Speaker biographies
Rob Lovell is a successful serial entrepreneur and Chief Executive of the worldwide cloud computing company, ThinkGrid. ThinkGrid provides IT services from its network of data centres, enabling its 1,200 customers to not have to own or buy IT in the traditional way. ThinkGrid enables businesses of all sizes to enjoy the benefits without the costs of this new and exciting technology.
Rob started his first business at the age of 20; successfully merging it two years later in 2001 with the US based, Hostway Corporation. Rob stayed for another four years, as UK and European President, helping build European and Worldwide operations from £20million to £70million as the company became a top 10 worldwide hosting provider with over 600,000 customers. Rob then served as Worldwide Director of Alliances at Parallels, a large virtualisation software company with over 1,000,000 customers and has aided in the company's amazing 170% year-on-year growth
Rob speaks at many events and provides research and advice to organisations around the world.
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Sampson Low is a Policy Officer at UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union with 1.3 million members working in the public, private and voluntary sectors, including social enterprises.
Sampson began his career at the National Toxics Campaign before moving to London Borough of Kingston Upon Thames and then the Office for National Statistics.
He covers education and employment policy areas and has previously given oral evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees and the Low Pay Commission. He is currently working on establishing an agreement between UNISON and the Schools Co-operative Society.
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Karen Lowthrop is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Hill Holt Wood, an internationally renowned environmental social enterprise. Hill Holt Wood is a community-owned business that illustrates how to use woodland resources to affect rural regeneration and create a sustainable local economy.
As a former “high-flying” representative of a major drug company, Karen’s early business life was driven by stock performance and the “bottom-line”. Her road to Damascus occurred when she met her future husband (entrepreneur Nigel Lowthrop) and realised that her passion and drive could be better focused on those in greater need. Out of that desire, Hill Holt Wood was born. They bought the wood in 1995 and after developing the business model, they passed control to the local community in 2002.
In 2009 Karen was awarded the High Sherriff's award for community service. The business has won many national and international awards for both their innovative approach to managing woodland and for their pioneering eco-design building projects. Karen is a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and a Social Enterprise Ambassador.
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Nigel Lowthrop
Nigel Lowthrop is a biologist with 40 years experience of research, countryside management and conservation. Nigel is co-founder of Hill Holt Wood, an internationally renowned environmental social enterprise.
Having met his future wife, Karen, and persuaded her of his vision of sustainable living, the couple bought Hill Holt Wood in 1995 and developed the concept of “economic conservation”. After growing the business model into a successful social enterprise, they passed control to the local community in 2002. Shortly after this Nigel stepped aside as CEO but acts as a valued consultant helping develop new business ideas.
Following three years as Chair of Social Enterprise East Midlands (SEEM) and two years on the Board of Social Enterprise Coalition, Nigel joined the Third Sector Task Force for Climate Change, Sustainable Development and the Environment, providing the lead for social enterprise. The family live off-grid in an eco-home fit for the 21st century - practising the sustainable future they advocate.
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Karen Mattison, MBE, is the co-founder of Women Like Us, a socially driven recruitment agency that helps women with children to find part-time work they can fit with family. Women Like Us has broken the mould by creating a visible marketplace for employers who want to hire part-time staff, and candidates who want work outside of the ‘9-5’. Its vision is to build a national jobs market where part-time jobs are in plentiful supply across all skill sectors and where women are no longer disadvantaged at work simply because they have children.
In her student days, Karen campaigned for the creation of Oxford University’s first ever Women’s Officer post, succeeded and became the first post-holder. She then joined the charity Mental Health Media and become their CEO in the short space of seven years. It was at this point that she met Emma Stewart her co-founder at Women Like Us.
In November 2010, Karen and Emma were made MBEs for their services to social enterprise. Karen regularly appears in the media commenting on issues that tie mothers, employers and part-time work.
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John Mayford is the Director of Olmec, a social enterprise championing race equality through economic and social justice. Olmec supports 200 minority led social enterprises in London through its Inspire Change portfolio, provides employment services to BAMER communities through Solid Foundations programme with a focus on refugee engineers, delivers equalities and diversity training and consultancy through Midnimo and community development programmes through I.com
John has over 20 years of experience in the third sector at at senior level. As a founding director of Action Time Vision, John initiated the “Night in Easton” heritage and identity project, which documented and celebrated Irish, Somali, Caribbean and Hindu diaspora life and culture in postcard and film. John ran a pan London BAMER advocacy project for 2 years, co-coordinating 2 Under One Sky community festivals in partnership with Respect in the West in Bristol and the co-ordination of a Somali childcare event in partnership with regional and national stakeholders.
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Ed Mayo is Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, the membership network for co-operative businesses. He is a long-term co-operator and has a track record of innovation and impact in his work to bring together economic life and social justice.
From 2003 to 2009, he was Chief Executive of the National Consumer Council, merging this with two other bodies to found a new statutory consumer champion, Consumer Focus, in 2008. He was described by the Independent as 'the most authoritative voice in the country speaking up for consumers', while the Guardian has nominated him as one of the top 100 most influential figures in British social policy.
He has co-written a book, 'Consumer Kids' with Agnes Nairn on marketing to children, published by Constable in 2009.
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Dave Miller is joint Managing Director & co-founder of Bikeworks an innovative London based social enterprise that uses cycling as a tool to tackle social, economic & environmental issues at a local level. Bikeworks works with everyone from the general public, disability groups, individuals experiencing homelessness, young people & businesses.
After working with internet start ups in the first dot com boom Dave started up Simplyworks a social enterprise web development agency. After a spell managing online communications at Shelter he then helped to develop community owned tourism companies in Bolivia.
Dave is an UnLtd award winner from level 1 to 3 as Bikeworks has rapidly grown and flourished since opening in 2008. Bikeworks won the award for best new social enterprise in the UK in 2009 and was named social enterprise of the year at the London Business Awards 2010.
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Gordon Morris is Managing Director of Age UK Enterprises Ltd. Gordon joined Age Concern Enterprises in 1999 after a successful career in Financial Services. Initially he held the role of Sales Director before taking on responsibility for Marketing and Product Development. Gordon has been Managing Director since 2006.
He is well known throughout Age Concern, the federation in England and amongst colleagues in Age Concern in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and has made significant personal contributions in the development of the Trading Alliance and in helping Age Concern Enterprises to achieve FSA accreditation, as well as developing strong professional relationships with suppliers.
Gordon lives in Devon and having played for Saracens continues to follow English Rugby with a passion.
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June O’Sullivan is Chief Executive the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), the UK's largest childcare charity and social enterprise. With almost 300 staff across 22 nurseries in five key London boroughs, LEYF is building a better future for London's children, families and local communities through a commitment to excellence in Early Years education, training and research.
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Director of Social Enterprise London and Trustee for the Daycare Trust and the National Day Nursery Association, June is a qualified Social Worker and published author, with an MA in Primary & Early Childhood Studies and MBA from London South Bank University.
A much sought after speaker and media commentator on early years, social enterprise and child poverty, June is part of Lord Wei’s Big Society Stakeholder Group, and is currently working with the Department for Education to develop a new vision for the Early Years.
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Simon Parker is Director of New Local Government Network. Prior to this Simon was fellow at the Institute for Government.
Simon started his career in journalism, contributing to the Guardian and Local Government Chronicle before moving on to public services policy for the CBI, where he led programmes on local government and public sector employment reform. He then progressed to Head of Public Services for the think tank Demos.
Simon has published widely on public service reform in the UK and internationally.
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Ali Parsa is a social entrepreneur and founder of Circle, the largest healthcare partnership in Europe, which he launched in 2003. His personal belief that employees should own the companies they work for has pioneered a new model of delivery in both public and private UK healthcare provision.
Prior to Circle, Ali was an Executive Director of Goldman Sachs' European Technology Investment banking team. He also worked at Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse First Boston.
