GSL FESTIVAL @HOME SPEAKERS - Global Social Leaders

GSL FESTIVAL @Home | SPEAKERS

We are delighted to introduce our speakers line up for the GSL Festival @Home 2020.

FOR ALL

LORD DR HASTINGS OF SCARISBRICK CBE

REGENTS UNIVERSITY, LONDON

Lord Hastings is currently Chancellor of Regents University, and is the Former Head of Citizenship at KPMG International. Previous to this he was the BBC’s Head of Public Affairs and then its first Head of Corporate Social Responsibility. He also held the position of chairman of Millennium Promise UK as a member of the global Millennium Promise Board and is a vice president of UNICEF.

Between 2007-19 Lord Hastings attended the World Economic Forum in Davos annually and led the enquiry into the Future of Civil Society for the WEF and worked on the Role of Business in Society network. In 2014, Hastings was conferred with a Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent, Canterbury in recognition for his leadership at KPMG, the BBC and for his work in international development and corporate responsibility. In 2017 he was installed as the Chancellor of Regent’s University London.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE, EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE SOCIETY

Shona McCarthy joined the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society as Chief Executive in March 2016. From 2011-2014 she was Chief Executive of the Culture Company, leading on Derry – Londonderry’s transformational year as UK City of Culture. Prior to that she was Director of the British Council Northern Ireland. She also spent many years as Chief Executive of Cinemagic Film Festival for young people, Belfast; and the Foyle Film Festival, Derry; and was Head of Exhibition at the Northern Ireland Film Council.

Shona has 28 years’ experience of working in senior leadership positions and was awarded a prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship for Innovation in 2014 and a NESTA cultural leadership award which took her to live and work in India.

CO-FOUNDER, HALEBURY

In 2007 Janvi co-founded Halebury, a pioneering new law firm that enabled legal teams to have access to senior in-house expertise on a flexible basis as well as a new career path for senior in-house lawyers. In 2018 Halebury was acquired by Elevate, a global law company providing consulting, technology and services to law departments.

As well as advocating for change in the legal profession, Janvi is a female founder and a strong supporter and advocate for women and children’s rights. Janvi is the advisory board member of Equality Now and the Children of War Foundation and a founding board member of the legal campaign #FreePeriods, which aims to end period poverty. Janvi was recently awarded an honorary degree from the University of Law in the UK.

FOUNDER & CEO, CONNECTED DEVELOPMENT

Hamzat Bala Lawal is an accomplished advocate in Nigeria, with a track record of holding governments accountable to deliver on commitments to social programmes. He is Founder & Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE). Founded in 2012, CODE is the largest accountability and transparency organisation in Africa. Their “Follow the Money” programme trains communities to monitor government spending on social goods and hold their government accountable. To date, they have built 50 community governance structures’ capacity to monitor the implementation of $10 million budgeted for social infrastructures in 191 communities. The programme was awarded the United Nations SDG Action Award in 2019.

Hamzat sits on the Executive Board of the largest Youth Movement in Africa: African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC), advising on communications strategies and campaigns using technology tools to shape and actualize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hamzat has also lent his voice on different platforms and policy influencing coalitions across Africa such as the Not Too Young To Run movement which drives youth political inclusion.

Hamzat has been recognized for his leadership in numerous ways including by Apolitical which named him one of 2018 and 2019’s world’s 100 most influential people in digital government. He was also recognized amongst the 100 most influential Africans in 2019, joining the ranks of Amina J Mohammed, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Aliko Dangote.

MUSICIAN, HISTORIAN & SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR

Born into a Sikh family in London, Amrit Kaur is a singer-songwriter, Sarangi player and vocalist in genres of Punjabi folk, R&B and soul. She is a BBC Future Sounds 2020 artist and BBC Introducing artist. Praised for her live ability by the legendary record producer Rick Rubin, her notable performances include Glastonbury Festival, United Nations with Skip Marley and TEDx.

