Organisational Change Speakers

FORMER ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE

Tarique Ghaffur spent over three decades in UK policing diligently and passionately working towards making communities safe within Greater Manchester, Leicestershire and London. He found it a personal honour to lead thousands of dedicated and skilled police officers and detectives dealing with community reassurance, investigations, law enforcement, counter terrorism and global security issues.

Tarique made history by becoming the highest ranking Asian and Muslim Police Officer in United Kingdom for which he received several high achievement awards.

Tarique Ghaffur has a BA (Hons) in Public Administration, MA in Criminology, Honary doctorates in Law and Criminal Justice Degrees from Manchester Metropolitan, Leicester and East London Universities. He was awarded the Queens Police Medal (QPM) in and in Commander of British Empire (CBE).

Tarique is a graduate of FBI Academy, veteran of several overseas assignments, and countless international advisory presentations.

A unique combination of recognised role model, an operational leader and all round `hands on’ and `individual` practitioner makes Tarique a unique speaker on professional issues related to leadership, crises response, policing, community dynamics and race relations. He intelligently uses a mixture of real life experiences, stories, case studies and humour to put across his material and often tests conventional thinking by being forthright and controversial on emotive and serious subjects thereby promoting learning. Tarique regularly writes articles on security related matters which are published within authoritative publications. His recent article on Airport Security was published within the Huffington Post.

Career

Tarique Ghaffur joined Greater Manchester Police in 1974 and worked in CID, undercover and uniform roles up to the rank of Chief Inspector in inner city areas including Salford and Moss Side. He led a goodwill mission to India and was commended for his work to tackle street robberies, public disorder and crime investigations.

In 1989 he transferred to Leicestershire Constabulary, where as a Superintendent and then Chief Superintendent, Tarique Ghaffur gained experience in both operational commands in Loughborough and Leicester City, as well as heading a major force re-organisation to implement community based policing. He graduated from FBI Academy, Quantico and was part of team that inspected Jamaica Constabulary Force.

In 1996, Tarique transferred to Lancashire Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable where he was appointed head of operational policing for the force and for a short period was also responsible for Human Resources. Whilst in Lancashire, Tarique Ghaffur headed a major anti-terrorist operation in relation to the Blackpool Labour Party Conference. He also led a major corruption enquiry into a public organisation.

In 1998 Tarique was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable and worked at the Home Office Police Technology Organisation as operational adviser to develop technology for Policing.

In 1999, Tarique Ghaffur was selected to be a Deputy Assistant Commissioner and transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service. He initially assumed command of territorial policing in South London and in 2000 was appointed as the Commander of Westminster Borough (3,500 staff) with massive responsibility for the government security zone, demonstrations and public events including Nottinghill Carnival and New Year’s Eve celebrations. His innovative leadership made major impact on reducing overall crime in the City of Westminster.

Tarique Ghaffur was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 2001 and took command of the Policy, Review and Standards Directorate. Amongst a broad portfolio, Tarique Ghaffur worked closely with senior criminal justice partner Heads in London and nationally to formulate an effective and collaborative partnership. He put in place innovative solutions to improve partnership between the Police and Private Sector.

In November 2002, Tarique Ghaffur set up the Specialist Crime Directorate (3200 detectives), to provide a distinct response to tackling all aspects of serious and organised crime in London, including homicide, drugs and gun crime. He was responsible for the institution successful innovative programmes to tackle organised crime around such issues as drugs, human trafficking, Heathrow Airport and serious fraud. He also developed Operational Quadrant to build confidence in South Asian communities in London through effective law enforcement and community engagement.

Tarique Ghaffur has overseen a number of high profile investigations, including the Damilola Taylor and Victoria Climbié cases. In 2004, Tarique Ghaffur carried out a comprehensive crosscutting review of race and diversity within the MPS and played a major part in supporting casualty recovery, investigations and building Community relations after 7 July bombings in London.

Until September 2008, Tarique Ghaffur was responsible for Central Operations (7,000 staff) delivering ‘Capital City Policing’ and `security’ around policing of Airports, Diplomatic missions, security of State buildings. He was also responsible for firearms, public order, traffic, communications and contingency planning. His officers planned for and dealt with over 5000 public events (football, cricket, rugby, concerts, carnivals, New Years Eve celebrations, royal visits, state occasions, demonstrations). Tarique led in co-ordinating the aftermath of foiled terrorist attacks in central London in 2006.

Also, he was the Operational Co-ordinator Lead for the 2012 Olympics for which he has produced a comprehensive and holistic security and safety strategy to protect London and UK during 2012 Olympics. In 2008 he visited the Olympic Games in Beijing and produced an authoritative lessons learnt report. In 2007, He visited India with Mayor of London as one of London’s Ambassadors.

Through over 30 years of policing allied to his personal life, Tarique Ghaffur has created a real sense of proportion around vulnerable communities. He has become recognised as a positive role model, resulting in his receipt of a number of community awards from all sections of the community and high profile public profile on Race Issues within the Police Service. He is well known in South Asia, Middle East and Africa and has become an expert on protecting and securing major cities from terrorist attacks and major emergencies.

Tarique Ghaffur has a BA (Hons) in Public Administration, an MA in Criminology and three honorary doctorates from Universities of Leicester, Manchester Metropolitan and East London. He has attended the International FBI course in the USA and been awarded a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education (University of Virginia). In 2001 Tarique Ghaffur received the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) and in June 2004 was awarded the CBE (Commander of British Empire) by Her Majesty the Queen.

