Toby and I had a great chat in April on matters of leadership, the #WestOfEngland, #CommitteeSystems and #BusinessAsAForceForGood. I’m very much looking forward to working more closely with Toby on meeting some of the challenges facing South Gloucestershire and the West of England!
Our Initiative Members
Bristol Planning Law and Policy Conference 22, Ashton Gate
On the 31st March 2022, I attended the Bristol Planning Law and Policy Conference to represent the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. I was kindly hosted by my fellow BCCI board member Kevin Gibbs, Senior Counsel – Head of Strategic Planning of Initiative member Womble Bond Dickinson. Ashton Gate Stadium was, as ever, an impressive venue,…
Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales Annual Dinner 2022
The 5th May saw the Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales (ICAEW) annual dinner finally come back in 2022, after a pandemic-induced hiatus, and a very kind invitation was extended to me to join them, to represent the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. We were hosted at the Bristol Aerospace Museum, ICAEW President Natalie Binstead…
Bristol Port CEO David Brown calls Businesses to Job Fair for Afghan Resettlers
Bristol City Council is currently providing accommodation as part of the UK’s Afghan Resettlement Programme for 120 Afghans who have been torn away from their homes. Later this week on the 1st April 4pm-8pm at the Mercure Hotel Conference Suite BS1 6SQ, we will be bringing Afghan resettlers and local businesses together for a job…
Online Initiative Meeting Update for Feb 22
summary of our espresso-shot update to Initiative members for February 2022
Adventures of an Elle Presidente
Bristol and The West of England, the final frontier. These are the voyages of a Chamber of Commerce President. My two-year-ish mission: to explore strange new sectors, to seek out more businesses doing good and sustainable business models, to boldly go where no (female, ethnic minority) president has gone before.. Every president has a theme…
The Business of Net Zero Commentary on the Commentary
On the 4th November, businesses across the West of England came together to discuss the business of net zero. Bristol’s Mayor Marvin Rees came straight from COP26 in Glasgow to bring back what he had learned. During his speech he told us that “there IS NO PLAN” and that Government would have to finance the…
UWE Distinguished Address: Introducing Ben Osborn, MD, Pfizer UK
Just before stepping up into the President’s role, I had the honour of introducing Ben Osborn, MD of Pfizer, as UWE’s Distinguished Address Speaker in September 2021 for the Annual Bolland Lecture. Ben’s personal story made his achievements even more amazing .. Ben graduated from Leeds University and joined Pfizer in 1998. By 2012, Ben…