Amrit is the founder of Humanised, a social enterprise dedicated to humanising history and social issues through the Arts. With workshops taking place across the UK, USA, Canada and India, Humanised was awarded the UnLtd ‘Do it Award’ in 2016 and featured in the seventh Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

Amrit was a GSL Coach in 2018 and 2019 and has worked in the charity sector for 10 years. She studied BA and MA History at SOAS, University of London, specialising in colonial and social history. Amrit is also Global Youth Ambassador for TheirWorld and has spoken alongside Nobel Peace Prize winners, Rwandan and Holocaust genocide survivors as well as world leaders.

Her music is inspired by displacement, protest music and spiritual literature from around the world.

SMALL ROBOT COMPANY

Ben Scott-Robinson is an accomplished digital entrepreneur focused on geospatial and mobility technologies.

Scott-Robinson co-founded the Small Robot Company in 2017 which endeavours to replace tractors with accurate, smart, lightweight robots.

He has 20 years experience in digital innovation, including the digital transformation of Ordnance Survey.

Scott-Robinson is also an experienced technology entrepreneur, having
founded two agencies, two consultancies, an app start-up and a phone for the blind.

FUTURE FOUNDATIONS

Owen believes that in a world that can often be seen as complex that a different kind of mind holds the key to navigating these challenges. Creativity is one of our greatest natural resources and creative expression is the energy of that resource.

He has worked with organisations such as UPS, Ricoh, Barnardos, local authorities and the University of Birmingham. His work has taken him as far afield as Shanghai and Beijing where he has led facilitation teams on international programmes.

Owen has a background in business development, sports coaching, NLP coaching and creative facilitation. He is constantly seeking to continue his development and growth by attending workshops and trainings in leadership, creativity, philosophy and meditation. It creates excitement, aliveness and change in us, our communities and the world around us.

To date, in collaboration with leading international training providers, Owen has trained, mentored and coached thousands of young people and adults. This has been achieved by delivering a plethora of leadership, enterprise, employability and mindfulness programmes throughout the UK

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

Samuel is an entrepreneur, politician and adviser to the Church of England. Having first trained as an Anglican minister Samuel transitioned into business, launching Hodos Consultancy, a communications firm. Having worked with many global brands including Orange international, Heineken and Rolls Royce Samuel started to work increasingly with Not-for-Profit and public-sector organisations.

Samuel is a committed social reformer; believing that equality of opportunity requires bold leadership and courageous imagination, Samuel now spends his time between standing for the political office of Mayor of Bristol and supporting businesses to become more globally sustainable.

DEPUTY MAYOR, BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL

Asher has spent over 30 years as a community activist, leader, management consultant and now local politician. She has championed the needs of the voice-less, with a particular emphasis on the social-economic development of BME and under-represented communities. She has led and Chaired a number of major partnerships and organisations at local, regional and national level and has worked in the field of employment & training, education & skills, recruitment, advocacy, equality & diversity within local government and the third sector.

Asher was elected as the Labour Councillor for the ward of St George West, Bristol in May 2016 and was appointed to the Cabinet with the wide reaching portfolio of Neighbourhoods in August 2016.

In March 2017 Asher was asked to step into the new role of Deputy Mayor – Communities, bringing into & elevating the issue of Public Health within her new portfolio. She is committed to address the inequities and multi-level public health risks that impact diverse urban populations through the lens of racial and ethnic health disparities at all levels

One of Asher’s proudest achievements is the development of a new groundbreaking and multiple award-winning Stepping Up leadership programme, using the Bristol “One City Approach”.

Asher is a member of Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Panel, trustee of a national education charity and awarding body and the proud mother of 3 daughters.

TZ RISING

Khadeejah is a passionate young woman, committed to giving a voice and platform to young people. As a former Member of Youth Parliament with over 5 years of experience working to promote youth voice, Khadeejah firmly believes in the power of the people, rising up to create change and a fairer, more equal society where everyone is empowered to be the best version of themselves.

Her dedication to youth voice has resulted in becoming the chair of her local youth council aged just 13, running an anti-bullying ambassador programme in all schools in her local area, the majority of which are still active today. She has spoken in Parliament, been invited to Downing Street and also won a Diana Award for her efforts to fight social injustices.

She is now currently working on a project with the brilliant charity TZ Rising, aiming to educate people on the Black Lives Matter movement, alongside black and colonial history in an attempt to create an accessible, non-judgemental space for people to learn and grow.