Tarique Ghaffur has written a number of influential articles on policing and communities, as well as delivering a considerable number of international, national and local presentations on a range of policing issues including changing nature of serious and organised crime, global security and terrorism. Tarique Ghaffur has a strong interest in Asian music and sports – particularly squash – where he has won numerous awards and represented the police service at the national level.

Tarique Ghaffur retired from the Police Service in November 2008 and has since set up a Foundation to promote shared responsibility for security and safety amongst vulnerable communities in UK. He is also a Chairman of Community Safety Development Global Limited which provides innovative security knowledge, solutions and training.

After many years in high-level diplomacy Charles Crawford has a unique profile as an imaginative, dynamic and even provocative speaker who has addressed audiences large and small in English, Polish and Serbian

After an Honours degree in Jurisprudence from Oxford University he qualified as a Barrister before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

From 1985-87 Charles served as Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe’s official Speechwriter, contributing ideas/language for speeches by the Foreign Secretary (major set-piece speeches, Parliamentary debates and less formal after-dinner remarks)

His first job on joining the FCO in 1979 was to head the Indonesia Section, followed by his first posting, to communist post-Tito Yugoslavia. He returned to London in 1984 and after a year on the Aviation Desk was appointed FCO Speech-writer. He was posted to South Africa in 1987 as part of the Embassy team led by Ambassador Robin Renwick working to end apartheid.

Returning to London in 1991 he worked in the FCO Department dealing with the Soviet Union as communist rule collapsed. He then spent three years in Moscow as Political Counsellor and then served three times as HM Ambassador: in Sarajevo (1996-1998); in Belgrade (2001-2003) and most recently in Poland (2003-2007).

In 1987 he wrote the FCO’s first Guide to Speech-Writing, a dynamic text full of real-life examples on how to write speeches – and how to weed out lugubrious mistakes. Two decades later it remains a core part of the FCO’s speech-drafting training

He subsequently contributed to speeches by members of the Royal Family and successive Prime Ministers, as well as different Ministers and other senior personalities in public and commercial life

He left the FCO at the end of 2007 to start a new career as writer, consultant, mediator and trainer. In 2009 he joined the UK Conservative Party candidates list

In recent months Charles Crawford led training courses for senior EU and other officials and private clients aimed at improving their communication skills. He has written for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Independent, DIPLOMAT and Total Politics.

In 2009 his audiences included the Headmasters Conference and Conservative Friends of Poland, as well as private groups and academic gatherings

In 2010 he and other former British Ambassadors in partnership with ADR Group launched a new senior strategic dispute resolution panel, ADRg Ambassadors

Charles Crawford’s trenchant observations on public policy issues are now available to a growing readership on his blog




Such honesty has no place in modern government…it’s bloody dangerous!
Andrew Dodge (Samizdata)

The most telling critique of this delusional foreign policy comes in regular instalments in the form of a blog by the former British ambassador to Poland, Charles Crawford. It’s called www.charlescrawford.biz, and if you want to know just how much in despair many of our diplomats are, this is the place to look
Dominic Lawson (The Times, 2010)

In 2005 a humorous FCO email he wrote as Ambassador to Warsaw (a satirical speech by Prime Minister Tony Blair damning other countries’ selfishness on EU Budget issues) caused a stir when it was leaked to the Sunday Times

His FCO written work was praised at the highest levels in London, NATO and the EU for its uncompromising dynamic style:

“fabulously readable and interesting analysis, with practical application … just about the best scenesetter [No10 staff] have ever seen”

“acrobatic and eye-catching in his use of language”

As a speaker Charles Crawford draws on dramatic episodes from his diplomatic career to explain wider policy themes, paradoxes and trends. His presentations are interesting and thought-provoking, but above all memorable

He is strong on foreign and public policy issues such as:

o Communism (and Vampires)
o Dealing with extremists and war criminals
o Climate change and PPP (perverse precautionary principles)
o Amazon Space: how the Internet is changing the strategic policy context
o International negotiation (as explained by Shrek, the Joker and Clint Eastwood)
o UK/European Union relations: Too Big (not) to Fail

Brain researcher, Chartered Neuropsychologist, Sony Award-Winning Broadcaster & Best selling author.

Renowned as the ‘father of neuromarketing’ due to his pioneering work in developing the science of Neurometrics, David is Chairman and Director of Research at Mindlab International. Based at the University of Sussex, it is the UK’s leading company specialising in brain research and neuroscience as applied to consumers.

David began his career studying medicine, later switching to psychology, gaining First Class Honours degree in psychology and a doctorate from the University of Sussex. After lecturing in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology he left, to start his own research organisation.

Over the past twenty years David has made more than a thousand TV and radio appearances as both a presenter and contributor. His television credits include: Red Mist (LWT); Rude London; After Dark; Tomorrow’s World; Shopology (BBC1); 100 Best Television Commercials (Channel 4); Road Rages (BBC1); The Colour Eye (BBC1) – as Presenter; Work is a Four Letter Word (BBC2); The Alpha Plan (BBC1); A Little of What You Fancy (BBC1); Should We Be Worried About? (BBC1) Sky, CNN and the Discovery Channel as well as many others.

David has written many best selling books on practical psychology, including Thinking Better (Rawson Wade) which became a best selling business book and a Fortune Book Club Choice. Also, The Secret Language Of Success (1989) a practical guide to body language which was also a best seller. Business Week wrote: “The best book on the subject”.

