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Barriers LEADERSHIP SUMMIT & AWARDS 2023 The Londoner Hotel, London

forwardladies.com WHERE WOMEN THRIVE

Let’s Eat Starter Spinach, watermelon and lime with

Contents

black pepper dressing Main course

Running Order

Foreword

Meet Your Host

Meet Your Speakers

Business Woman Of The Year 2022

Hall of Fame

Meet Your Finalists

Judges

Sponsors

Roasted duck with spiced potatoes, clementine sauce and red cabbage infused with cinnamon and juniper Vegetarian (pre-order only) Gnocchi with cherry tomato, garlic and Parmesan Dessert Lemon Meringue Pie Shortbread biscuit, lemon curd mousse, Citrus chantilly

Running Order #BreakingBarriers

10:30 Registration and Networking

14:15

Dessert and coffee

11:30 Host’s welcome - Genelle Aldred

14:35

Bonita Norris, Mountaineer, The Girl Who Climbed Everest

11:40 AI: The End of Women in the Workplace? Emma Byrne

14:55

Business Woman of the Year 2022 Sheridan Ash MBE

12:00 Panel Discussion: How the Next Generation

Winner announced - Business Woman of

are Breaking Barriers

the Year 2023

Dr Khadija Owens Simone Robinson

15:15

Closing remarks – Griselda Togobo

15:30

Networking and post awards drinks

Anna Gray

12:30 Lunch

Joshua’s Tavern (in The Londoner)

13:00 Winners Revealed

FL Leadership Summit & Awards 2023

Women's inclusion in all business areas is essential to modern society's safety, sustainability and progress. We are again delighted to convene some of the best minds to explore ways to do just that whilst celebrating the achievement of women who are already breaking barriers. Our vision at Forward Ladies has always been to create spaces and opportunities where women can thrive. We do this by showcasing role models, developing great leaders and equipping women with the tools to learn, develop and thrive.

Welcome to the 13th Annual FL Leadership Summit & Awards Lift As You Climb It’s not our words or opinions that change the world, but our actions. We’re well into the 21st century. It's time to rethink work and what it will take to unlock women's full potential. We've been at it for a long time, but we need to continue breaking down the barriers holding women back from fully participating and contributing at the tables where decisions are made.

#BreakingBarriers

This year's Leadership Summit and Awards contributes to these aims. As we gather, may ways in which we can help advance women become more apparent to us individually and corporately. Some have described attending this summit as a career and life-enhancing experience. For some of you, hearing the stories of our fantastic finalists and speakers will be a catalyst, a crucial first step in sparking ideas, creating connections and building the support network you need to step up into your next bold move. I hope you leave here ready to break your personal barriers and be inspired and motivated to help others navigate and overcome theirs – because we are indeed stronger together. We are so excited to see you here and I wish you a wonderful day.

Griselda Togobo Griselda Togobo

gt@griseldatogobo.com

FL Leadership Summit & Awards 2023

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME “I just wanted to thank you for all the support and advise you have provided me during the WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME.I have actually got a new job – I’m so pleased to say. It just goes to show that the programme really helps you change your mindset and to just go for it!” -Participant -

Lets chat! gt@griseldatogobo.com

Our programmes are designed to include: Sponsorship Executive coaching Learning sessions Group coaching

GENELLE ALDRED AUTHOR, BROADCASTER AND CONSULTANT

Genelle Aldred is an Author, Broadcaster and Consultant for all things communication. She is currently Deputy Chair of Women in Journalism. Genelle also provides social and political commentry for Sky News, BBC Radio London and Canadian News. She previously enjoyed a successful career as a journalist and newsreader for over 15 years. Since 2007 Genelle has worked for organisations including ITN, ITV, the BBC, ITN Productions, News UK and CBC. Other prominent roles of Genelle’s include Head of Digital Strategy for an International NGO and a Channel Manager of a Freeview TV Channel.

MEET YOUR

HOST

Genelle runs training for organisations trying to get better at tough cultural conversations and consulting on cutting-edge media, presentation and brand editorial narratives. Her book Communicate for Change: Creating Justice in a world of Bias was published in the autumn of 2021 with critical acclaim from best-selling authors Emma Gannon, Matt Haig and Dr Sophie Mort. Genelle is an internationally sought-after public speaker and panellist as she smashes through glass ceilings as an empowering woman. She is also an Ambassador of Sands – the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, raising awareness of women’s health and ending the stigma surrounding baby and infant loss. Genelle is a very keen golfer and can be found on a golf course in all her spare time.

Genelle Aldred #BreakingBarriers

FL Leadership Summit & Awards 2023

BONITA NORRIS

FORMER MOUNTAINEER, AUTHOR & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

Bonita Norris was the youngest person ever to reach both the summit of Everest and the North Pole. She has been on five Himalayan expeditions and has reached the summit of some of the world’s highest mountains. In 2017 her memoir, The Girl Who Climbed Everest was released, and topped the mountaineering books chart. In her talks, she shares the rollercoaster journey of how she went from a beginner climber aged 20 to standing on the summit of Everest only two years later, aged 22. It was that journey of becoming a mountaineer that tested her to her limits, both in the mountains, and on her journey to them as a beginner climber. Bonita Norris

EMMA BYRNE

JOURNALIST / ROBOT SCIENTIST

Emma is an honest-to-goodness robot scientist who, when she’s not developing intelligent systems, writes for Forbes, the FT and the Guardian. She frequently appears on Sky News and the BBC talking about the future of artificial intelligence and robotics. She has spoken to audiences as diverse as the Women in Journalism network and parliamentary special interest groups on the topic of AI. Her interest in neuroscience led to her first popular science book: Swearing is Good for You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language. Her most recent book, How to Build a Human is a smart, funny, humane look at what science knows about childhood. Emma Byrne

