Page 113 - Powerlist 2020

Sir Damon Sir Kenneth Baroness Hall of Fame
Buffini Olisa Amos

Philanthropist Lord Lieutenant, Greater Director, School of
London; Founder and Oriental
Chair, Restoration Partners and African Studies

An incredibly successful Businessman and philanthropist, One of the most phenomenal
businessman and now Sir Ken is the first black Lord people ever to have graced this
philanthropist, Sir Damon is Lieutenant of Greater London. list, Baroness Amos remains
formerly the head of private He has a long list of one of the most influential black
equity firm Permira which, achievements that make him a women in the UK. Born in British
following a management buyout firm fixture in the Powerlist Hall of Guyana, her career has been
in 2000, he built into one of the Fame. He was number one on the highly impressive, from working
planet’s biggest private equity 2016 Powerlist. her way through the corridors of
firms. power as a Government Minister in
He is the Founder and Chairman
Today, he plays a leading role of Restoration Partners, a Westminster, to running the House
on the board of Governors at the boutique technology merchant of Lords, to the UN and British
Wellcome Trust in London, and bank. He is a former non- High Commissioner to Australia.
is chair of the National Theatre executive director of Thomson She was the first Chair of the
board. Reuters and was Deputy Chairman Powerlist judging panel, and did
Up until he left his post at of The Institute of Directors. it for four years until the Australia
Permira in 2010, Damon, who He succeeded Adedotun appointment.
describes his MBA from Harvard Sulaiman as the new Chairman In her current role as the Director
Business School as his best of Interswitch, an Africa-focused of the School of Oriental and
investment, was often referred integrated digital payments and African Studies, University of
to as one of the most influential commerce company. London, she is recognised as
people in the country that nobody Much of his time has been the first black woman to lead a
knew. He sat on Prime Minister invested in helping people less university in the UK.
Gordon Brown’s business advisory fortunate than him, and he serves Unsurprisingly, she has a
panel.
on several boards of philanthropic, number of prestigious awards in
Nowadays, he employs the same educational and regulator her cabinet. Most recently, she
skill and passion in his new line of organisations. received an honorary Doctor
work, dedicating time to his role He and his wife, Julia, endowed of Laws from the University of
as the President of Fairbridge, a the Olisa Library at Fitzwilliam Bristol in July, while last year she
nationwide charity that works with College, Cambridge. was awarded an honorary degree
marginalised young people, and from Middlesex University, for
as the founder of Breakthrough, When he gives one of his many ‘recognising achievement at the
an initiative to boost social motivational speeches he always highest level as well as dedication
enterprise. draws his audiences attention to to public duty and making a
the simple but powerful motto
He also co-founded the Social difference to others’ lives’.
Business Trust, an initiative to on his coat of arms “Do well. Do This adds to her previous
develop social enterprises by Good”. recognition as a Companion of
utilising the knowledge, skills and His work has not gone the Order of the Companions
capital of UK businesses. unnoticed, and he was appointed of Honour in the 2016 Birthday
as an OBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to the United
Described as an ‘inventive
and dynamic risk-taker’ Damon Honours for services to the Nations and emergency relief, and
was knighted in the Queen’s homeless in London. a room at her previous university in
2016 Birthday Honours for his He was knighted in the 2018 Birmingham, named the ‘The Amos
contribution to voluntary and New Year Honours for services to Room’ in honour of her for services
charitable services. Business and Philanthropy. to society.

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