Other books include, The Soul of the New Consumer: What People Buy and Why in the New Economy; of this book Tim Waterstone wrote in Management Today: “This is such an enjoyable, important and timely book…required reading.” Bookpage described it as: “…a lucid analysis of a wide range of sales related issues…for anyone in the business of sending those messages, it’s an enlightening and compelling guide.”

David now lectures to major corporations in Europe, Scandinavia, USA and the Far East with clients including IBM, British Airways, BT, Disney, Coca-Cola, MacDonald, Hewlett Packard, SAP, Novartis, Glaxo, and Merck as well as other leading financial institutions and pharmaceutical companies. In 1978 he founded the registered charity Action on Phobias and has been active in working with self-help groups for phobics and anxiety sufferers.

Academic Qualifications & Affiliations
Director of Research Mind Lab International (www.themindlab.org).
First class honours degree in psychology (BSc Hons). University of Westminster, 1981.
Doctorate in Philosophy (D.Phil), University of Sussex, 1986.
Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society.
Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
Fellow International Stress Management Association.
Fellow Royal Society of Medicine.
Member of the American Association for Psychological Science.
Member of the International Society for Neuronal Regulation.
Member of the New York Academy of Science.
Member of the Medical & Scientific Network.
Member MENSA
Member of the Society of Authors.
Member National Union of Journalists.

Professor Roger Steare is a leading practitioner in the development and delivery of Leadership, Culture and Ethics programs globally, for organizations such as BP, Citigroup, HSBC and PwC. He helps people in organizations all over the world develop good thinking and then do the right thing.

Regulators and law enforcement agencies including the FSA, the SFO and the US Department of Justice have endorsed the effectiveness of his highly interactive programs and while his consultancy work has been acclaimed by top executives from firms such as HSBC and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, his book ethicability®: How to decide what’s right and find the courage to do it has been endorsed by President Jimmy Carter and David Cameron MP.

Roger Steare is Professor of Organizational Ethics and Corporate Philosopher in Residence at the Cass Business School in London, where he teaches ethics at undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA levels. He conducts extensive research on human character, judgement and behaviour, and has published research based on over 20,000 “Moral DNA” profiles of people in 162 countries.

He is a Fellow of the influential centre-right policy think tank, Respublica; a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts; and a Fellow of the Institute of Recruitment Professionals.

Roger is a recognized media expert on ethics issues, appearing regularly on BBC Newsnight, the BBC World Service, CNBC Europe and in the FT and The Times. He was a member of the Expert Drafting Committee for Rights and Humanity, invited by the British Government to prepare recommendations for the G20 London Summit in April 2009.

Roger studied the History of Western Philosophy with the late Lord Conrad Russell, son of the great British philosopher Bertrand Russell and draws on a wide range of professional experience as a banker, a social worker, an executive coach and CEO of a UK subsidiary of Adecco, the world’s largest employment agency.

Whether as an enthusiastic, capable conference facilitator, a speaker working interactively among delegates on the floor, or as an advisor and consultant to boards and businesses, Roger’s unique skill set and ability to communicate his advice and views ensure he is constantly in international demand. He unfailingly provokes lively debate and discussion and the fascinating, thought inspiring opinions he holds on ethicability in the world of politics make him an important member of our Election 2010 commentary team.

View the corporate showreel for Prof. Roger Steare, the leading consultant, educator and speaker in the field of ethics.

Roger Flynn worked at Virgin Group directly for Sir Richard Branson on business development and for the Group Finance Director on deal-making after the highly leveraged buy-out of Virgin Group Plc in 1989. The sale of Virgin Records, the launch of Virgin Radio, the explosive growth of Virgin Games and the launch of Virgin Airships are just some of the projects he worked on.

Roger joined British Airways in 1995 as General Manager World Sales & Distribution with a brief to radically change the way distribution worked in the Airline Industry. He began the move away from commission to travel agents as well as launching electronic ticketing and ba.com

He was recruited to Prudential immediately after the £2bn pension’s miss-selling debacle to run the UK Retail business (“The man from the Pru”) that caused the problem! He drove a major business transformation by introducing a multi-channel distribution model as well as a change of culture for the 6,500 staff

Following the Pru, Roger joined the BBC working for Greg Dyke and was a member of the Executive Committee. His role was to create Commercial Businesses from internal back-office functions and he delivered 3 profitable businesses with 4,500 staff transferred from Public Service. He was also instrumental in the overall BBC change programme

Roger has just completed a role as President International of SDI Media Group, a global company providing media services to the major players in the Film and Television Industry. SDI is Private Equity backed by Elevation Partners, a US based firm that includes Bono, the lead singer of U2 as a Managing Director and Co-Founder.

“Roger’s presentation perfectly complemented the theme of our Senior Leaders’ Risk conference. He related his relevant business experience in a way that resonated with the audience, particularly the challenges of managing change.” – David Godfrey, Divisional Risk Officer, Wholesale Risk, Lloyds Banking Group

View video or Roger Flynn. Click video icon.

Who else could stand in an old ballroom above a pub in Battersea and see the future of comedy? That’s what Jongleurs Comedy Club founder Maria Kempinska did in 1983. Building an empire of purpose built venues including state of the art city centre major capacity entertainment arenas and changing the face of European comedy forever; all from a room that smelt of nothing more than sticky carpets and Stella Artois.

The Jongleurs brand is the UK’s funniest calling card; it’s synonymous with comedy and has launched a host of stars into comedy’s firmament including Jack Dee, Harry Enfield, Paul Merton and Lee Evans. Twenty years later and the brand and clubs are still pioneering new talent and showingcasing the best comedy.

