Karen Blackett OBE, Chairwoman Mediacom UK
Karen has been in media for 22 years and is currently Chairwoman of MediaCom, the largest media agency in the UK with billings over £1 billion. Prior to this Karen was CEO for 5 years.
Karen has been instrumental not only in the success of MediaCom, but in championing diversity throughout the advertising and media industry. In 2012 Karen launched the first ever Government backed Apprentice Scheme for the sector, where the apprentices qualify for an NVQ in Marketing and Communications.
In June 2014, Karen received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours. Karen has won the Women in Marketing (WIM) Outstanding Contribution to Marketing Award, featured 5 times in the Power List of Britain’s 100 Most Influential Black People (heading the list in 2015, the first business woman to do so), and has appeared in the Woman’s Hour Power List of Top 10 Influencers, and Marie Claire’s Women At The Top Awards.
Most recently Karen has been appointed as one of four external advisors to help diversify the Civil Service, and as a UKTI Business Ambassador for No 10. In March 2016 Karen became the President of NABS, the advertising industry charity which focuses on health and wellbeing in the workplace and presenting the business case for Diversity.
Rory Brooks
Rory Brooks is co-founder of the international private equity group MML Capital Partners, currently enjoying its 25th anniversary year. Rory graduated from UMIST (now Manchester University) in 1975. He funded the UK’s first chair in Enterprise at Manchester University in 2001. In 2005 the Rory & Elizabeth Brooks Foundation became the principal benefactor of Manchester University’s Brooks World Poverty Institute. Recent events include hosting global poverty summits in Johannesburg in January 2011 and in Cape Town in December 2012. Rory is Chairman of Manchester University’s Global Leadership Board and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University in October 2010. He is an adviser to The Quintessentially Foundation, been Chairman of Image Restaurants and a founder shareholder of Intelligence Squared.
Rory is a member of the 2012/13 Government Task Force on Philanthropy in Higher Education (the Pearce Report) and was Chairman of the Giving Summit Action Group on Ethics and Education.
Baroness Mary Goudie
Baroness Goudie is a global advocate for the rights of women. She advises philanthropic, political, and commercial organisations on ways to achieve better gender balance and encourage diversity in leadership. She has been a member of the British House of Lords since 1998.
Baroness Goudie is an advisor to the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, which examines and highlights the roles and experiences of women in peace and security worldwide through cutting edge research, timely global convenings, and strategic partnerships. She is a founding member of the 30% Club steering committee, which aims to influence chairman into bringing more women onto corporate boards across the world. A member of the Board of Directors of Vital Voices Global Partnership and a trustee of the El-Hibri Charitable Foundation, which foster interfaith dialogue and establish common ground and solutions to global challenges affecting mankind. She is also a member of the Leadership Council of The International Center for Research on Women and a Non-executive of PIVOT, an organization focused on ethical conduct in sport. She serves as a member of the Select Committee on Sexual Violence in Conflict, a task force appointed to consider the UK’s policy and practice for preventing sexual violence in conflict.
Dr. Bridget Juniper, Founder and Director of Work and Wellbeing Ltd
Bridget is an acknowledged expert on employee health and well-being. A Chartered Occupational Psychologist with a PhD in the measurement of employee well-being, Bridget set up Work and Well-Being Ltd (www.workandwellbeing.com) with the specific aim of providing services to organisations who want independent metrics and advice on employee health and performance.
Bridget continues her Award-winning research at Cranfield University where she is also a guest lecturer. She has been Awarded an Honorary Research Fellowship at the School of Business, Economics and Informatics at Birkbeck College, University of London. She is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Royal Institution of Great Britain and a Visiting Lecturer on the Goldsmiths’ (University of London) Occupational Psychology MSc programme.
Bridget is a newly appointed member of the Health and Well-Being working group for The British Psychological Society. She is an NAET Master Practitioner in Elimination Techniques and an EFT Master Practitioner in Emotional Freedom Technique. Elizabeth has established herself as a thought leader for the healthy food movement, speaking with authenticity and authority to help people make dietary and lifestyle changes that rejuvenate their health, looks and wellbeing.
Dame Mary Marsh
As a cross-sector leader, Dame Mary has long been committed to outcomes and impact by growing, challenging and nurturing people. She is a non-executive director of HSBC Bank plc, a member of the Governing Body at London Business School (where she completed her MBA), a member of the LSO Advisory Council (London Symphony Orchestra) and Chair of LSO Discovery Advisory Committee. She is also a commissioner of the Financial Inclusion Commission and a director of Holts Academy of Jewellery. Previously she has worked in the social sector as Founding Director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme and chief executive of the children’s charity NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children). Her earlier career was in education including as head teacher of two comprehensive schools.
Kate Percival, CEO Grace Belgravia
Kate Percival is CEO and Co-Founder of Grace Belgravia, London’s only Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle Club for women. Kate has extensive board level experience in the communications and marketing industries and was Chairman of the Creative and Marketing Services division of Chime Communications PLC from 1997-2001. Over the following ten years, Kate continued to advise clients in marketing and branding. In 2009 she then studied for a Master’s Degree in Luxury Brands and Services, for which she won the University Thesis Prize for her paper on The Convergence of Medicine and the Global Spa Industry. In 2012, based on the central proposition in her thesis, Kate, 56, co-founded Grace Belgravia with Dr Tim Evans, 60, Apothecary to HM The Queen.
As a businesswoman and working mother, Kate is passionate about supporting women in getting the very best out of their lives. She is a champion of preventative medicine and ageing well, which is at the heart of the Grace philosophy.
Kate is adamant in pointing out that, whilst Grace is the “thinking woman’s club”, it is not remotely anti-men, just very pro-women. Men are welcome as guests of female members for breakfast, drinks and supper in the week and brunch at weekends. The Fit for Business, Fit for Life Initiative and Awards Programme is very much about involving men and recognising that health and wellbeing in the workplace is as important for them as it is for women.
Elizabeth Peyton-Jones
Elizabeth Peyton-Jones is a master herbalist, BA Hons, Dip Herb., and an ND Herbalist/Naturopath. She has studied at the Naturopathy College of Naturopathic Medicine; the Herbal Medicine College of Naturopathic Medicine; the Ayurvedic Institute with Dr Vincent Lad, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and the East-West Course of Herbology, with Michael Tierra in Ben Lamont, California. She is an NAET Master Practitioner in Elimination Techniques and an EFT Master Practitioner in Emotional Freedom Technique. Elizabeth has established herself as a thought leader for the healthy food movement, speaking with authenticity and authority to help people make dietary and lifestyle changes that rejuvenate their health, looks and wellbeing.