Ali was the founder of Victoria and Gilan, a media company, and a recipient of the Royal Award for UK Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He has a PhD in Engineering Physics from the University of London. Ali won the award for Entrepreneurial Achievement in the 2010 Independent Healthcare Awards, and was named in the 100 most influential people in UK healthcare in the Health Service Journal's annual survey. He has been shortlisted in the "Outstanding Contribution by an Individual" category at the 2011 Health Investor Awards.
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Alex Pearmain is Head of Social Media at O2 UK. Alex joined O2 in 2010 to lead their newly created social media team, responsible for strategy and execution across their social presences. Before this he was Head of Digital at reputation management agency, Fishburn Hedges, working across corporate and brand clients in food, retail, and technology.
Previously Alex created the first Facebook networking group for PRs and trialled using Twitter for sports results. Sadly this was before anyone who liked sports results used Twitter. He was one of 2010’s ‘Top 29 Under 29’, according to PR Week.
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Dai Powell is the Chief Executive of HCT Group, a large scale, award winning social enterprise. HCT Group operates transport and training services from nine depots across London and Yorkshire. Dai has been Chief Executive since 1993, leading the organisation as it has grown from a small Community Transport provider into a social enterprise with truly national ambitions. Since 1993, HCT group has grown by more than a hundredfold - from a turnover of £202,000 to a turnover of £23.3miliion in 2009/10 with a corresponding growth in profit and social impact.
Dai is currently Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), Chair of the Social Enterprise Mark Company, the outgoing chair of the Community Transport Association (UK), and a Social Enterprise Coalition Board member. He was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to disabled people.
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Fay Selvan is Chief Executive of the Big Life group of social businesses and charities which creates opportunities for people to change their lives. It works across the north of England from Liverpool to Grimsby and employs 225 staff. The group includes innovative brands including The Big Issue in the North, Open Door primary care service and the Kath Locke Centre – the first primary care centre in the country to be run by a social enterprise. It offers a wide range of opportunities to disadvantaged people, working in the fields of primary health care, childcare, family support, employment and training.
Fay started working as a social entrepreneur in 1991, in Hulme Manchester, and established The Big Life group in 2002.
Fay completed an Honours degree at Sussex University before moving to Manchester in 1980. She also achieved an MSc in Strategic Leadership in 2001 at Salford University.
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Neil Stanworth
Neil Stanworth is a Founder Director of A4e Insight, the consultancy arm of A4e. A4e is an international social purpose company that designs, manages and delivers public services in partnership with Governments, public and private sector organisations, and the voluntary and community sector.
Neil is leading A4e’s support to mutualisation, which includes offering mentor support to fledgling public service mutuals as announced by the government on 2 February 2011. A4e has a strong track record of working closely with partners to deliver high quality and innovative front-line public services, and is using this experience to provide practical support to help new employee-led organisations establish sustainable and flourishing enterprises.
Neil began his began his career in the central civil service in the 1980s, and has since built up more than 20 years experience as a consultant and in a variety of strategic roles in the public services industry. At both A4e and in his previous roles Neil has specialised in business and market strategy, business planning and sales and business development support.
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Jan Tallis is Chief Executive of School-Home Support Service UK (SHS). SHS works in partnership with over 700 schools nationally and offers a range of support to 20,000 vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families. SHS highly focused work in key areas has reduced non attendance by 65%, with a correlated impact on attainment. It remains the leading organisation in this field.
Jan joined SHS in March 2005, following a diverse career spanning industry, voluntary sector, local government, the arts, education and training. Her extensive experience includes leading an education development project across five London boroughs and running the innovative social enterprise and registered charity ‘Tools for Schools’. Jan was an elected local government member, founding chair of a successful sixth form college, deputy chair of the Learning & Skills Council London East and currently chairs the board of governors of her local community secondary school.
SHS is the Private Equity Foundation’s 'Most Successful Charity'.