A regular presence on TV and radio, Maria has talked business and comedy with Trisha as well as with Channel 4 and BBC 2. While on air time for radio includes appearances on Radio One, Radio 4’s Start The Week and other leading London commercial stations, including LBC. Maria has been recognised with awards including Real Business magazine’s ‘Entrepreneur award’ and by Buckingham Palace to collect an MBE.

Maria’s topics include, the business of comedy, leadership, a woman as a leader of men and how to build successful brands and inspire markets. She’s also developing a series of masterclasses for management groups to understand the use and relevance of humour in successful negotiation and people management.

Maria is currently working on projects such as content provision for 3G phones, live comedy on the internet, the ongoing Jongleurs on the Road Theatre tour across Europe and is the executive producer of ‘Live at Jongleurs’. She’s currently also overseeing the overhaul of the hugely popular Jongleurs website and e-zine.

Maria is on the Women in Business board for Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme with the Countess of Wessex, she is also a member of Anti-Slavery committee. She’s recently been involved in developing a screenplay called Out Of The Dark, which is currently in pre-production. And finally, as if comedy is not enough, Maria has co-created Lockout, a live music event and label that introduces new artists to the British public and music industry. She intends to sleep only when she’s dead.

John Reid was born in Lanarkshire. The son of a postman and a factory worker he attended St. Patrick’s High School in Coatbridge and went on to read History at Stirling University, gaining a PhD.

Dr Reid has served at almost every level of the Labour Party, from branch to constituency. From 1979 to 1983 he was Research Officer for the Labour Party in Scotland subsequently becoming political adviser to the Labour Leader, Neil Kinnock from 1983 to 1985. He went on to become Scottish Organiser of Trade Unionists for Labour from 1986 to 1987. He was tipped for success from his first election to the Commons in 1987 and soon became a defence spokesman, where he spent seven years in opposition before joining the Ministry of Defence when Labour came to power in 1997.

He was largely responsible for the Strategic Defence Review, and was made minister for transport in 1998. He impressed PM Tony Blair with his robust performance and joined the cabinet as Scottish secretary after the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. Following Peter Mandelson’s second fall, he became Northern Ireland Secretary.

He moved from the province shortly after being forced to suspend devolution in October 2002. His trouble-shooting skills were turned instead to more purely political questions, as Tony Blair appointed him Labour Party Chairman and Minister without Portfolio.

In March 2003, he was given his fourth different Cabinet role, when he was appointed Leader of the House of Commons following Robin Cook’s resignation.

And less than three months later he became health secretary when Alan Milburn quit the government.
Reid has been a Lanarkshire MP for the past 18 years, representing Motherwell North and Hamilton North and Bellshill. Following the Boundary Commission’s decision to disband his previous seat, he was elected as MP for Airdrie and Shotts at the 2005 general election.

His 10-year ministerial career saw him undertake nine different ministerial jobs, his appointment as health secretary in June 2003 took him into his fourth cabinet job in less than a year.

1989-1990 Opposition Spokesman on Children
1990-199 Opposition Spokesman on Defence
1997-1998 Minister of Defence
1998-1999 Minister for Transport
1999-2001 Secretary of State for Scotland
2001-2002 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
2002-2003 Party Chair and Minister without Portfolio
2003 Leader of the House of Commons
2003-2005 Secretary of State for Health
2005-2006 Secretary of State for Defence
2006-2007 Secretary of State for The Home Department (Home Secretary)

Allan Lieghton started his career in Mars Confectionery as a Salesman in 1974. He worked his way up through the company before leaving in 1991.

He then joined Pedigree Petfoods, where he was Sales Director until his appointment in 1992 to Asda Stores Ltd. He began his career in Asda as Group Marketing Director and was appointed Chief Executive in September 1996.

Asda is widely regarded as a text-book example of how a company can turn itself round. It has become both a leading player in its market and is regularly cited as one of the best companies in the country to work for. In November 1999 when the American company Wal-Mart bought Asda Allan became the President and CEO of Wal-Mart Europe.

In November 2000 Allan Leighton left Asda and developed a new work ethic – ‘Going Plural’. He has developed a portfolio of interests, and is currently Chairman of Bhs Ltd, Consignia plc, and Wilson Connolly Ltd.

He is Non Executive Chairman of Cannons Group Ltd and lastminute.com, Non Executive Director of Dyson Appliances Ltd, BskyB, and George Weston Ltd, and Deputy Chairman of Leeds Sporting plc. As a keynote speaker he shares his remarkable experiences with corporations, speaking on subject such as leadership, customer service and change.

Larry Hochman spent many years as Head of British Airways in New York and as Director of AIR MILES. Hochman is a globally recognised expert on the future trends of ethics, values, loyalty, service, people leadership and corporate team culture.

He is not just a theorist, but has turned his thoughts into tangible business triumphs internationally. At AIR MILES, Larry created what is widely recognised as one of the most progressive cultures and remarkable commercial successes, first as Director of Customer Service, then as Director of People and Culture.

Hochman currently consults and advises internationally recognised brands and service leading companies on building customer relationships to last a lifetime; global leadership in times of radical change; the war for talent and the future for HR; customer collaboration and building one corporate culture for success. His international experience and global focus have made him one of the top advisors to the world’s greatest multinational companies.

Alongside his numerous speaking engagements all over the world, Larry, who pioneered corporate mentoring work in the U.K. at Air Miles, is personal mentor to many senior executives and CEO’s.

