Our board

Howard Dawber spent 20 years at Canary Wharf Group, having joined in 2004. During his time there, he was Strategic Advisor and then Managing Director of Strategy for the company. He worked on the Crossrail (Elizabeth line) project and on inward investment, tourism, events, technology and life sciences programmes and international engagement. Since 2022, he has run his own consultancy on infrastructure and development.

Howard has sat on boards for East London Business Association, Business LDN, TheCityUK, Gateway to London, Tour East London and is a former Board Member of London & Partners. He was also part of the London 2012 Olympics candidate city campaign and, in the run up to the Olympics, he was the founder and then a Governor of the Legacy Trust UK, and then a trustee of Legacy List (now Foundation for Future London).

Declaration of interests:

• Non Executive Director, City Strategy Ltd
• Trustee, The Line
• Patron, East End Community Foundation
• Vice President, UK Youth
• Member, Co-op Party
• Member, Fabian Society
• Member, CWU Union

Laura is CEO of London & Partners, the growth agency for London.

Our mission is to create economic growth that is resilient, sustainable and inclusive. We drive investment, innovation and entrepreneurship and make London a brilliant destination for visitors and Londoners.

Laura is proud to lead the teams behind flagship brands including Visit London, Let’s Do London, Grow London, London Tech Week, MedCity London, .LONDON and Opportunity London.

Since Laura became CEO, London & Partners has created 42,500 jobs and added £1.9bn to the London economy.

As a civic leader, Laura brings people together to create partnerships for good growth.

Before joining London & Partners, Laura led the global Government & Public Sector Practice at WPP, the FTSE 100 global leader in marketing and communications. She advised governments around the world and trained future global leaders at the Blavatnik School of Government (Oxford) and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (Singapore).

Laura is passionate about social enterprise, endlessly curious about businesses and growth, always learning on leadership and inclusion, and is, unsurprisingly, a very proud Londoner.

Declaration of interests:

• Governor, Edith Neville Primary School and Children's Centre, London Borough of Camden
• Director of London & Partners subsidiaries: Dot London Domains Limited, London & Partners Events Limited, London & Partners Ventures Limited, London & Partners International

Nayan is Managing Director, Operations at London & Partners, the growth agency for London.

He was previously Finance Director at London & Partners having joined in January 2021.

In his current role, he leads the organisation's financial, operations and governance functions, as well as its strategy, research and corporate affairs.

Previously, Nayan spent 10 years at EY where he led multiple public sector restructuring projects and was Chief of Staff to EY UK&I's COO for six months.

As a management consultant, Nayan led multiple large programmes including the redesign and implementation of NHS Supply Chain and as a core member of the administration of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. As Chief of Staff, Nayan led on key projects on behalf of the EY UK&I leadership team. 

Prior to joining EY, Nayan trained and qualified as an accountant with the NHS as part of the national graduate programme.

Nayan is married to Joshna, who is CEO of an art marketplace scaleup company. They have one son.

Declaration of interests:

• Director of London & Partners subsidiaries: London & Partners Ventures, Dot London Domains Limited, Visit London Limited, London Convention Bureau Limited, LondonTourism Limited, TourismLondon Limited, London Tourist Board Limited, London & Partners Events Limited.

Jo Wright is a Chartered Accountant, who qualified at KPMG and has held executive finance leadership roles in media, technology and ecommerce.

Most recently Jo was the Chief Finance Officer and executive board director of Auction Technology Group; a Private Equity backed technology ecommerce business. In that role, she professionalised and transformed the finance function to serve the growing needs of a scaling business; providing commercial insight coupled with strong governance, while enabling the entrepreneurial spirit to thrive.

Previously, Jo was CFO of Nickelodeon UK, the UK’s leading pay television children's broadcaster and a joint venture between Viacom and Sky. Jo led the transformation of the finance function to become a collaborative business partner enabling data-led decisionmaking. Jo supported the CEO and leadership team in the audience growth strategy; involving investment in UK produced content, working with UK production companies. She also managed the operational transformation of many of the enterprise functions, moving in-house functions to outsourced centers of excellence.

Prior to this, Jo held a number of senior finance roles at Sky working across diverse areas including advertising, programming, marketing, digital and investments.

Jo has an honors degree from the University of Birmingham in Accounting and Commerce and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ICAEW).

Manju has had a progressive career with Harvey Nichols, the luxury international retailer, since 1998. From 2018, she led the business as Chief Operating Officer and prior to that as CFO. In January 2021, she was appointed CEO.

During her time with the brand, she has been at the heart of commercial performance and technology.

Having redefined the business strategy across the UK and the international franchise store network, she has also driven an omnichannel global customer experience, underpinned by a transformational IT programme.

