her professional achievements, Navreet is dedicated to fostering inclusivity in tech. As a committee member of the Asian Leadership Council at Northern Trust, she organizes initiatives that promote diversity and cultural awareness. She has also mentored students, led programming workshops, and collaborated on AI-driven research projects, contributing to innovation and knowledge-sharing. With a track record of overcoming challenges, embracing change, and continuously learning, Navreet is committed to making a lasting impact at the intersection of technology and finance.
Charlotte Hanson | Service Delivery Manager | BAE Systems
Charlotte is an APM PMQ qualified Project Manager who has for the last 4 years been working as a Service Delivery Manager in Maritime Services.
This role involves managing multiple fleetwide equipment contracts delivering both routine and urgent, spares and repairs for the Royal Navy. Alongside this role, Charlotte is the Maritime and Land Sector Representative for the Employee Resource Group, the Gender Equity Network (GEN). This group ensures employees have equal access to tools and opportunities regardless of gender. Through her role in GEN and her personal enduring experience with endometriosis and adenomyosis, she identified a need for additional workplace support and advocacy in this area and created the Reproductive Health and Fertility Group. She has chaired this group since its inception in 2024, running monthly sessions for hundreds of engaged attendees, inviting both internal and external speakers to share their personal lived experiences with reproductive health and fertility. She has created a safe and inclusive space to educate, inform and advocate for the needs of her colleagues. Charlotte is engaged in ongoing policy discussions within the business to improve workplace support, taking steps to close the gender health gap and support women to thrive professionally. In the near future, she is looking to explore a new role in Employee Experience, marrying her core project management skills with her unwavering drive to improve the workplace for her colleagues both current and future.
Alexia Williams | Through Life Technical Lead | Defense Organisation
Alexia is a Through Life Technical Lead at a Defence organisation, where her career has spanned the entire Defence Portfolio.
Starting as an Aerospace Engineering Degree Apprentice, she progressed to a Master's Degree Apprenticeship in Through-Life System Sustainment, driving innovation in the maintenance and availability of long-life assets. Her projects include reducing turnaround times for military engine repairs and using data analytics to enhance Navy asset availability. Beyond her technical role, Alexia is a Non-Executive Director at EAL and a Trustee on the Board of Enginuity, supporting education and skills development in engineering. Passionate about promoting STEM careers and apprenticeships, she has contributed over 200 hours in the past year to outreach activities. She also serves as Chair of the IfATE Apprentice Panel, an Apprentice Representative for the UCAS Apprenticeship Stakeholder Group, and a member of the IET Young Professionals Committee and IMechE Bath and Bristol Young Members Panel. Alexia's dedication and leadership have earned her multiple awards as an apprentice and engineer. Rising from Apprentice to Technical Lead in under six years, she exemplifies the values of trust, integrity, and safety. Through her work and advocacy, Alexia is not only driving engineering excellence but also inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in STEM.
Julia Barr | Commercial Manager, Nuclear - Defence & Civil | Mott MacDonald
Having studied Law at university, I spent 4.5 years in legal publishing at a small Oxford firm before moving to London to take on a PA/editorial role at Westminster Abbey.
I moved up to Scotland and found a role as an executive assistant at a private school; unfortunately, some restructuring and reduced hours meant that role was no longer tenable and I was lucky to find a role as a programme office coordinator with Mott MacDonald. I have been with Mott MacDonald ever since: I went from the programme office of a £1.6B defence infrastructure programme to working on one of its projects. A few months in, I was promoted to Assistant Project Manager, looking after multiple workstreams and coordinating on-site working, which had to move from 9/5 to 24/7 to keep workers safe during the Covid pandemic. A mentoring opportunity led to the offer of a commercial management role, which I thought I’d be terrible at but in fact really suited me. I have since progressed to offering our project teams management and support on contracts, governance, dispute resolution, finances and audit, as well as taking on a compliance manager role on a confidential project. As a mum of three children who works full time and whose partner works away from home in the Forces, I am passionate about promoting and realising the employment potential in the military community. I am the Families Lead on Mott MacDonald’s Armed Forces Steering Group, representing military family employees’ views to senior management.