She can usually be found in a red hijab, snuggling with her cat!

CEO, JODECITALKS

Jodeci Joseph is a motivational speaker who provides engaging talks to youth groups across the country. He only discovered he was Jewish at the age of 11 and later in life battled with mental health. This led Jodeci to build a motivational speaking organisation at University working with 100s of teenagers in the Hertfordshire region build self esteem. Within the Jewish community, Jodeci is one of the very few micraced Jewish individuals and a has recently advocated for equality of race within the Jewish community.

CEO, FUTURE FOUNDATIONS

Jonathan joined Future Foundations in 2007, as Operations Director. In 2011, Jon was appointed Chief Executive Officer. He has Project Directed the delivery of the British government’s National Citizen Service (NCS), working directly with the Cabinet Office.

He has since overseen the delivery of the programme with multiple regional providers and designed and delivered the NCS Leaders programme in partnership with the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute, the Cabinet Office and the NCS Trust. In 2017, Jonathan Project Directed a school-led response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, organising 4-week summer programme for young people (and their families) living in the local area who were affected directly or indirectly.

Jonathan established the Global Social Leaders movement in 2013 in partnership with the Wellington Leadership ad Coaching Institute for young people from around the world. He has been recognised globally for his commitment to enabling young people to reach their full potential, with the Enactus Worldwide alumnus of the year award in 2017.

WELLINGTON COLLEGE

Katy and Emmie are passionate about leadership and enjoy nothing more than having the opportunity to work with leaders of all ages and backgrounds. Katy is the co-founder of Global Social Leaders, with Jon Harper, and currently a deputy headteacher and Emmie is a head of economics. Katy and Emmie co-direct the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute.

Katy is doing a PhD at Oxford asking how leaders could improve the flourishing and wellbeing of those they lead; she is an affiliated researcher at the Oxford University Wellbeing Research Centre. Emmie is a former civil servant and co-founder of the Young African Leadership Programme. Katy and Emmie are co-authors of the book ‘Leader: Know, Love and Inspire Your People.’

NOGA LEVY-RAPOPORT

UK STUDENT CLIMATE NETWORK

Noga Levy-Rapoport, 18, is a climate activist and organiser of the school strikes across the UK, fighting for an internationalist Green New Deal. She confronted corporate leaders directly at International Petroleum Week, and has spoken at, organised, and led several marches and events to demand urgent climate action.

She has written for and been featured across outlets including the Guardian, the BBC, and the Times, and was named one of the most influential Londoners of 2019 by the Evening Standard for her work on youth empowerment, educational reform, and systemic change from the grassroots to the global level.

AKWESASNE MOHAWK NATION

Sonny is a Kanien’kehá:ka Bear Clan member from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation in New York. He is a Senior in the Legal Studies major at SUNY Canton. In 2015, he was invited to serve as a youth panelist at the White House Tribal Nations Conference, where he met with President Barack Obama to discuss higher education opportunities and de-stigmatization of mental health issues.

In 2018, he was invited to serve as a representative at the 17th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII17). The same year, he was the recipient of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Speciality Award at Canton, in recognition of his successful campaign to hang the Iroquois flag across campus and play the Iroquois anthem at all men’s lacrosse games (becoming the first NCAA university to consistently do so in 2018).

Sonny has also served as the Student Government Association President and Budget Director at SUNY Canton. He is an attackman on the SUNY Canton lacrosse team and has coached youth sports. He is a passionate advocate for suicide prevention, seeking to destigmatize conversations about mental health, and petitions for Indigenous representation in decision-making processes.

GLOBAL YOUTH BIODIVERSITY NETWORK

Josefa Cariño Tauli is an Ibaloi-Kankanaey Igorot indigenous youth from the Cordillera Region in the Philippines. She currently represents indigenous youth on the Steering Committee of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) which the official coordinating platform for youth participation in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

As a member of GYBN, Sefa has been actively advocating for the meaningful and effective participation of youth and the recognition of indigenous peoples’ issues within the biodiversity policy space. She has taken part in multiple CBD negotiation meetings since 2018 as part of the official youth delegation, contributing to the network’s policy work in its participation in the development of the next strategic plan for biodiversity: the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

She is currently a graduate student, focusing her research on biocultural diversity conservation and is a former indigenous fellow under Conservation International’s Indigenous Leaders Conservation Fellowship.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST

Ella Daish is an environmental activist spearheading a campaign to remove plastic from menstrual products. Her successful campaign is driving significant changes in the period industry and has so far saved 16.7 tonnes of plastic annually. She is influencing manufacturers to make real changes and councils to spend their period poverty funding on eco-friendly products.