Having put sustainability at the heart of Harvey Nichols’ approach, she has driven the agenda with partners, suppliers and stakeholders. Outside of her career, since 2013, Manju has been an Ambassador and mentor to the Camden Spear Trust, which is a charity improving the lives of underprivileged young people.

She is also an Ambassador of both the Women of the Future network and Retail Week’s Be Inspired, which support the next generation of business leaders.

Among her accolades are Asian Women of Achievement and being recognised by The Evening Standard as one of London’s most influential people, as well as Retail Week’s Power List and Drapers Fashion Retail Power 100.

Manju is a Chartered Accountant and has a BSc in Economics from Warwick University.

Declaration of interests:

• NED, Workspace Group

Formerly based out of Silicon Valley, Dominic Field has expertise in digital transformation, marketing and business strategy.

Prior to his December 2019 retirement, he was Global Leader of BCG’s Marketing practice and led the firm’s relationship with Google Inc. Dominic was the Founder Leader of Digital BCG and has spent his 30-year career working at board level with companies in the cross-hairs of digital disruption across multiple industries and geographies.

He has a particular focus on emerging trends and has helped many businesses to reimagine their strategy in the light of structural challenge.

He led a leading marketing services business and is a keynote speaker. Dominic is now building a non-executive portfolio alongside board-level advisory.

Declaration of interests:

• Non Executive Director, DSIT
• Trustee, The Design Museum Ltd

Chris is the Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation. His role involves speaking for the financial and professional services sector of the UK to the government and internationally.

He is a former Deputy Leader of Hertfordshire and Dorset County Councils, and was first elected to Common Council of the City of London Corporation for Broad Street Ward in March 2013 and continually re-elected since.

Chris's past roles include Managing Director of companies in the construction, aviation infrastructure and global events management sectors. He is now a Non-Executive Director of various companies in the commercial property, planning and communications sectors.

Chris is an Honorary Bencher of the Inner Temple and Chairman of the Guild of the Royal Hospital of St Bartholomew. Chris is married to Alexandra. They have two children and live near Chorleywood, Hertfordshire and in the City of London.

Declaration of interests:

• NED, Hayward Properties Ltd (commercial property investment)
• NED, Hayward Consultancy Ltd
• Director, JBP Associates Ltd
• Consultant, Kelthbray
• Director, London Councils Limited
• Member, Conservative Party
• Trustee, Barts Hospital Guild
• Trustee, Central Housing Fund for the Homeless
• Trustee, Friends of St Margaret Pattens
• Director, City Livery Club Ltd
• Director, Financial Services Skills Commission Limited
• Director, Green Finance Institute Ltd
• Director, Guild of Freemen Ltd
• Director, 7 Lothbury Freehold Ltd
• Director, The City UK
• Partnership Board, Central London Forward (CLF)

Eyal Malinger is a partner with London-based VC fund Beringea, where he co-leads the investment team. Eyal led Beringea’s investment and sits on the boards of Archdesk, Asterra, CGHero, CreativeX, Gorilla, MPB, Papier and WiredScore.

He was previously a director of Zoovu (sold to FTV Partners) and Aistemos (sold to RELX). Prior to joining Beringea, Eyal was at Countrywide, where he oversaw investments in the property technology sector. Prior to this, he was Vice President of Oaktree Capital’s European private equity fund and a consultant with McKinsey & Company.

Eyal began his career as a software engineer developing advanced telecommunication solutions. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Interdisciplinary Centre Herzliya.

Declaration of interests:

• Partner at Resurge Growth LLP
• Member of International Conclave of Entrepreneurs
  

Jo focuses on supporting charities, universities and business startups. She is chair of the advisory board for London’s MedCity within London & Partners, which is focused on accelerating life science initiatives and innovation by partnering academic institutes, businesses and health services with the advice, investment opportunities and support that they need.

She serves on the boards of the UK Dementia Research Institute focused on progressing scientific research into dementia across six UK universities, where she also chairs the innovation and IP subcommittee.

She is on the board of LifeArc, a self-financing medical research charity that transforms the way diseases are identified and treated by advancing early scientific discoveries to the point where they can be developed into the next generation of diagnostics and treatments. It also commits to investing up to £1.3bn by 2030 to transform promising life science ideas into life-changing medical breakthroughs for patients, faster.

Jo chairs Birmingham’s Precision Health Technology Accelerator, the University of Birmingham’s flagship life sciences research facility – a place where entrepreneurs, startups and scaleups collaborate with clinical and academic specialists, creating unique opportunities to commercialise ideas and accelerate the rapid development of cutting-edge therapies and technologies.

She is on the boards of The RSA Group, a recruitment firm focused on Life Sciences and Beacon for Rare Diseases, a UK-based charity that is building a united rare disease community with patient groups at its heart. The charity upskills rare disease patient groups through training, guided programmes, community projects and research initiatives. She is also a strategic advisor and NED for biotechs in the UK, Finland and Spain.

