Naomi is an avid networker and is keen to be the positive change she wants to see in the world. She is the founder and director of 4WD (said ‘forward’), a creative youth advocacy and empowerment social enterprise for the young people of London. Naomi is the Team Leader of SIFE RHUL and the President of the combining Management and Entrepreneurship societies at Royal Holloway. She is presently working with the Make Your Mark campaign and is in the process of setting up a network for aspiring female entrepreneurs (students and recent graduates) based in London. She is also a part time model and holds the current ‘Miss Commonwealth Euro-Atlantic’ title with which she has met Ndaba Mandela, visited number 10 Downing Street and campaigned for various quality of life initiatives.

Andy Lopata is one of the UK’s leading business networking strategists. He is the co-author of two books on the subject, including the Amazon UK bestseller ‘…and Death Came Third! The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public’. Andy built his reputation as a leading expert on networking and referral strategy in eight years as the Managing Director of UK-wide network Business Referral Exchange, before leaving to set up his own business early in 2007. Andy is also a director of the new online business network, Word of Mouse.

My name is David McQueen. If I was to sum up what I am known best for is helping people to leverage themselves for career success. As a professional speaker, faciliator and coach I work with young people in schools and colleges. I also coach and train adults who wish to improve their presentation skills, find work, get promotions or develop their own business. From using traditional methods to embracing social media tools my focus is to get people to enjoy their career journeys. Working with organisations as well as individuals. I find the best way to do that is also be authentic in the way I run my business and manage my own career which to be frank has been exciting but filled with its own challenges. On a personal level I am happily married with two energetic, creative and sometimes challenging daughters. I love music, poetry, philosophy and the way people interact across different cultures. I am a firm believer that our careers are intrinsically linked to our happiness and contentment, and as they take up so much of our personal time why not work on getting it right.

Lucy Byrne runs dot-art, a Liverpool based organisation which helps local artists to promote and sell their work. Businesses and individuals who wish to buy, rent or commission art can do so through their Castle Street gallery and website. Dot-art works with nearly 100 Merseyside based artists and a wide range of customers, and holds a variety of events for both artists and clients throughout the year

Patricia has provided business support, advice and training to hundreds of creative clients in the last 10 years. She is passionate about marketing and strategic personal and business development, and helping people to make their dreams come true. She has worked at the Crafts Council, Design Nation/The Design Trust and Studio Levien. She currently is Executive Manager at CIDA, the Cultural Industries Development Agency in East London.

Joy McKenzie is the best-selling author, journalist, TV presenter and entrepreneur. Nominated for an EFBWBO ‘Innovation’ Award and ‘Young Entrepreneur’ Award, Joy is often headhunted for her particular expertise, ‘strategic thinking’ to creatively conceptualise and directing new ideas. As a seasoned networker, Joy has hosted hundreds of high powered events which have included business breakfasts’, social soirees and evening salons, including the ‘Women Millionaires Club’ - and in 2002 Joy was recognised for her work and was voted ‘Networker of the Year’ by the New Statesman magazine. More recently, Joy’s passion for fashion has been her driving force for setting up ‘Looking Like A Million Dollars’- her fashion networking club. The pilot event will be launched during Enterprise Week ‘07.

Karim is a member of the organising committee of Wales in London. Karim Pabani was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Partner of EC Harris in May 2004. Karim started his career at BT’s headquarters in the City of London, where he worked with many of their divisions across the globe. He has extensive experience in the technology and outsourcing industries, having worked with EDS and Siemens Business Services, helping to grow and turnaround businesses internationally. Karim began his career at EC Harris within Group Services, initially developing the Finance function and building the Procurement arm of our business. Karim’s career can be characterised by leadership in Change Management, Technology Outsourcing and Strategic Financial Management. Karim is currently responsible for Finance, HR, IT, Corporate Real Estate, Group Legal Services, Procurement and Group Administration. Karim has also worked extensively with US quoted firms where he was international CFO for Chordiant Inc., a NASDAQ company and Convergys Inc., an S&P 500 company. Karim was born in 1966 and grew up in South Wales. Educated at Glamorgan University, where read his degree in Finance & Accounting, he obtained Bsc (Hons) in 1989. A Fellow of the Institute of Management Accountants and Master Practitioner …

Occasionally known as “Neil Raygun” I was a co-founder of Wales’ all-time most successful electronic music label, Plastic Raygun, and ran its Marketing and A&R for 5 years. With my ace colleagues I helped steer the label to many awards, plenty of underground smashes and a Top Ten hit. On top of this I’ve performed live on BBC Radio One, at countless clubs and events (Glastonbury, The Big Chill etc etc) in over 30 other countries across Europe, Asia, Australia and America. I am currently setting up Dizzyjam, my new project, and I also run Pollen (South Wales Creative Business Network). I blog at www.neilcocker.co.uk

Gaby is the Business Engagement Manager for the British Library Business & IP Centre. She joined the Library in July 2006 to build a robust Partner Programme and to engage with businesses to increase awareness of the Centre and help provide a comprehensive programme of support to Small & Medium sized Enterprises, entrepreneurs & the inventor community. Before this, she worked both within the private and public sectors, by rolling out corporate social responsibility programmes within the hotel sector and focusing on sustainable development at Forum for the Future. She also worked at the Carbon Trust specialising in Energy Efficiency and Investment & Innovation. Gaby most recently became a judge for the British Chamber of Commerce National Awards.

Clare founded Up (The Up Group Ltd) in 2007 having spent her career in management consultancy and co-managing a boutique head-hunting company. She read Management Sciences at Warwick University and has a long-held interest in everything business / entrepreneurially related!