man issues Speakers

8th June 2011

John Blackwell, CEO, JBA

John’s focus is inspiring business leadership to innovate new work futures, bound together with a compelling philosophy founded on his 35-year board level career. He, specialises in creating inspiring new work futures, drawing on his own board experiences with some of the biggest firms; including MCI and IBM. For the last decade, John has headed his own boutique professional services firm, JBA. To-date, this 30-strong company has assisted over 350 organisations around the world to transform their working practices and optimise their workplaces for cost avoidance.

John is a regular TV commentator, having appeared on BBC Breakfast, Newsnight, CNN, Radio 4, Sky News and a prolific columnist, contributing to the Times, Financial Times, Sunday Times, Management Issues and more. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, a visiting fellow at three universities, and Director of Research at Henley Business School. John has built his reputation on knowing organisations better than they do themselves; providing answers and solutions to problems that stifle the workplace. Working together, he helps dismantle barriers, overcome corporate inertia, and embrace a mandate for change. Transformation has never been easy, but with John’s experience, it’s going to be more possible than usual.

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Chris Mellor, Deputy Chair, Monitor. Former CEO at Anglian Water and Northern Ireland Water

Chris is the Deputy Chair of Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts. He is a member of Monitor’s Audit and Risk Committee and Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Chris is also a member of Monitor’s Honours Committee and Nominations Committee, and has been Chair of Monitor’s Compliance Board Committee since it was established in February 2010. Chris was Non-Executive Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer of Northern Ireland Water from February 2006 until March 2010 and is Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of Grontmij UK Ltd, the consultant engineering firm.

Chris spent five and a half years as Chief Executive Officer of Anglian Water Group plc until he retired in March 2003, after 13 years with the company. Previously, he was a Non-Executive Director of Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust between 1994 and 1998, where he was Chair of the Audit Committee. Chris also served on the UK Government’s Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. Chris is a qualified accountant and has worked for nearly 25 years in the water industry across both the public and private sectors.

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James Skinner - Global IT Services Director, Aviva

James is the Global IT Services Director (GITS), developing and growing an IT Shared Service for solutions that are multi-regional or global in nature. James joined GITS as it was formed in 2007 and has held the role of Programme Director (including the delivery of global cloud based solutions), IT Portfolio Management Director (accountable for the development of Portfolio Management across all regions and the delivery of Global IT programmes) and the development and implementation the GITS strategy before taking full accountability for Global Services in 2011. Prior to joining GITS, James held a range of management roles as both an interim manager and consultant across the financial services, telecoms and broadcast sectors, specialising in major and complex programmes, governance and capability development within IT and business change.

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Michelle Brailsford, People & Organisational Development, BBC

Michelle has been able to apply her considerable blue-chip experience, gained in a wide variety of human resource roles, to make a real impact on the people side of her clients’ businesses. She has worked as an internal and external organizational consultant, trainer and manager. Michelle focuses on employee relationship management and is passionate about engaging employees through her innovative approach. Her strengths lie in listening to her intuition (which is usually right on target!), being able to simplify complex issues, working collaboratively and bringing creative, fun and pragmatic solutions to the table. Michelle has worked with various industries in both the US and Europe. Michelle has an undergraduate degree in Business and a Masters degree in Organisational Behaviour. On a personal note, Michelle lives in Twickenham, England, likes to run, drink wine (not at the same time!) and frequent flea markets and antique shops. Her best friends would describe her as intuitive, enthusiastic and energizing.

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Simon Taylor, Head of Property, Yell

Simon Taylor is Head of Property for the Reading based International Directories business Yell whose products in the UK include Yellow Pages yell.com and telephone directory service 118247. Simon’s early career was as a property investment fund manger in the City. In recent years, he has worked for Lloyds TSB Property Division and before joining Yell in 2005, he was Head of Property for the Insurers Royal and Sun Alliance. Since joining Yell, he has been concentrating on amongst other things acquiring and preparing Yell’s 2010 relocation to One Reading Central. Simon is an active member of the Reading Chamber Council of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce.