Meet the DIVERSE CXO role models

Women & Allies Role Models

Our amazing role models and mentors who will be attending our events

Women & Allies Role Models

Raga D’Silva

Chair of Trustees for LGBTQ+ Centre, Entrepreneur, Author, TedX Speaker, Screenplay writer, Host and Moderator of The Views Room, Producer and Host of ‘Coming Out Stories from India’.

at Raga D’Silva

Raga D’silva (she/her) is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, TedX Speaker, screenplay writer, Host and Moderator of The Views Room, Producer and Host of ‘Coming Out Stories from India’. Born and raised in India, Raga lived …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Events, Media and Entertainment, Charity, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Tala Akkawi

Managing Director & Founder

at Kube Management: Architecture & Real Estate, heading a Family Office Reawaken Retreat: Wellness

Tala is the Founder of award winning Riviera Reawaken Retreat, a wellness space in the French Riviera. She’s an artist, an architect and developer, with 20 years of experience as a Real Estate investor. …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Tech, Charity, Entrepreneur, Wellness

Michael Christodoulides

MD Head of Customer Compliance

at Barclays Bank

Michael is a member of the Barclays Bank UK Compliance team leading the Customer and Technical Compliance teams. He has worked at Barclays Compliance for 16 years in a number of advisory, oversight and …

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Industry: Finance, Technology

Favourite Quotation: Helen Keller: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.

Gillian Lamela

CIB Markets Cloud Engineering & Architecture Product Owner

at JP Morgan

Gillian is an Executive Director at JP Morgan and responsible for shaping the Public Cloud migration strategy roadmap, driving acceleration across public cloud adoption, enabling Markets businesses to provide simpler, faster access to storage …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Technology

Cheryl Martin

Head of Cyber Secuirty

at Capgemini

Cheryl Martin is Financial Service Sector Industry lead with Gartner Consulting, based in our EMEA Head Office in Egham U.K. she is also Gartner’s Consulting Global Inclusion and Diversity lead sitting on the Gartner’s …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Cyber Security

Amanda Spencer

Director of Technology

at Royal Society of Chemistry

I am Director of Technology, and Leadership team member at a world leading publisher for Chemistry and the membership organisation for the Chemistry Profession. I am responsible for strategy and delivery of technology across …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: charity, publishing; non-profit

Tracy Watkinson

COO

at Natwest

Tracy Watkinson is the Chief Operating Officer for Finance at NatWest Group, and has over 20 years experience leading transformation predominantly Investment Banking, having also worked at Deutsche Bank, Barclays, UBS and Credit Suisse. …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance

Favourite Quotation: “Lift as you climb”

Kavya Vibhu

Analytics Product Lead

at M&G Analytics Product Lead

Over her nearly two-decade career, Kavya has driven multiple technology transformations in FinTech, delivering impactful solutions that drive business growth and innovation. Having worked for banks like Citi, Lloyds Banking Group, BNP Paribas, Royal …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Product, Technology, Data

Favourite Quotation: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Kim Fitzpatrick

IT Director

at Mix Consulting

I am a business focused technology leader and board advisor, with a strong track record of delivering technology operations, continuous improvement, and strategically driven technical/ business change, in the UK and across the globe. …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology

Favourite Quotation: Nothing limits intelligence more than ignorance; nothing fosters ignorance more than one’s own opinions; nothing strengthens opinions more than refusing to look at reality. – Sherri S Tepper

Joanna Smith

CIO

at Danone

Joanna is an accomplished international CIO. Having started her career in Pharmaceuticals, in HR then Sales & Marketing, she moved into IT in the mid 80’s and subsequently led large global programs alongside delivering …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology, Health Tech

Daria Grishna

CIO

at Danone

Daria Grishina is a Business-Focused Technology Executive whose signature is driving bottom-line value, scale, and commercial revenue growth through digital solutions, business transformation, and technology innovation. With 20+ years of experience, Daria has held …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology

Sue Holly-Rodway

Global Lead, Sales Talent Community

at Avanade

I’ve been in the Technology and Tech consulting world since I finished my business degree in 1986, and very quickly decided to go into a selling role, mostly because lots of the guys (it …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology Consulting

Yasmin Benoit

Model, Writer, Researcher and Asexual Activist

at Private Company

Yasmin Benoit is a British model, multi-award-winning asexual activist, writer, researcher, and speaker. Described as the “unlikely face of asexuality” by Cosmopolitan Magazine, she quickly became a leading voice for the community after publicly …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Activism and Modelling