• “BUILDING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS to last a lifetime”,
• “GLOBAL LEADERSHIP in times of radical change”,
• “THE WAR FOR TALENT and THE FUTURE OF HR”,
• “CUSTOMER COLLABORATION – the only sustainable edge”,
• “BUILDING ONE CORPORATE CULTURE FOR SUCCESS”

Hochman is one of the most popular keynote speakers in the world and has now delivered nearly 500 speeches in 45 countries and has spoken on every continent.

Sir John Banham is the Chairman designate of Johnson Matthey PLC, Cyclacel Limited (the UK-based cancer therapeutics company) and Spacelabs Inc. (a world leader in heart monitoring equipment, based in Seattle, USA). He is also the senior independent director of AMVESCAP PLC and a non executive director of Merchants Trust PLC.

Former Director General of the CBI, he set up a number of initiatives which focused on developing closer relationships between ‘Government and Business’ and ‘Business and Education’. After leaving the CBI, he was Director/Chairman of a wide cross-section of companies, including: National Power, National Westminster Bank, Westcountry Television, and Labatt Breweries. At Tarmac, Whitbread, Kingfisher and Geest he created significant shareholder value. He led the Audit Commission and the Local Government Commission for England and saved the taxpayer well over £1 billion a year.

Sir John started his career in the Foreign Office in 1962 after gaining a first class Honours Degree in Natural Sciences and in 1964 spent a year with J Walter Thompson, learning marketing and from there moved to Reed International, where he went on to become Director of Marketing for the Wallcovering Division of the Group.

In 1969 he joined the management consultants, McKinsey & Co., becoming a Principal in 1975 and the youngest ever British Director in 1980. During this period he gained wide industrial experience in the UK, the United States and Europe. He was directly responsible for major consultancy assignments with a variety of leading UK companies in engineering, aviation, food processing, mineral extraction and other manufacturing and service groups at critical stages in their development.

Sir John was the first Controller (Chief Executive) of the Audit Commission when it was established in 1983, set up to monitor efficiency and seek better value for money in local government. Under Sir John’s leadership it identified improvements worth over £2 billion a year and launched a range of reforms now being implemented in local government finance, the management of secondary schools, Council housing and community care. He held that position until 1987, when he left to become the Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry.

On leaving the CBI in 1992, he took up the position of Chairman of the Local Government Commission for England which he held until his departure in March 1995 when the Secretary of State for the Environment announced his intention to reform the Commission since its review of the counties in Shire England had now been largely completed.

In addition to his Chairmanships, Sir John is Director of Merchants Trust Plc and a Non-Executive Director of National Westminster Bank Plc and National Power Plc. He serves as Chairman of the Remuneration Committees for National Westminster Bank Plc and National Power and Kingfisher Plc.

Sir John is a Managing Trustee of the Nuffield Foundation and Honorary Treasurer and Member of the Council of the Cancer Research Campaign. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Bath (1987) and an Honorary Doctor of the Science degree from the University of Exeter, as well as being an Honorary Fellow of his old college, Queens College, Cambridge. Sir John became the first Fellow of Cornwall College when it became independent in 1993.

Sir John has written numerous publications including ‘The Future of the British Car Industry’ (1975), ‘Realising the Promise of a National Health Service’ (1977), together with a number of reports for the Audit Commission on education, housing, social services and local government finance (1984-87). He has also co-authored many reports for the CBI on the UK economy, skills and education, transport, the infrastructure, urban regeneration, manufacturing (1987-92) and local government. In addition, Sir John Banham is the author of ‘The Anatomy of Change: Blueprint for a New Era’ (1994).

Sir John Banham was knighted in 1992, was born in Torquay and lives in West Cornwall. His recreations include country walking, classical music, gardening and writing all of which he very much enjoys when not working or engaged in his other successful sideline of after-dinner and conference speaking events.

Dr Neville Bain is Chairman of the Institute of Directors. He is a Non-Executive Director of Scottish & Newcastle plc, Biocon Ltd, an international company registered in India with a market cap of $1.2 billion, and Provexis plc, an Aim listed company developing functional food Until March 2006 he was Chairman of Hogg Robinson plc. He was Chairman of Royal Mail.

Dr Bain has worked internationally for most of his career, first with Cadbury Schweppes in New Zealand where he was born; in Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. He also spent 6½ years with Coats Viyella plc where he was Group Chief Executive.

Dr Bain graduated from Otago University, New Zealand, with a Master of Commerce (Hons) degree and with double Bachelors degrees in Accounting and Economics. He has also been awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, a Fellow Cost and Management Accountant, a Fellow Chartered Secretary, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Keenly interested in business education, he has published numerous papers and is the author of three management books published by Macmillan: “Successful Management” 1995, “Winning Ways Through Corporate Governance” which he co-wrote in 1996 with Professor David Band, and “The People Advantage” written with Bill Mabey, published in 1999.

The book Roads to the Top profiled eighteen of the country’s most outstanding business leaders, including Sir John Harvey-Jones, Gerry Robinson, Archie Norman, Martin Taylor and Lord Sheppard. In the book, Neville Bain is described by a colleague at Coats Viyella thus: ” Truly bright and outstanding as a leader, with the capacity to run an even larger, more complex organisation than Coats Viyella. His strength lies in his ‘helicopter vision’, his ability to rise above things and also a charisma that leads people to transcend themselves.”

Neville Bain is equally charismatic as a speaker on topics such as leadership, change, globalisation, governance and strategy.

