Page 23 - Great Northern Conference 2020: GAUA

Small businesses are the backbone of the Northern Powerhouse - how can we support them as they recover from the impact of COVID19 and thrive in the future
Sponsored by
Gavin Opperman, Group Business Director, Virgin Money UK PLC
Gavin joined the group at the end of 2015 as Group Customer Banking Director, responsible for Retail and Business & Private Banking. Gavin has over 30 years of leadership experience in risk, operations and across frontline digital, retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking, working across multiple geographies. Gavin was previously the Regional Head of Consumer Banking, North East Asia for Standard Chartered Bank leading China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Prior to this he held several senior positions including CEO Absa Retail Bank in South Africa and Managing Director Hong Kong working for the Absa Group where he spent 20 years. He is passionate about life, people and banking.
Ken Cooper, Managing Director, Venture Solutions , NPIF
Ken Cooper is Managing Director of Venture Solutions at the British Business Bank where he is responsible for
the design and delivery of a number of programmes that support the flow of investment into UK businesses including the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, Midlands Engine Investment Fund and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund as well as the Enterprise Capital Fund programme and the Angel CoFund. Together these represent around £2bn of investment into SMEs.
Previously Ken had a similar role in Capital for Enterprise and before that was responsible for the UK Government’s SME finance policy within the Small Business Service.
Clare Hayward MBE DL, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP
Clare is a Director at Cirrus, a Leadership, talent and engagement consulting firm, working with FTSE 100 clients. Clare is a highly competent chair and facilitator at senior management and board level. Co-founded, developed and sold Academee, a global leadership development consultancy, to Oliver Wyman, a division of Marsh and McLennan Companies in 2008. Retained post-acquisition as Global Partner of Sales and Market Development within this Fortune250 group. A successful business women and entrepreneur focused on leadership and strategic engagement who has coached, facilitated and chaired boards, senior management teams and leaders across the globe over the last 20 years working in industry sectors including technology, banking and finance,
Marie Lang, Director, GBAC Accountants
Marie Lang is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
She has over 25 years’ experience working in and advising SMEs. She joined gbac in 2010 and specialises in Corporate Finance and Transaction Services, in addition to being a Senior Statutory Auditor From 2010 to 2018 she was also a member and past Chair of the IAASB and IESBA Consultative Advisory Groups in her capacity as the Technical Director of EFAA. Prior to joining gbac, she held senior positions with KPMG and was CFO for a variety of companies. She holds a BA (Hons) from Lancaster University.
Rose Marley, CEO SharpFutures, Chair Greater Manchester Social Enterprise Advisory Group
Rose Marley is Chief Executive of SharpFutures the social enterprise partner of The Sharp Project, home to digital entrepreneurs and production companies, and Space Studios Manchester, a purpose built facility for large scale TV & film production servicing clients including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and Netflix. Both SharpFutures and Rose Marley have won a variety of awards including Women in Ethical Business for The Sunday Times and Tridos bank, the Prolific North awards for apprenticeships and digital delivery and most recent the Institute
of Directors North West ‘highly commended’ Director of the Year. Rose will commence as the new CEO of Cooperatives UK in January 2021 representing thousands of coops across the UK..