ADVISORY
everywoman’s Advisors to help the organisation identify and respond to the needs of the global business world.
everywoman’s Advisors are highly regarded and experienced business leaders whose broad, multi-sector experience helps to guide and inform everywoman’s corporate objectives.
CAROLINE RUSH CBE
Caroline is the Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council. She has 20 years of experience in Marketing and PR across both consumer and corporate communications in fashion, music and lifestyle sectors. In addition, she managed her own business for five years, during which time she delivered strategic communications and full press office function for the British Fashion Council.
Under her tenure there have been a succession of new initiatives and collaborations invigorating and repositioning the industry both nationally and internationally. The scale of the sector’s contribution being highlighted at governmental level with the first in-depth review commissioned and implemented pathing the way for the next generation.
An Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University, Caroline was awarded a CBE in 2014 as well as an Honorary Doctorate by the University of the Arts London in 2017. She is consistently listed in the Evening Standard Power 1000 and the Business of Fashion 500 globally.
MELISSA DI DONATO
Melissa is Chief Executive Officer of SUSE Software Solutions, the world’s largest independent open source company with over 80% of the Fortune Global 50 using their solutions.
She has 20 years experience in technology as a leader in the digital space including her role as Global COO for Digital Core at SAP and Area Vice President at salesforce.com for EMEA and APAC.
Melissa sits on several boards and has been recognised through numerous awards including being named as one of the Top 10 most influential women in U.K. Technology.
CLAIRE IRVIN
Claire is one of the UK’s most exciting and dynamic editors, with experience across a rich breadth of readers and titles. She is currently Head of Travel at The Times/Sunday Times.
Prior to the Times/Sunday Times, Claire was Head of Travel at The Telegraph.
She has spent her career driving editorial innovation as Editor of some of the most popular magazines (SHE, Company, Grazia, InStyle) spanning print, digital and social media channels.
DANNY LOPEZ
Danny has a unique perspective of the global, domestic and political landscapes with a career across banking, marketing, diplomacy and technology.
For five years he was the British Consul General to New York and Director General for trade and investment in the USA, the youngest person ever appointed to the role. In addition, he has held Managing Director and Chief Executive posts in the Department for International Trade and London & Partners.
Danny is currently the CEO of award-winning cybersecurity firm Glasswall and is a non-executive director at Innovate Finance, the UK industry body championing global FinTech.
CLARE PARSONS
Co-founder and Chair of leading reputation management and public relations consultancy Lansons, with offices in London and New York. Leading the Lansons international business, Clare is the first female Global Chair of PROI Worldwide, the longest-running partnership of public relations agencies, in its 50 year history.
Her agency has won numerous awards (over 100 in total) including UK Agency of the year some 21 times and in 2019 Clare, jointly with her co-founder, received an Outstanding Individual Award (Holmes Award).
GISELA ABBAM
FRSA
Gisela is a Management Consultant, the Chair of the British Science Association, a global Goodwill Ambassador and a multi-award winner. She is a Speaker for Schools and has presented on career insights to thousands of students.
Gisela was named as one of the 100 Women to Watch in the Cranfield Female FTSE Board Report 2020. Gisela is the winner of the 2019 Black British Business Person of the Year Awards. She was awarded Iconic Woman creating a better World for All by the Women Economic Forum. In 2018, Gisela was awarded Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Previously, she was the Director of Strategic Partnerships and a Company Officer for Abt Associates, a global research and evaluation company.
Gisela was also previously the inaugural Global Executive Director for Government Affairs & Policy for General Electric Healthcare. She was responsible for the strategic direction of government affairs and policy for the $18 billion business unit of GE that provides transformational medical technologies to health customers in over 100 countries. Gisela has written over 45 white papers on various public policy issues.
KATE THOMPSON
Kate is part of the founding team at businessfourzero, a strategy consultancy that helps businesses change faster than the world around them.
A seasoned leader, board-level advisor and executive coach with deep expertise in strategy, innovation, transformation and digital, Kate is also an active member of London’s tech community, a passionate advocate for women in enterprise, and sits on the board of advisors for a range of startup and scaling businesses.
ZOE BAYLISS WONG
With over a decade of e-commerce and fashion retail experience behind her, Zoe is a finance and operations specialist within high-growth businesses. She is currently leading the growth plan at Vivobarefoot, a regenerative scaleup making shoes that are good for both people and the planet. Zoe was previously a director & early employee at Depop, the cult Gen-Z ‘social shopping’ app which was acquired by Etsy in 2021 for $1.6BN.