Paul Birch is a creativity and organisational change consultant who helps organisations to solve impossible problems and find profitable solutions. He is an inspirational teacher, speaker, coach and facilitator whose style is both common sense and fun.

Paul worked for British Airways for 18 years, in everything from Marketing to Mergers & Acquisitions. As Head of Business Planning he took a billion pounds out of the cost base; as Corporate Jester he challenged the set thinking that permeates most modern organisations. He has worked extensively in the public sector, advising on HR strategy, integrating change programmes and developing definitions for future focussed management planning.

He has been a visiting lecturer at Henley Management College and Oxford University and has written nine books on creative thinking, organisational change, coaching, teamwork and leadership.

Hamish McRae is one of Europe’s leading futurists. He is the author of the acclaimed work on the future “The World in 2020: Power, Culture and Prosperity” and was named Business and Finance Journalist of the Year 2006 at the British Press Awards.

He is associate editor and the principal economic commentator of “The Independent” and “The Independent on Sunday”.

Since the publication of “The World in 2020″ he has been in demand world-wide as a speaker on the future.

His other books include “Capital City – London as a Financial Centre”, co-authored with Frances Cairncross, and “Wake-up Japan”, co-authored with Tadashi Nakamae. Awards include Financial Journalist of the Year in 1979, a special merit award in the first Amex Bank essay awards in 1987, 1996 Columnist of the Year in the Periodical Publisher’s Awards – and in 2005 the David Watt Prize for outstanding political journalism. He is a visiting professor at the School of Management at Lancaster University and a council member of the Royal Economic Society.

His current areas of work include the shift of power to the economies of Asia and the impact of the new technologies on the world economy. He is now working on a new book on global best practice.

He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and has an MA in Economics and Political Science from Trinity College, Dublin. He was deputy editor of “The Banker” and editor of “Euromoney” before becoming financial editor of “The Guardian” in 1975. In 1989 he moved to “The Independent” where he is now associate editor.

`A charismatic and innovative speaker. I can only recommend him.’
Deutsche Telekom

`An engaging and entertaining speaker, credible and authoritative.’
BBC

‘Thank you for your excellent talk at our chief executives’ conference, it contributed greatly to the success of the occasion. You certainly stimulated lively debate both for the rest of evening and beyond.’
Islandsbanki

`Hamish successfully stimulated group discussion after an excellent presentation. He is a pleasure to work with’
Scottish Enterprise

The most original business ‘guru’ in the business

A phenomenon who has delighted audiences throughout Britain and abroad, Geoff Burch is an extraordinary speaker, whose unique and hilarious outlook on all manner of business topics has made him the most prolific of speakers in the market. He is the author of one of the most famous business books of all time, ‘Resistance is Useless’, the Art of Business Persuasion which has been published in over 65 countries following its outstanding success in the USA, and his latest book, ‘The Way of The Dog’. ‘Resistance is Useless’ has been referred to by McKinseys’s as a benchmark for business thinking.

His unconventional image and extensive humour have allowed him platforms on both the corporate and stand-up comedy stage. His credentials are impressive having worked extensively with the likes of BT, Barclays, Lloyds, the CBI, Consumers’ Association, Prudential, Phillips, ABTA, and numerous other companies to present, motivate, and train.

Geoff’s latest book ‘The Way of The Dog’ is published by Wiley; the book explores the phenomena of the most unstable staff being the key to inevitable success for the change embracing organisation. His hit 10 week BBC2 series in 2008, ‘All Over The Shop’, focused on retail businesses and how to improve by cutting costs and increasing sales and turnover. His humorous style and easily explained advice worked well and has created a cult following.

The son of a Viennese psychiatrist, Geoff Burch has a wealth of experience in illustrating the thinking required to make our customers love us! Geoff Burch is equally at ease speaking at a conference as he is after dinner. It is our belief that virtually every company could benefit from his entertaining style and compelling message.

Having gained a reputation as both a funny and persuasive speaker, he was constantly being asked to teach his skills to others. His style is relaxed and fun, his observations are unique, and his impact on an audience is amazing. You could fill a room with a cross-section of people from a part-time cleaner to a CEO of an international company, and everybody would come away with new ideas. Geoff Burch looks at every conceivable area of business, and is renowned for taking a sideways look at the latest business fads and fashions – translating the ones of value into a memorable message that everyone can understand.

Geoff Burch is meticulous in preparing his presentation, studying the profile of the audience, the market in which they work, the competition they face, and how to exploit the advantages they have. He then combines this specific information with his generic approach to any situation. His power to make any organisation believe in itself and to establish and maintain the motivation to succeed is central to his presentation.

Geoff Burch can speak amusingly on almost any business topic, and is capable of delivering presentations on subjects such as: ‘FAST’ Companies, Customer Relationships, Change, People Motivation, Sales, Working Together, Empowerment, and How Everyone can Deliver the Vision. All of these are presented in a hilarious, thought-provoking, and memorable way where even apparently the dullest business subject is turned into an exciting rollercoaster ride that leaves the audience thrilled.

Chris Corbin is one of the most inspirational examples of entrepreneurship and determination on the speaking circuit today. He firmly believes that it is within the grasp of anyone to build a successful life for their family.

He started his career as a medical sales representative with a flair for success. Born in 1955 and educated at Cardinal Allen Grammar School, Liverpool. After completing a business studies degree he joined the pharmaceutical industry as a medical representative.