Lisa Rawlings | Senior Talent Acquisition | Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK
Lisa Rawlings is a dedicated and accomplished professional with over 25 years of leadership experience spanning military and civilian sectors.
Currently serving as Senior Talent Acquisition at SNC MS UK, Lisa drives strategic recruitment initiatives within the defence sector, including the development of a Military Pathway Programme that enhances diversity and retention by supporting veterans’ transitions to civilian careers. Lisa is the Chair of the Veterans Advisory and Pension Committee (Wales), where she advocates for veterans’ rights, influencing policy changes and improving access to services. She is also the Co-founder of the Female Veterans Alliance, a pioneering network providing support, mentorship, and community for women transitioning from military to civilian life. Additionally, she has co-founded three Veterans Support Hubs, offering essential services for veterans and their families, addressing issues such as mental health, isolation, and employment. Lisa’s academic achievements include a Master of Science in Global Governance and ongoing studies for a second master’s in Human Resource Management, showcasing her commitment to continuous professional development. Recognised with several honours, including Role Model of the Year at the Welsh Veteran Awards, Lisa’s work is a testament to her passion for making a positive impact on individuals and communities.
Ruth Guest | Lecturer in General Practice | Royal Navy
Having gone to medical school at the University of East Anglia I joined the Royal Navy as a junior doctor based in Plymouth before officer training at Dartmouth.
Deploying as the doctor on HMS RICHMOND I enjoyed combining medicine and adventure. During training to become a GP I had my two children and undertook some research around postnatal depression amongst servicewomen which led to Defence wide policy change including the introduction of self referral into mental health services for pregnant and postnatal servicewomen in the UK. Alongside my first job as a military GP I followed my interest around women’s health and medical education gathering further qualifications in these areas, training junior military doctors and running women’s health clinics before moving to be a lecturer in general practice. A career highlight this current job involves research and education and has enabled me to follow my passion of combining these to benefit women in Defence. An MSc in Health Research Methods and a PG Diploma in Community Gynaecology has allowed for research around female hygiene in austere environments, international collaborations, access to abortions in the UK Armed Forces and provision of bespoke women’s health clinics as well as training our future medical professionals, leaders and anyone else who will listen around women’s health.
EY
At EY, our purpose is Building a better working world.
The insights and quality services we provide help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. In a world that's changing faster than ever, our purpose acts as our North Star, guiding our 400,000 people — providing the context and meaning for the work we do every day. We help digital pioneers fight data piracy; guide governments through cash-flow crises; unlock new medical treatments with data analytics; and pursue high quality audits to build trust in financial markets and business. And now we've unified all our artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and development efforts under one platform, EY.ai, to help enable clients to efficiently access the benefits of AI. It is also intended to increase transparency, trust, and confidence in AI as EY seeks to use these new capabilities to serve the broader interests of society and contribute to a more inclusive, equitable future. Through our four integrated service lines — Assurance, Consulting, Strategy and Transactions, and Tax — and our deep sector knowledge, we help our clients to capitalize on new opportunities and assess and manage risk to deliver responsible growth. Our high-performing, multidisciplinary teams help them fulfil regulatory requirements, keep investors informed and meet stakeholder needs.
Grace Harwood | Vice President, Partnerships, Sustainability & Impact, UK & Europe | RBC Capital Markets
My passion and career in the charitable sector began during university where I secured a ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ summer internship with Macmillan Cancer Support, responsible for the marketing and PR of the flagship fundraising event across East Anglia.
It was a great introduction to the sector and provided me with invaluable skills and confidence to take forward into my career. Upon graduating with a degree in Sports Science with Management, I secured a role at the charity SportsAid, combining my interests of both the sport and charity sectors perfectly. Working in a small team meant I had great exposure to a range of roles, taking on increased responsibility year-on-year, including managing and growing major partnerships and developing new opportunities to drive revenue. Most recently, I have moved corporate side to work for Royal Bank of Canada, where there is a strong culture of supporting the community. I lead on the bank’s charitable activity across Europe for RBC Capital Markets. I have the privilege of working with a variety of charitable organisations, managing corporate donations, employee giving and volunteerism to ensure we can have a deep collective impact on the communities in which we live and work.