Ella won the Climate Coalition’s Green Heart Hero Award for Individual Inspiration in March 2020 for her campaigning and activism efforts and has been included on The Big Issue’s Top 100 Changemakers of 2020, as well as being named on the BBC’s 2019 100 Women List. In 2019 her #EndPeriodPlastic campaign won Surfer’s Against Sewage’s Plastic Free Award for Best Campaign.

Working tirelessly, Ella manages all aspects of the campaign including press releases, social media content, strategy and face to face meetings with companies, local authorities and governments. She is dedicated to making positive change happen for people and the planet.

MEMBER OF YOUTH PARLIAMENT FOR THURROCK

Alicia is a member of youth parliament for Thurrock, however she is more well known for being a young carer activist and raising awareness for young carers! She started out by using twitter to express life as a young carer and the fact adults didn’t listen.

Alicia sits on the ministerial steering group for carers where she represents the voices of young carers nationally as well as helping shape policy for young carers.

Alicia believes all young people should be able to voice there opinion and have the opportunity to speak out about issues that matter to them

VOICEBOX

Voicebox deliver drama workshops and projects for young people across London to explore Masculinity and Mental Health. Within these projects, Voicebox address a range of associated themes such as: feminism, the LGBTQ+ community, relationships, identity, and wellbeing. A lot of Voicebox’s work is with schools and colleges where they work with ages ranging from 6-18. Voicebox also offer collaboration opportunities and bespoke projects for: Universities, Theatres, Charities and Youth organisations.

Voicebox challenge all of the negative aspects of masculinity that teaches boys and men to be a certain way, such as they should: ‘always be tough’, ’not cry’, ’be reckless and daring’; ’dominate spaces’.

Through challenging this, Voicebox encourage young people to aspire towards a positive kind of masculinity that is centred around: care, empathy, connecting with and sharing a range of emotions, and forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Voicebox aim to inspire young people to become the social leaders within their communities and to continue the conversation around gender and mental health.

HOUSEMASTER, WELLINGTON COLLEGE

David Edwards, housemaster of the Picton at Wellington College spent 6 weeks over the Christmas holidays and Lent Term rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua, as part of the 2019 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Despite having no previous rowing experience (in common with the entire crew of the ocean rowing boat “Mrs Nelson”) David undertook the challenge as part of the ‘Felix Five’ team – a five-man team comprising former Master of Wellington College Julian Thomas, James Wadsworth and David Jarman (both Army offers specialising in bomb disposal) and Ian Holdcroft an entrepreneur behind the Shackleton clothing brand.

In addition to being a classic adventure and the opportunity to realise a lifetime’s ambition, David and the team aimed to raise awareness and support for the Felix Fund which supports EOD (bomb disposal) personnel and their families on their return from high-intensity operational tours.

ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

Clémence has a masters degree in Geography, Economics and Social Anthropology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. After her graduation, she interned as an extra-financial analyst in the first global equity fund dedicated to the circular economy. Prior to her role as Learning Designer at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Clémence supported the delivery of live online events.

ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

Ilma is a Learning Designer at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation – an organisation that works with business, government and academia to build a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design. Ilma’s role includes designing and delivering circular economy learning content for various audiences in the digital and face to face settings. She has also been managing the work stream to develop the learning resources to support circular economy implementation in specific business functions, such as procurement.

EMPOWERMENT COACH & SPEAKER

A while ago Jason found himself at a junction in his life where he was asking, why do we believe in the negative thoughts of who we are, instead of believing in our inner true power, and how can we access this potential all the time. Jason’s first steps too answering these questions came after a long and painful period in his life Jason slowly began to understand that this painful period was not the end but the beginning of stepping into his own daily power.