By the age of 27 he was sales manager at May & Baker and moved on to have successful roles with Astra, Fisons and Parke Davis.

His career came crashing down after a management change and Chris found himself out of a job following redundancy. His first marriage had failed and he was in the midst of an acrimonious divorce, he had been forced by circumstances to a fairly low point in life. Yet it was whilst sat on the ‘third step’ of his mother’s house with just £20 in his pocket that life offered him the contract that began his rapid rise to success. In the course of a chance conversation with an ex colleague Chris spotted the opportunity to say ‘I can do that’, determined to win the contract he inspired confidence and won the deal.

In 1996, Chris founded his own company. With the support of his wife Samantha, they converted their spare bedroom in Shepshed, Leicestershire into the office, hired 60 cars on credit and started recruiting; and thus Ashfield Healthcare, a company involved in contract sales outsourcing was born.

Six months later they won a contract with Sankyo and moved into their first 1,000 square feet office in Market Street, Ashby de la Zouch.

Continued success brought attention from investors and Ashfield Healthcare was bought by United Drug in 2000. A year later, Chris was appointed as a main board Director of United Drug.

In 2002, Ashfield House, a multi-million pound training centre was opened just a few miles up the road from where it all began just 7 years earlier.

In the same year, the father-of-six was awarded Business Personality of the Year by Leicestershire Business Awards and Ashfield Healthcare Business of the Year.

Since then the company has continued to thrive and has established itself as the market leader in its field. Expansion into Ireland and the thriving US market have followed.

Chris is keen to support the local community and founded the Ashfield Worthy Causes Fund in 2004. The trust donates to schools, talented individuals and initiatives in and around Ashby de la Zouch and has already donated over £120,000 to local educational establishments.

In July last year, the tenth anniversary of Ashfield Healthcare, the business merged with In2Focus to become Ashfield In2Focus now employing over 1,500 people with a turnover of £83million. Chris is still at the helm and driving the business harder than ever.

Chris speaks honestly and advisedly, his talks are focussed on what they don’t teach you at business school, the pitfalls and how to find the determination to succeed in the face of overwhelming odds. The huge respect this inspiring, witty and passionate speaker invokes is simply amazing.

‘Head of Making Things Happen’

September 2009 saw Mark Gallagher appointed Head of Cosworth Formula 1 business; great news for F1 as his reputation for dynamic business innovation and nurturing talent has been refered to as “inspired” by former boss and Jordan F1 team owner Eddie Jordan.

With all of 2010’s major teams opting for Cosworth power, Mark plays a crucial role in delivering the performance they will rely on.

With over 25 years experience in the world of Formula One, Mark Gallagher is principally known for his nine years working as ‘Head of Making Things Happen’ at Jordan Grand Prix, and heading sponsorship for Jaguar/Red Bull Racing.

Prior to joining Cosworth, Mark consulted for Formula One teams/sponsors. Throughout his career he has been involved in driver management including drivers such as Mark Webber. Mark makes regular TV appearances as an F1 expert on BBC, Sky News, CNN and many European channels.

During his career he has worked directly with leading drivers including Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, and multiple champions Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. He owned and ran the succesful A1 Grand Prix team Ireland in the World Cup of Motorsport™, scoring 9 podium finishes and two victories in the 2007/08 world championship.

As former Formula One journalist and broadcaster with the BBC in the 1980s, Mark was Grand Prix correspondent for publications including the Sunday Express in London prior to becoming a media relations consultant to major sponsors including Marlboro and Canon.

In 1990 he began working with Eddie Jordan, announcing the creation of the Jordan Formula One team, and although he then worked briefly in the World Rally Championship with Ford and Subaru, it was to Jordan that he returned, becoming head of marketing and joining the management board during the team’s most successful years.

At Jordan, famously described by legendary broadcaster Murray Walker as ‘the most motivated team in F1’, Mark was referred to as ‘head of making things happen’, a title that has stuck with him to this day in the motor racing industry.

Working directly with the sport’s top drivers and teams Mark has gained a unique insight into what it takes to be a winner in the high-pressure world of Formula One. Team work, leadership and motivation are key among the qualities needed to succeed in this most demanding of sports, while Mark has much to share on the operational issues affecting Formula One teams, including logistics, quality control, health and safety.

Mark is also able to explain Formula One’s approach to tackling the issues surrounding climate change, the burning of fossil fuels and his belief that the sport will become a research and development tool for the automotive industry in terms of producing technological solutions to the challenges facing it in the 21st century.

“Simply the best and most inspiring ‘real management’ speaker I have ever heard”
Maersk

With a relaxed, anecdotal and humorous style, Mark gives businesses and organisations a rare insight into the world of Formula One, and what it takes to build winning teams and compete for success at world level.

Internationally renowned and celebrated, Marcus Buckingham is the leading consultant in his field, a sought-after speaker, and a New York Times bestselling author. Challenging accepted and entrenched social theory, Buckingham pioneered a revolutionary concept: that people will be dramatically more effective, successful, and fulfilled when they play to their strongest skills rather than attempting to improve their weaknesses. He calls his research-based technique the “strengths revolution,” and his work has been proven again and again in boardrooms, seminars, and individuals’ lives around the world.

Hailed as a visionary by corporations such as Toyota, Coca-Cola, Master Foods, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, and Disney, Marcus Buckingham addresses more than 250,000 people in live audiences around the globe each year. He recently led a workshop sponsored by Oprah Winfrey for 30 talented—but unfulfilled and unhappy—women. Acting on his advice, they were able to make immediate significant and positive changes in their lives.

