Page 28 - Tomorrow's Leaders Conference Brochure

ROLE MODELS
Born in Jamaica, she started modelling and acting
at the age of five. She was scouted by Tuff Gong In-
ternational for their debut fashion collection which
sky-rocketed her career - suddenly, her face was
on every billboard on the island. From Red Stripe,
Heineken and banking adverts, to swimwear com-
mercials, she was Jamaica’s top model. Arlene re-
located to London and studied Architecture. She
ventured into the vintage fine wine trade twenty
years ago and still works as an advisor, trader and
exclusive personal sommelier. She also started her
Arlene King own company, Our Sommelier. Arlene is a founding
Director trustee of Arete Network.
Avis Charles is managing director of Avis Charles As-
sociates, a strategic consultancy, with a concept of
intelligent design assisting public and private sector
companies to accomplish trust, economic value and
transformational results for their clients and stakehold-
ers. Avis Charles Associates prides itself on the work
they undertake with emerging designers, in particu-
lar on the African Continent focusing on developing
unique and culturally relevant fashion brands from
idea conception to production to marketing and retail-
ing. Clients include Jasper Conrad, Victoria Beckham Avis Charles
and Christopher Kane and Vivian Westwood. Managing Director
Denise is a recruitment director with Powerful Media
(The Powerlist and Future Leaders) assisting lawyers
of African and African Caribbean/American heritage
with the associate to partner journey. She also assists
law firms with their diversity and inclusion initiatives by
helping them identify lateral hires. Prior to joining Pow-
erful Media, Denise was a sales director with the Amer-
ican company Donnelley Financial Solutions (data
rooms, translation and printing). During most of her
34 year career with Donnelley, Denise assisted legal, in-
vestment banking, corporate and private equity clients
Denise Washington worldwide with the production of their equity, debt
Recruitment director and merger & acquisition offering documentation.
Erika Brodnock is a multi-award winning entrepre-
neur (including female entrepreneur of the year
2015), philanthropist, life coach, Executive MBA,
inspirational speaker and creator of digital resourc-
es covering emotional and social learning, digital
safety, and digital parenting. She is Sky News’ resi-
dent parenting and child wellbeing expert and her
corporate seminars cover most areas of family life.
Erika is passionate about making sure that every
child has the opportunity to reach their potential!
Her forte is bridging the digital and real world by Erika Brodnock
teaching life skills through play. Entrepreneur
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Fayola is one of the country’s top commercial experts sup-
porting Brexit, having joined the Cabinet Office’s complex
transactions team in early 2017. Her job is to lead inno-
vative, efficient and effective arrangements to help the
government achieve the right outcomes on their most
challenging deals, programmes and projects. Prior to this
she spent a decade heading up legal teams for Enterprise
Rent-A-Car, ManpowerGroup and Rockwell Collins. The
mum of three and Law and Economics graduate (SOAS
and University of Oxford respectively) is also a magistrate
for the London West judiciary and a published writer on
Fayola Jack commercial best practice. In 2017, she was identified as
Deputy Director one of the Sunday Times’ ’35 Women Under 35′.
Heather is a Director at PwC leading Client Experi-
ence Business for the UK. She has had a successful
40 year career in financial services and international
sales, mainly focused on International trade/Domes-
tic Cash Management. Previously the Director of Stra-
tegic Partnerships and Head of Business Inclusion at
the Royal Bank of Scotland. She is recognised by a
number of industry bodies - Champion for Women,
Patron of Women in Banking & Finance, Financial
Times Top 100 UK & US BAME Leaders, Upstanding
FT Heroes, Powerlist, Top 30 City Influencer, NED and Heather Melville OBE
Chair of CMI Women, Enterprise Enfield Trustee. Director
Ijeoma is a finance and regulatory lawyer with
extensive knowledge of US and EU securities
and regulatory laws and has advised on finance
transactions for clients from Central Asia, Africa,
the US and UK. Ijeoma is on the Steering Commit-
tee of JPMorgan’s EMEA Black Leadership Forum
and on the Global Advisory Board of the Women
in Law Empowerment Forum. She was a finalist
for In-House Lawyer of the Year at the 2014 The
Lawyer Awards and Lawyer of the Year at the 2017
UK Diversity Legal Awards. Ijeoma holds a B.A. and
Ijeoma Okoli M.P.A. from New York University and a J. D. from
Executive Director Cornell University.
Jacky Wright is Chief Digital and Information Officer
for HMRC, where she is driving one of the largest dig-
ital transformations in Europe. She is recognised as a
transformational global leader and innovative tech-
nologist, and is a passionate advocate for diversity,
equal opportunities and access to education for all.
Jacky plays a key role in championing increased BAME
and disabled representation across government, and
speaks publicly on leadership, the ethical issues linked
to advances in AI and robotics, and the importance of Jacky Wright
inclusive and respectful workplaces. She was named Chris Digital Officer
top UK tech influencer 2018.
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