Jason is a wellbeing writer, advisor, and mentor, he is also a theatre director and had an earlier career as an actor appearing in several West End musicals. Jason has written and created mindfulness and wellbeing programmes, courses, and workshops for schools and organisations in the UK, Norway and China. Jason teaches mindfulness to children and adults by bringing daily wellbeing practice into people’s lives. Jason’s meditations are available on YouTube, he has written for the Evening Standard and the journal Soul Hub Jason also has a YouTube series called “Short Shorts” an interview series proving how wise we all are.

MATTHEW T. LEE

HUMAN FLOURISHING PROGRAMME, HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Matthew T. Lee is Director of Empirical Research at the Human Flourishing Program in the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University. He is co-author of “The Heart of Religion” and co-editor of the forthcoming volume “Measuring Well-Being,” both with Oxford University Press.

He is also a Distinguished Visiting Scholar of Health, Flourishing, and Positive Psychology at Stony Brook University’s Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics and he previously served as Chair of the American Sociological Association’s Section on Altruism, Morality, and Social Solidarity. His research explores pathways to human flourishing, benevolent service to others, and the integration of social science and the humanities.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE OXFORD CHARACTER PROJECT

Edward Brooks is the Executive Director of the Oxford Character Project. His work joins research in virtue ethics, leadership and character development to the design and delivery of leadership and character development programmes at the University of Oxford and other universities and commercial partners in the UK, Europe and Hong Kong.

At Oxford, he founded and directs the Oxford Global Leadership Initiative, and is the director of a new three-year research project on culture, character and leadership in the business, finance, law and technology sectors. Amongst current writing projects, he is editing a book on The Arts of Leading: Perspectives on Leadership from the Humanities and Liberal Arts, and finishing another book on the virtue of hope: What May I Hope For? Modernity and the Augustinian Virtue of Hope. He holds a PhD from the University of Oxford.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, THINKAVELLANA

Dr Hazel Harrison (Clinical Psychologist) set up ThinkAvellana with a mission to bring psychology out of the clinic and into workplaces and schools. Harnessing her belief that prevention is better than cure, she develops and delivers keynotes and training workshops on a range of wellbeing and mental health topics.

Hazel is a freelance presenter and writer for the BBC, finding creative and engaging ways to help children, young people and families understand some of the key psychological theories that can improve our mental health. During the pandemic, Hazel has been creating the wellbeing lessons for the BBC Bitesize Daily Shows. Hazel also presents The Brain Lab for BBC Teach.

FOUNDER, ABA – BUILDING BRANDS WITH PURPOSE

Alistair Bullen is the founder of ABA – a branding agency that specialises in the educational sector. It principally delivers consultation, strategy and creative services across the three platforms of culture, brand and marketing.

As a company they have serviced the educational sector internationally since 2008.

Their work includes major academy chains in the state sector such as Oasis and AET, as well as with a wide range of private schools and educational service providers such as Oxford University Press.

Alistair is also a regular speaker at key educational events and an experienced coach for senior leaders in education, commerce and the charity sector.

www.aba-design.co.uk/about

CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT INITIATIVES

Dr Ogbanga is a development activist, acadapreneur and a multiple award winning social worker committed to the achievement of the SDGs. She has over 20 years experience working from the MDGS to the SDGs and building capacity to ensuring target stakeholders can be a part of their own development process.

Dr Ogbanga is a Graduate of several local, national and International Institutions including Cambridge University UK. She is currently a member of the Higest CSO coalition on SDGs in her home country, the African Rep of the A4SD and the National Coordinator of the UNSDSN Nigeria in Partnership, Policy and Programs.

An author and artist, she has led many policy reforms on the MDGs and SDGs and will bring to bare lessons learned in the sustenance and management of After Schools SDGs Clubs in Africa

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HARMONY PROJECT

Richard Dunne is Director of Education of The Harmony Project. He has developed a curriculum of learning that is informed by Nature’s principles of Harmony. He trialled the curriculum over many years at the school where he was Headteacher.

The work was inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales and his book ‘Harmony a new way of looking at our world’ and it provides a meaningful context for all learning. At a time when we need to rethink the purpose of education, this programme of learning provides a blueprint for an exciting, new way of learning that puts leadership and sustainability at its heart.