Prior to this, Jo led PwC’s UK Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences practice, and spent 20 years assisting clients with strategy, transformational change and deals. She started her career at BP and then GSK, with roles in strategy, commercial, capital projects and operations.

She is a passionate supporter of critical public health issues, such as tackling dementia, mental health, rare diseases and anti-microbial resistance.

She is a chartered engineer and fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, as well as an MBA holder from Warwick University along with her undergraduate degree in Physics.

Declaration of interests:

• Trustee, UK Dementia Research Institute
• Trustee, LifeArc
• Trustee, Beacon for Rare Diseases
• Trustee, LAM Action
• Chair, PHTA
• Chair, Adora Digital Health
• Board Member, ELEM Biotech
• Board Member, Ostique
• Board Member, Aplagon Oy
• Board Member, The RSA Group

Councillor Elizabeth Campbell was elected Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in July 2017, in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. She has been a councillor since 2006 and previously served as Cabinet Member for Family & Children’s Services (2012-2017) and Education & Libraries (2010-2012).

Elizabeth has taken a leading role in a number of local government networks, identifying strategic actions to support the capital’s economic recovery and future growth. She has served as Chair of Central London Forward from 2020 to 2022 and on the London Economic Action Partnership from 2021 to 2023, and is currently an Ambassador on the Mayor’s Cultural Leadership Board.

In parallel, Elizabeth was the portfolio holder on London Councils for Schools & Children’s Services (2020-2021) and now serves as the Lead for Business, Economy & Culture. These roles involve advocating for member authorities to receive the support they need to do the best possible job for their residents.

Outside politics, Elizabeth has served as Chair of Chelsea Academy, an outstanding Church of England School from 2013 to 2017, and was Vice-Chair and Director of the Tri-borough Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust from 2013 to 2015.

Born and based in Hong Kong for 25 years, Elizabeth graduated from Oxford University with a Master's degree in Modern History.

Declaration of interests:

• Leader, Royal Borough Kensington and Chelsea
• Vice Chair, London Councils
• Member, Conservative Party

Brian Bickell is a Chartered Accountant and has worked in the real estate sector since 1983.

In 1986, he joined Shaftesbury, a newly formed property investment company focusing on retail and hospitality in the West End. From its float on the London Stock Exchange in 1987, valued at £18m, over the next 36 years its ownership grew to more than 600 buildings across 16 acres in Carnaby, Covent Garden and Chinatown, valued at £3bn.

After 25 years as Finance Director, Brian became Chief Executive in 2011. The values of the business – human, original, community-minded, long-term and responsible – underpinned its success and reputation. Brian retired from the business in 2023 following the merger with Capco, its Covent Garden neighbour, which created a £5bn portfolio.

Brian has a high profile in the London real estate sector. He was a Board Member and Deputy Vice Chair of the Westminster Property Association from 2016 until 2023, and a board member of Freehold, the ground-breaking networking and lobbying group for LGBTQ+ real estate professionals, from its inception in 2011 until 2022.

In 2023, he was voted Property Week’s “Property Personality of the Year,” in recognition of both his corporate achievements and campaigning for greater diversity in the real estate sector.

Since 2019, Brian has been a Trustee of the Young Westminster Foundation, a third sector organisation whose mission is to ensure young people in the borough of Westminster have access to the best possible youth services and life opportunities. He was appointed Chair in 2022. He is also a founding patron of Queer Britain, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum, based in King's Cross.

Brian was born in Dalston and has lived in London throughout his life.

Declaration of interests:

• Chair and trustee, Young Westminster Foundation
• Director, Percival Mansions Management Company Ltd
• Director, W3 Residents Company Ltd
• Professional Membership: Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Amanda is an entrepreneur, qualified coach and former Big Four strategy consultant with a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity in entrepreneurship.

She most recently cofounded and served as CEO of Visionnaires, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering thousands of underrepresented founders with the skills and confidence to build successful businesses.

Amanda is passionate about ensuring that anyone – regardless of background – can realise their entrepreneurial dreams with the right support and guidance. Beyond her own ventures, she actively supports the startup ecosystem as a mentor at Block Dojo, a web3 accelerator, and as a venture scout for Ada Ventures. She also sits on an Innovate UK steering group focused on researching UK entrepreneurial skills and shares her expertise in building businesses as a guest lecturer at various universities.

In addition to her entrepreneurial work, Amanda is committed to social impact as a Trustee for Nacro, the social justice charity, where she is the Trustee for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and serves on both the Education and People Committees. She is also a board member of Capital Enterprise, working to drive successful UK startups

Declaration of interests:

• Trustee, Nacro
• Board member, Capital Enterprise
• Advisory board member, Inclusive Coaching
• Member, steering group, national UK entrepreneurial skills research study, Innovate UK