Summit Speakers

Andrew Hagger

Carol Squires

Chris Skidmore (The Rt Hon)

Dianna Neal

Duncan Brown

Gareth Roberts (Councillor)

Helen Bailey

Jane Mossman

Jason Perry (Mayor)

Joe Marshall (Dr)

Jonathon Clark

Jonny is the Investment Programmes Lead at Capital Enterprise. He began his career in economic development at Liverpool City Region LEP, working on business growth programmes, research and policy around digital transformation in the manufacturing sector. He then ran ‘Activate’, a flagship ERDF-funded project and grant fund tailored towards scaling early stage digital, creative and technology businesses. Following this, he embarked on a consulting career – supporting prestigious big brands’ innovation and venturing efforts and coaching startup founders – whilst he co-founded and grew GDPR Defender, a legal knowledge tool that supports SME data privacy compliance. Jonny has made several angel investments (including a number of ‘Tech Nation Rising Stars’ winners) and holds a number of advisory and non-executive roles across enterprise and the public sector that advocate for startups – including as a founding team member of the acclaimed ‘Baltic Ventures’ accelerator in Liverpool and the Organiser of Liverpool Slush’D.

Liz Shutt

Programme Director, Insights North East

Liz Shutt is Programme Director for Insights North East, a Research England funded initiative to connect policy makers with the academic evidence base. As Programme Director she is responsible for establishing the organisation, developing key relationships, setting strategic direction, spotting new opportunities and overall delivery of actionable insights for our policy partners.

Previously, Liz was Director of Policy for the University of Lincoln and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, where she worked to connect the University with local and national policy development. In that time, she has played a leading role on various projects to help shape and develop regional and university strategy including 21st Century Lab, which focussed on the purpose of university in relation to the challenges of the 21st Century, the Local Industrial Strategy, the Innovation Strategy for the Humber Freeport and the University’s Regional Inequality Commission. Prior to this Liz had a well-established career in higher education policy, in Universities UK and working to establish University Alliance as a new policy representative group in the sector. She has also worked for Department for Work and Pensions and Sheffield Hallam University.

Luan Baptista

Mark Corbett

Mark Corbett is Head of Policy and Networks at London Higher. Mark has worked across a variety of policy areas within government and for business membership organisations. His experience includes the Industrial Strategy, innovation and energy policy, labour markets and higher education. Mark received his Postgraduate Diploma in Public Services Management from the University of York.

Matthew Hamilton

Michael Wood

Michelle Reeves

Senior Manager, Policy and Programmes, GLA & London Research & Policy Partnership

Dr Michelle Reeves is Head of the GLA’s Strategy Team, and Co-Founder of the London Research and Policy Partnership (LRaPP) with Professor Ben Rogers, University of London. She is an experienced project leader, policymaker, and researcher with a track-record of delivering high-profile and complex projects in regeneration, cultural and creative industries, and sport. These include 12-years working in a variety of roles shaping the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and setting up the London Recovery Programme to address the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Monica Montero

Munira Wilson

Nick Porter

Nish Parekh

Paul Kirkbright

Head of Knowledge Exchange and Partnerships, South London Partnership & BIG South London

Paul Kirkbright is Programme Director at BIG South London, which leads the development of a world-class ecosystem of innovation and enterprise based collaboration to stimulate knowledge-based growth and improve productivity right across the South London region.

BIG South London brings together knowledge and expertise to support the growth, development and success of all South London-based businesses, charities, and third-sector organisations through its partner universities and further education colleges.

Peter Mayhew

Principal & CEO, South Thames Colleges Group

I’ve worked as a Lifelong Learning practitioner for thirty years now, starting out as a community education tutor in west London in 1988 before moving to manage the Basic and Key Skills provision at South Thames College. I moved to Lewisham College in 1998 as Head of Key Skills, progressing to Director of Faculty with a remit for General Education, Adult Education, Basic and Key Skills, ESOL, learning disabilities and learning support, and becoming Vice-Principal for Quality and Curriculum Development in 2006.

In April 2010 I became Principal of Kingston College and then Principal of both Kingston and Carshalton Colleges in 2011, when the two colleges federated, forming the first College group of its kind and overseeing £45m-worth of learning in south-west London. In 2013 Kingston College was graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted for the first time ever; Carshalton also secured its first ever ‘Good’ grade shortly after, in 2014. In 2017, Kingston College, Carshalton College and South Thames College merged to become South Thames financial Colleges Group. I was appointed Group Principal and Chief Executive and have led the Group since then to ‘Outstanding’ financial health and a ‘Good’ Ofsted grade in 2020.

Peter O'Brien (Dr)

Polly Persechino

Pru Ashby

Rachel Bennett

Richard Keogh

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and External Engagement) at the University of Roehampton

Dr Richard Keogh is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and External Engagement) at the University of Roehampton, where he has responsibility for the development and implementation of the University’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Strategy. He is a passionate advocate for co-produced research, social impact, and the delivery of vocational education in the community, and for the community. Richard has generated over £7m grant income to support capital development and social impact initiatives

Sandra Dudley-Mcevoy (Professor)

Sarah Jones

Seema Malhotra

Stephen King

Head of Business and Enterprise, London Councils

London Councils represents the 32 boroughs, plus the City.  Stephen leads their work around business and enterprise but also supports the London Council’s work on infrastructure delivery, including the next steps on the London Infrastructure Framework which for the first time brings together a pipeline of strategic infrastructure projects for London with pan-London cross-party support in one place.  Stephen has worked in London’s local government for many years, as well as in the private sector.