Sarah Anderson CBE - Chair
Director of Simple Solutions Ltd

Sarah ran her own company for 19 years – Mayday Group – a four branch specialist employment business and agency providing catering staff. Other business interests include being joint founder and Director of Simple Solutions Ltd. which makes folding toddler’s loo seats called ‘Toodle-loos’ which are sold to the retail industry in the UK and overseas. Sarah is a non-executive director of JobCentrePlus.

Maxine Benson MBE

Co-Founder, everywoman Ltd

Max is the co-founder of everywoman, the UK’s largest community of women in business with a membership in excess of 40,000. Since launching in 1999, everywoman has consulted with government on gender equality issues and works with many organisations committed to developing their female talent. Through its programme of events, training & awards programmes, and projects such as Modern Muse, everywoman offers members support, skills and recognition. Prior to founding everywoman in 1999, Maxine worked in the airline industry in Australia and in the film industry in New York. She sits on the Women’s Leadership board for the Duke of Edinburgh Award and was appointed MBE in 2009 in recognition of her service to women’s enterprise.

Karen Gill MBE

Co-Founder, everywoman Ltd

Karen is the co-founder of everywoman, the membership organisation that seeks to advance all women in business so that we increase the number and raise their status in the economic community. everywoman’s ambition is to become the world’s largest and most influential female business network, inspiring generations of businesswomen and championing their cause, talents and prospects on a global scale. Prior to founding everywoman, Karen had an international career as a Vice President for InterContinental Hotels working across Asia Pacific and EMEA. Karen was appointed MBE in 2009 in recognition of her service to women’s enterprise. She sits on the Women’s Leadership Board for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Joanna Hansford

Managing Director, Jo Hansford

As Managing Director of the world-renowned Jo Hansford Salon in the heart of Mayfair, Joanna Hansford manages a highly complex business.  She has experienced many facets to running her mother’s vibrant Mayfair salon and over the past ten years has been responsible for the creation of numerous innovations that have kept the Jo Hansford name at the forefront of the hairdressing industry. She has recently worked on the creation and launch of the Jo Hansford colour care range of premium hair products which has already won numerous awards and is currently expanding the distribution internationally.

Sharon Hilditch MBE
Founder & CEO,Crystal Clear International

Sharon started her first beauty business at the age of 17 and launched Crystal Clear International in 1995, with a £15,000 bank loan. Today, the company exports to over 20 countries, has a celebrity following supplying stars like Madonna, Cindy Crawford and Victoria Beckham and recently launched an exclusive skincare range into leading department stores. Sharon won the NatWest everywoman Award in 2004.

Anna Lee
Co-Founder, Storm

In 1989 Anna Lee co-founded the watch brand STORM in offices above a pizza takeaway in London - an entrance that turned the 'traditional' watch market on its head. Aside from being the first UK company to sell watches as an accessory, STORM also utilised materials and designs never witnessed in watch design before. STORM has now become the only recognised British fashion watch brand on the market today and is distributed in over 45 countries worldwide.   Anna says her core achievement is retaining a brand integrity in a competitive market for more than 20 years whilst many have failed or lost their way.

Mandy Nickerson

Head of Groups and Incentive Travel, Virgin Holidays

Mandy started her career as a hotel cook and receptionist with aspirations to become a General Manager. A few years later she wanted to experience the tour operator’s life. She joined the family business Bales Worldwide in 1977 where she worked her way up, becoming Managing Director in 2001. Seven years later and she has managed to successfully steer Bales Worldwide through one of the hardest times the travel industry has known. In December 2009 Bales Worldwide was sold to Virgin Holidays. Mandy Nickerson stayed for 2 years as the Managing Director guiding the company forward for the next chapter as part of the Virgin Holidays family. Mandy has taken on a new and exciting role in January 2012 to head up a new development for Virgin Holidays – Groups and Incentives Travel. 

Avril Owton MBE
Proprietor, The Cloud Hotel

Avril Owton owns and runs the award winning Cloud Hotel in Brockenhurst. Having overcome adversity to develop a highly successful hotel and rescue it from the brink of recession she was voted Hampshire Business Woman of the Year 1995 and Shine Woman of the Year 2006. As the past Chair of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of the Institute of Directors, the founder of the Wessex Women’s Network and a regular speaker for national organisations, Avril has become a recognised business force and motivator for women colleagues. Furthermore, Avril was appointed an MBE in 2008 for her services in hospitality and in recognition of all her charity work and in 2011 was voted one of theTop 100 Most Influential Women in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism.

Chrissie Rucker MBE

Founder, The White Company

As the founder of The White Company, Chrissie Rucker has established one of the most successful multi-channel retailers in the premium market. What began as a small mail order concept for beautifully designed, affordable home accessories in white, The White Company has become a hugely well recognised and respected brand, retailing from stores nationwide and a fast growing website. With over twenty years experience working with the best interior designers and stylists, Chrissie’s valuable knowledge combined with endless passion and creative flair have been applied to her many achievements. Still at the heart of the business today, Chrissie is a dedicated working mum with four children.

Camilla Stephens

Co-founder, Higgidy

In 2004, Camilla Stephens set up Higgidy in pursuit of the perfect, imperfect pie. Co-founding the business with her husband, it grew from a kitchen-based start-up to an £8million business, growing 900% in just four years and currently employing 150 people. Camilla’s career started at Leith Catering Company in her late teens, worked at Good Housekeeping in her early twenties and before starting Higgidy, Camilla was Head of Food for Starbucks UK. Camilla puts the secret of her success down to her belief that “through thick and thin, not being prepared to compromise”. This year, Higgidy moved up three places in the Fast Track 100 of fastest growing companies and at the end of 2010, Camilla won a NatWest everywoman Award for female entrepreneurs.

Jan Ward

Founder, Corrotherm International

Trained as a Mechanical Engineer, Jan is Founder of Corrotherm International Ltd a company specialising in high alloy metals  for use in oil, gas petrochemical power and desalination industries. Established 20 years ago from an office at home, Corrotherm now has offices in UK, UAE, US, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, South Africa . Jan was a NatWest everywoman award Winner in Dec 2009, nominated a Fellow of the Institute of Directors in July 2011 and holds several advisory and non executive positions specialising in    innovative low carbon industrial process technology and advanced manufacturing.

Perween Warsi CBE, MBE, DBA
Founder & CEO, S & A Foods Ltd

Perween Warsi, CBE, is the founder and Chief Executive of S & A Foods, supplying fresh, chilled and frozen ethnic ready meals for sale throughout the UK and internationally. S & A Foods makes around three million meals a month, from prepack to counters and takeaway bags. Driven by her passion for quality, innovation and product excellence, Perween has received widespread recognition for her outstanding business achievements. She was awarded the First Women Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by the CBI.  Perween cares passionately about the local community, and is a member of the Derby Renaissance Board run by Derby City Council and a member of the Derby Active Culture Board. What matters most to Perween, are the many awards the company has received for its products, ranging from quality to innovation awards. Her aim is to produce authentic ‘restaurant quality’ ethnic meals for as many consumers as possible, and Perween likes nothing better than working in the development kitchen with her chefs on new innovative recipes.