SCRUMMASTER AND EDUCATION CONSULTANT

Susannah is a walking-talking-singing-dancing career portfolio Mum-of-3 with an international reputation for her expertise in education. Susannah has taught across all phases of education from early years through to University level. She is especially known as a parental engagement and home learning environment expert following her managing a Family Learning service at a local authority for over 9 years and progressing to working as national policy lead for England and Wales in Family Learning, Community Learning and Intergenerational Learning. She was nominated by the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to attend Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of Susannah’s contribution to Community Learning.

Susannah holds a Master’s degree in Educational Learning and Development and completed her dissertation in motivation in e-learning, which is particularly relevant given the current lockdown situation in society due to pandemic. Susannah has worked as an e-learning tutor in a variety of subjects and most recently has applied her skills in inspiring and motivating learners of all ages from 5 years and upwards, making the transition to teaching music lessons online using video technology during the pandemic. Susannah was Project Manager for the EEF-funded Learning Together Study.

FOUNDING DIRECTOR, PORTLAND EDUCATION

Alex grew up daydreaming out of his classroom window in Cornwall, overlooking the clay pit that became the Eden Project. He’s been a dreamer in education ever since and now daydreams for a living, about how school could be.

After 30 years successfully leading schools across London , Alex founded Portland Education in 2014, an international education consultancy helping school leaders and young people to dream big with education possibilities.

Portland Education is co-founder organisation of a number of award-winning and globally recognised innovations in education. These include https://hundred.org/en/innovations/xtalksworldlistens – a global coaching programme and platform promoting youth voice from Malawi to Barbados to Bhutan. Also www.LinkOnlineLearners.org a global afterschool cultural exchange club recently cited by www.OECD.org as part of ‘Six Big Ideas in Education’ for 2020. And www.ThisIsOurChance.Education – the world’s first free online film festival on education.

Alex was named one of the top 100 education innovators in the world for 2020 by HundrED.org and Forbes magazine. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and was awarded Freedom of the City of London in 2019. He is also proud father of his sons’ GSL Goals shortlisted social enterprise https://hundred.org/en/innovations/one-small-candle

http://linkedin.com/in/alex-bell-frsa-fcct-bb9031b9

CO-FOUNDER, UNITED FOR GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH

Zander is an advocacy, communications and campaigns consultant with over a decade of experience in Foundations, NGOs, international organisations and politically parties. He grew up doing youth empowerment work with his parents’ charity Peace Child www.peacechild.org. He rebelled against this musical theatre by going to work for the Tories in the EU and went on to work for Oxfam, the ONE Campaign and Gates Foundation in Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. Zander is a co-founder of United for Global Mental Health, the world’s first global campaign on this important issue

CEO, MERIS EDUCATION

Nick has more than 35 years’ experience in education and, three years ago, was awarded the Fellowship of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education, having also served as a Trustee and Chairman of this national institution. In 2019 Nick was presented with the Institutes highest honour, their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nick trained as a Graphic Designer, before running his own company, specialising in brand development and point of sale material for businesses across Europe. During his design career, he visited friends in Ethiopia, which set him on a path of development, philanthropy and social transformation. After helping to establish two educational NGOs in Ethiopia and a UK based charity, focused on educating disadvantaged young people, he renewed his business career operating at board level in three national and international companies.

Nick is CEO of Meris Education a UK based virtual education and e-learning start-up, addressing the ‘work and future ready’ gap in the current school curriculum for 15 to 18-year-old students.

His company specialises in recruiting top academic students from mainland China into independent schools. More recently, has introduced high-level Chinese investors to UK Independent Schools who wish to establish a franchised brand in other nations.

CHAIR, C-ME COLOUR PREFERENCES

Born and bed in Zimbabwe, 4 enjoyable years at the University of Cape Town studying economics. Psychology and sociology. 14 happy years with the international Carnegie organisation before setting up my own companies. worked with Branson at Virgin and many other entrepreneurial companies large and small, our favourite thing to do is Colour profiling which helps people to discover who they are and what their preferred ways of doing things is. our C-me Colour Preference Reports have great use for young people and teachers as they help us shape a new future for us all.