Heba Bevan

COO & Founder

at Utterberry

Heba Bevan OBE is the CEO and founder of UtterBerry Ltd. UtterBerry designs and manufactures intelligent wireless sensors and sensor systems with diverse applications in a multitude of industries. The miniature and extremely low-power …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology, Manufacturing, Engineering

Megan Owen

COO

at Bravura Solutions

Megan is a Global COO and former Managing Director who has been on numerous Boards and run P&Ls for some of the largest IT services and product companies in the world (Capgemini, Dell, Sopra …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology

Favourite Quotation: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”

Saadia Mujeeb

Chief Risk Officer and Head of Credit

at Macquarie Bank of Europe

Saadia Mujeeb is Chief Risk Officer & Head of Credit Risk at Macquarie Bank Europe. Headquartered in Dublin with branches in Paris and Frankfurt. She is an accomplished leader of cross-functional global teams with …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Banking

Favourite Quotation: “The harder I practice, the luckier I get.” — Gary Player

Meri Williams

CTO (Chief Technology Officer)

at Pleo

Meri is an experienced CTO and leader of technology organisations, currently leading the technology team at Pleo. She particularly enjoys helping others to level up as technical leaders and managers of organisations, and works …

Pronouns: She/They

Industry: Fintech, Finance, Tech

Pips Bunce

Head of investment Banking Technology Strategic Platforms

at Credit Suisse

Pips Bunce is Head of Investment Banking Technology Strategic Platforms at Credit Suisse, where she is responsible for driving a range of the firm’s strategic initiatives from regulatory priorities through to the execution of …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology, Finance, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Favourite Quotation: “Be the change you want to see in the world” Gandi & “Be yourself as everyone else is taken” Oscar Wilde

Gulenn Tambe

IPB Chief Data Officer

at JP Morgan

Gulenn has over 20 years’ experience in data and analytics gained across Banking and consultancy, with extensive experience of delivering complex transformational programs, driving innovation and a focus on customer centricity. After joining JPMC …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Data Analytics, Finance and Risk

Favourite Quotation: “You can have it all… just not at once!”

Laila El-Metoui

Equity and Wellbeing Educator, Founder of Pride in Education

at Uk Queer Arabs and Proud London Councils

Laïla is a dynamic and engaging facilitator who delivers impactful training sessions that are not only practical and thought-provoking but also infused with her passion for social justice. Her insightful contributions to panel discussions …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: EDI and Community

Favourite Quotation: ‘my normal may not be your normal’

Arlene Dermott

Head of Business Management and Chief of Staff to Group GC, Group Legal and Compliance

at London Stock Exchange Group

Arlene McDermott – Head of Business Management and Chief of Staff to Group GC, Group Legal and Compliance, London Stock Exchange Group Working on Catherine Johnson’s leadership team as Head of Business Management Arlene …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Legal

Favourite Quotation: “be yourself, everyone else is taken!”

Sally Clark

CEO and Non Executive Director

at CEO for Frattina Service Ltd NED for financial and healthcare industries

I am currently in the “portfolio stage” of my career. At present, I am a Non-Exec on a number of Boards including Citigroup’s broker dealer subsidiary, BUPA and two start-up companies ACIN and KORE …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance

Favourite Quotation: “There’s a special place in Hell for women who don’t help other women!” Madeleine Albright

Kavita Kapoor

Strategy Director / Senior Lecturer (CODE) & Founding Chair – BCS Pride

at CODE University of Applied Sciences & The Federation of Humanitarian Technologists

Kavita Kapoor is an award-winning technologist who creates Technology for Good, focusing on artificial intelligence and education. She is passionate about the need for creative play in technology. Her current portfolio covers; Founding Member …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology, Charity

Barbara Gottardi

CEO & CIO

at WEDLVR

Barbara Gottardi is now the CEO of Wedlvr Ltd – an independent consultancy specialized in helping companies through complex digital transformation programme. Through Wedlvr Barbara acted as interim CIO for Admiral Money defining a …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Technology

Favourite Quotation: “If you dont’t ask, you dont get”

Catherine Ahn

Head of Complex Corporates, Acting Regional Head for UK EMEA Turkey, and Regional Head for US/CAN for Global Complex Investigations

at HSBC Holdings plc

Catherine Jisun Ahn currently serves as the Head of Complex Corporates and the Acting Regional Head of numerous jurisdictions for Complex Investigations at HSBC Holdings plc. She moved to London after serving as an …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance

Favourite Quotation: “Great minds do not think alike. They challenge each other to think differently”

Luma Zitani

Senior Manager

at Accenture

Luma is an economist and banking specialist experienced in Financial Crime policy setting and control implementation. She designed and implemented compliance controls at strategic and operational levels working closely with business divisions, industry bodies …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance

Favourite Quotation: “You say we’re on the brink of destruction and you’re right. But it’s only on the brink that people find the will to change. Only at the precipice do we evolve.”