More than 1.7 million people downloaded the three-hour workshop video, and more than 100,000 unique contributors came online to post messages when his workshop and its results were featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” The extremely successful workshop became the basis for Buckingham’s book, FIND YOUR STRONGEST LIFE: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently, to be released in September 2009 by Thomas Nelson.

Marcus Buckingham’s previous books include: First, Break All the Rules (coauthored with Curt Coffman, 1999); Now, Discover Your Strengths (coauthored with Donald O. Clifton, 2001); The One Thing You Need to Know (2005); Go Put Your Strengths To Work (2007); and The Truth About You: Your Secret to Success (2008). There are more than 3.7 million copies of his books in print.

Prior to founding TMBC—a company that creates strengths-based management training solutions for organizations worldwide—he utilized his nearly two decades of experience as a Senior Researcher at Gallup Organization to break through the preconceptions about achievements and get to the core of what drives success. Buckingham and Gallup developed the StrengthsFinder personality test, which identifies signature themes that help employees quantify their personal strengths in the workplace and at home. Since the StrengthsFinder debuted in 2001, more than 5 million people have accessed this important tool to discover their strengths.

Marcus Buckingham has been featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Larry King Live,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” and “The View.” He has been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fortune, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review.

A member of the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Leadership and Management, Marcus Buckingham graduated from Cambridge University with a Master’s Degree in Social and Political Science. He lives in Los Angeles.

As Head of Global Brand & Business Development, Christian Majgaard was creative genius and senior director at LEGO responsible for their global brand, product and campaign development of their core business (toys) as well as their Theme Park, Media and Brand Licensing divisions.

Christian left LEGO to help international companies develop and implement strategies for customer focused growth (Brand Strategy, Innovation and Corporate Vision/Identity).

Both through his leadership experience, his consultancy practise and his global record of success through innovation, Christian Majgaard is internationally recognised for adjusting corporate effectiveness through implementation of technologies and innovative strategies.

As a global executive leader, Christian championed world famous toy maker LEGO’s change from a low tech plastic brick manufacturer to a brand that thrived on technologies such as robotics and interactivity developing both company and product through applied technology.

Christian has successfully addressed change issues and applied strategy for international brands such as Motorola, Nestle and Unisys among his board level clients. His work with a major health sector client is an IMD Switzerland case study benchmark for innovation and implementation.

He has maintained close relations to LEGO and their CEO is Chairman of Christian’s consultancy business.

Christian is a renowned speaker at conferences throughout the world on Creativity, implementation, Innovation and Strategy.

Testimonials

“Your speech became the clue of the day”
ICBI/ Fund Forum International, executive summit, France

“Of all the seminars we have held this year, by far the most popular was the one with Christian Majgaard as speaker”
Norwegian Market Research Association, Norway

“a fire broke out in all of us after your speech Friday morning”
Head of marketing, Lindberg Intl.

“ Your presentation to Oras Intl. was SUPER”
Organiser of Oras intl. management seminar,

“ you made a great, great presentation”
PA consulting, head of executive seminar Global clients.

“A 1000 thanks for such an inspiring presentation and great management of the following discussion. We certainly hope to draw on you again”
Head of corporate HR, Copenhagen Stock Exchange. Management seminar.

“I think the team did an excellent job and I am really looking forward to working with you on the next steps…”
Swiss Re, head of Global Branding, Switzerland”

“The customers greatly appreciated your presentation to them, so many of them have now asked for copies of your presentation and further involvement”
Motorola, head of intl. seminar for VIP customers, London

Literature

Featured as one of the “21 leaders for the 21 century” in the book by
Dutch–British professors Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden Turner.

Featured in case on strategic business development by IMD business school, Switzerland,
about the development and global launch of the LEGO MINDSTORMS brand.

Consulting

Adviser to the innovation board of RABO Bank Holland
Brand strategy, Swiss Re, world leader in reinsurance
Brand strategy, Danisco, world leader in food ingredients
Brand strategy, LEGO, world leading creative toy brand
Brand research, Bang & Olufsen, world’s most prestigious audiovisual brand
Adviser to business development team at Heineken
On prize committee for Intl. media and advertising awards.

Akio Miyabayashi was CEO of Minolta Europe for twenty years and is considered the outstanding Japanese businessman in Europe. He became CEO Minolta Europe in 1975, and led them through a period of tremendous change until 1995. His clear understanding of the criteria and driving forces of global competitiveness enabled him to successfully develop the European operations.

From 1987 to 1995 he was a member of the Board of Directors of Minolta Ltd in Japan, with special responsibility for Europe. In 1995 on his retirement he became Senior Corporate Adviser for Minolta.

Akio’s ability to understand different cultures of the world and utilising them for successful growth, enabled Minolta to become a major player in Europe, with 44 companies and subsidiaries and 2 factories throughout Europe, including Eastern Europe and throughout the former Soviet Union.

Akio Miyabayashi is a charismatic speaker with knowledge of European, American and Japanese cultures. He has shared centre stage with many of the world’s prominent politicians and business leaders. His presentations give insights into European and Asian developments in industry, management and society, and offer meaningful projections into the 21st Century.

Akio conducts the Executive Leadership Program for the American Management Association. He is an advisory board member of the Graduate School of Business Administration, Zurich, Switzerland, and lectures in Business Strategy

Apart from lectures and keynote speeches he is also a regular panelist and can deliver his presentations in English, German or Japanese.

He also advises several major Japanese corporations operating in Europe.