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John Telling is Group Corporate Affairs Director at MITIE Group PLC. A chartered accountant by profession, John qualified with Ernst & Young in 1984. He then joined HAT Group PLC in 1985 as a management trainee and by 1986 had become Vice President of Sipco Services Inc, a subsidiary of the HAT Group PLC spending seven years in the United States where he worked in Louisiana, Washington DC and Houston, Texas.
In 1992, John joined MITIE as a director of its Property Services division where he started a new MITIE business in London and was responsible for business development. John has since performed a variety of roles in MITIE including Head of Developing Businesses and Head of Corporate Affairs. Since 2007 John has been Group Corporate Affairs Director and is responsible for Government and public relations, strategic customer relationships, marketing and communications, investor relations, and corporate responsibility.
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Uday Thakkar is Managing Director of the social enterprise Red Ochre. An independent consultancy and training support organisation for the social economy it specialises in strategy, sustainability, and social enterprise creation and expansion. Red Ochre has also developed a number of publications and toolkits for the social enterprise sector.
Uday started and managed the successful social enterprise/charity Smartchange before launching Red Ochre and began his career as a Chartered Accountant before spending twelve years managing commercial business consultancies including one that he started.
Uday was awarded the Social Enterprise Mentor of the Year (New Statesman/Edge Upstarts) Award in 2008. Uday is also a regular commentator on social enterprise, finance and governance for various social economy publications and web sites. He is also a regular speaker at conferences and seminars for charities, community and social enterprise organisations.
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Mark Walton is the Head of Strong Communities at the Community Development Foundation (CDF) where he has led the organisation’s work on supporting community action on sustainable development and climate change. CDF champions community based strategies which empower people to influence the decisions which affect their lives.
Mark has a background in environmental sciences and worked for several years at the Environment Agency in a variety of pollution control and prevention roles. He spent several years working in the community waste and recycling sector before joining CDF to manage the delivery of the Every Action Programme.
In 2010 he co-founded The Waterways Project @ CIVA with Ben Metz. The Waterways Project was set up in response to the proposal to move Britain’s waterways into charitable ownership. It aims to identify opportunities for social enterprise and community asset development arising from the move and to apply the learning from the project to other environmental assets.
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Sháá Wasmund is the Founder of Smarta.com, an onlinr business platform providing free advice, networking and tools for entrepreneurs and business owners. The site was founded in January 2009 to bring business people together for support and inspiration and features hundreds of entrepreneur videos and bite-size guides on overcoming business challenges. Smarta has the support of leading UK entrepreneurs such as Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden and Michael Birch.
SInce graduating from the LSE Sháá has promoted championship boxing, established the PR company that made Dyson a household name and launched and sold www.mykindaplace.com, a unique investment vehicle with $100 million of capital.
Shaa was selected as one of Management Today’s ‘35 Under 35’ – their list of the brightest females of 2007 - and in the same year, was named a ‘Young Gun’ (entrepreneurs who are 35 or under and set to make big waves in the business world) by Growing Business.
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Alastair Wilson is Chief Executive of the School for Social Entrepreneurs. Having worked extensively in the private sector, Alastair became a student of the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) in 1998. Having established and run his own project, he returned to SSE as Development Director and then CEO.
SSE’s core service is a year-long ‘action learning’ based programme supporting early-stage social entrepreneurs from a wide range of backgrounds. SSE also offers specialist shorter programmes such as social franchising, public sector spin outs and trading for growth. Over 500 people have completed SSE programmes, and there are now ten SSE franchises in the UK and overseas.
Alastair is also a trustee of UnLtd (foundation for Social Entrepreneurs), London Funders, the Social Enterprise Coalition and the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.
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William Worsley is President of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), a membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales which currently has 35,000 members.
After attending the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, William qualified as a Rural Chartered Surveyor, practised as a land agent, and ran his own property development business. He subsequently took over the management of the family business in Hovingham, North Yorkshire, involving farming, forestry and residential and commercial property.
He is currently a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is also a non-executive director of the Skipton Building Society and The Brunner Investment Trust plc.