SHERIDAN ASH FOUNDER & CO-CEO, TECH SHE CAN

Sheridan, 2022 Forward Ladies Business Woman Of The Year, is a leader in Technology Innovation at PwC, and Founder and Co-CEO of charity Tech She Can. Sheridan set up the charity to improve career opportunities in technology for children and women. She’s a thought-leader on technological innovation and its contribution to productivity in the UKO. Sheridan Ash MBE

#BreakingBarriers

FL Leadership Summit & Awards 2023

ANNA GRAY

HEAD OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, SEVERFIELD PLC

Speakers

MEET YOUR Griselda began her career as an electrical engineer, she then veered into business having been influenced by the challenges and successes that her parents experienced as entrepreneurs. She trained and qualified as a chartered accountant with one of the BIG 4 professional services firms but now runs her own businesses, Forward Ladies included. Griselda is a mother of two beautiful children. She is extremely passionate about positively impacting the future of women and girls in the workforce. Griselda joined Forward Ladies as a member and was hooked.

Anna Gray MCIPR

DR KHADIJA OWUSU FOUNDER, AKAYA

Dr Khadija Owusu is an award-winning Leader, International Speaker and Junior Doctor. She is the Founder of AKAYA, Director of Programmes at Melanin Medics, Equality and Diversity Board Member at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, Ambassador at GUBA-Enterprise and Trustee for the charity Raising Futures Kenya. Khadija is a change agent, a voice for thousands of Black and Ethnic minority aspiring medics, medical students and doctors as she works to tackle issues on equality, diversity, and inclusion. She also has special interests in female empowerment and global health; impacting the lives of thousands of young girls across Ghana, Africa.

Dr Khadija Owusu

SIMONE ROBINSON SPEAKER, PUBLISHED WRITER & TOP 10 FUTURE LEADER

Simone is a dynamic speaker, published writer and thought leader committed to dismantling barriers and creating positive change in the workplace and beyond. As Global Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Manager, Simone has played a pivotal role in driving diversity initiatives within GKN Aerospace, implementing strategies that go beyond mere representation to create a culture of belonging. Simone’s ability to connect with audiences on both an intellectual and emotional level is just one of the many reasons she was voted as a Top 10 Future Leader.

Simone Robinson #BreakingBarriers

FL Leadership Summit & Awards 2023

SHERIDAN ASH FOUNDER & CO-CEO OF TECH SHE CAN

“I feel really overwhelmed with the fact that I won two Awards. I was so shocked to win the social impact award and then just completely shocked that I also won this wonderful top prize of Business Woman of the Year.

MEET THE

BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2022

I've always put other people up for awards and I'm usually a judge. I've actually never won an individual award before so for me, this is just incredible to be recognized in this way by such an incredible Community. Thank you to all my teams as well, because nobody wins an award like this on their own, thank you.”

I believe it is essential to promote yourself. I didn’t do this for a very long time; I thought people would recognize what I do if I worked hard. People will know I was working hard. They don’t, so you have to get better at promoting yourself

Sheridan Ash MBE

#BreakingBarriers

FL Leadership Summit & Awards 2023

BUSINESS WOMEN OF THE YEAR

LARA OYESANYA

HALL OF FAME LOUISE HARDY

GROUP GENERAL COUNSEL, WORLDREMIT

2018

CHARTERED CIVIL ENGINEER

2021

Lara Oyesanya FRSA

Louise Hardy is a civil engineer who delivered some nationally significant infrastructure projects. She now has a portfolio of non- executive director positions on FTSE and public sector boards, encompassing housebuilding, mining and manufacturing sectors; including Polypipe Group Ltd - one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of products for the construction industry.

Louise Hardy

Lara Oyesanya an experienced solicitor with a demonstrated history of working in Fintech, the financial services sector that is skilled in regulatory, payments, enterprise risk management, consumer protection, small medium enterprise, offshore, and commercial banking.

SUSANNA LAWSON FOUNDER, ONEFILE

2017

Susanna Lawson worked in the health and social care sector and witnessed huge inefficiencies in the training delivery models which drove her to develop OneFile, the leading e-portfolio software in the education sector.

Susanna Lawson DipIoD

ALEX DEPLEDGE FOUNDER, RESI

2019

She started Resi, a groundbreaking online architectural service that is revolutionizing how Britons renovate.

Alexandra Depledge, MBE

#BreakingBarriers

JAN FLAWN

Alex Depledge is one of the leading female lights in the UK tech scene. An innovative, principled and inspiring businesswoman, she co-founded the pioneering Hassle.com, which sold for £27 million in 2015.

PJ CARE

2016

Jan set up PJ Care based on her commitment to provide specialised, high-quality care to vulnerable residents with complex needs. Her decision to step away from nursing to become an entrepreneur was so that she could offer the best care possible.

Jan Flawn CBE, M.Univ

FL Leadership Summit & Awards 2023

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER

OF THE YEAR

NICOLA MILLWARD

Millward Consulting Engineers

GILLIAN LAMELA JPMorgan Chase & Co

HENA NARANBHAI Barclays

SAMANTHA BROOK Severfield Plc

ANN HARDING HAE UK

POONAM KAUR

fds Director Services Limited

EMMA WRIGHT

Harbottle & Lewis, Playfinder

NAOMI BEGUM-INGLIS Accenture