Emily Hamilton

Director and VP Strategic Change

at RS Group and Trans in the City

Emily Hamilton is a director of the business inclusion organisation Trans in the City, and is Vice President of Strategic Change at RS Group PLC, folllowing a 23 year career in Project, Programme and …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Banking

Favourite Quotation: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” Gandhi

Puja Prabhakar

Head of Financial Services & Executive Sponsor of Avanade Women’s Employee Network

at Avanade

Puja is a Tech Industry Executive and has been a leading voice within Avanade calling for more diversity and inclusion in our industry. She is the executive sponsor of the Women’s Employee Network which …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Banking

Helena Forest

Head of Product for EMEA Marketplace Solutions & Commerce Solutions Payments

at JP Morgan

Helena is Head of Product for EMEA Marketplace Solutions, J. P. Morgan Payments & Commerce Solutions. The Payments & Commerce business at J.P. Morgan combines Global Payments and Merchant Acquiring to help clients innovate …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Banking

Favourite Quotation: “There is always light. Only if we are brave enough to see it. Only if we are brave enough to be it.” (Amanda Gorman)

Sharon Peters

Group CIO

at BAI Communications

Sharon is currently the Group CIO for BAI Communications soon to be Boldyn Networks. This is an exciting time to join and she is 6 weeks in and thoroughly enjoying it. Sharon spent the …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology and Telecommunications

Favourite Quotation: “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” -Rosalynn Carter

Elaine Priest

Global Head of Data Risk

at HSBC

Elaine is a globally recognised Data & Risk Leader with broad experience of people, data and technology and an excellent track record in driving both functional performance and delivering large scale change. Over the …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Financial Services, Risk, Data and Charity

Favourite Quotation: Viktor Frankl “Everything can be taken from a [person] but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way”

Jacqui Lipinski

CIO and Director of Digital and Technical Services

at Royal College of Art

Jacqui has a breadth of experience in both Business and Technology in the UK and International markets. Working in several sectors including Higher Education, Onshore/Offshore Financial Services, Technology Consultancy, Sport and Leisure, Commercial Property, …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Higher Education, Financial Services, Technology Consultancy, Sport & Leisure, Commercial Property, Creative Arts, Charity

Dorothy Bean

Chief Nursing Information Officer NHS England, Administrator, Materials Nexus

at NHS England

I am an accomplished NHS leader and educator with a breadth of operational and strategic experience in acute, community, private, commissioning and voluntary health organisations. This enables me to identify and initiate solutions to …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Health Tech, Education, Governance, and boards

Favourite Quotation: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Arthur Ashe

Ruth Rowan

Chief Marketing Officer

at Avanade

Ruth is Avanade’s Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for our overall global marketing strategy, brand and corporate communications. She works closely with teams around the world to support our growth ambitions through building a differentiated …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Marketing, Technology

Favourite Quotation: “Smooth seas don’t make great sailors”

Christina Scott

Chief Product and Technology Officer

at Ovo

Christina Scott joined OVO Energy in October 2021 as its Chief Product & Technology Officer. Christina leads OVO’s technology, data and product teams to provide intelligent energy technology solutions in support of the decarbonisation …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology, Energy, Leadership, Sustainability, Product, Data

Favourite Quotation: ” Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes – Jim Carrey”

Charlotte Baldwin

Chief Digital & Technology Officer

at Costa Coffee

An experienced digital leader, with roles spanning over 22 years across multiple industries, her career has focused on delivering digital transformation and complex technology-enabled business change. She has driven business value through digitally enabled …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology

Favourite Quotation: “Remember it’s exciting not scary!”

Linda Cooke

Group CIO

at Chaucer Group

Linda has worked in IT within the Financial Services sector, Retail Banking and Specialty/Commercial Insurance, for 28 years. She joined LloydsTSB in 1995 not knowing how to work a computer and went on to …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Insurance, Finance

Favourite Quotation: “Try everything once and then decide if you want to do it again”

Robin Sutara

Field Chief Technology Officer

at DataBricks

From repairing Apache helicopters near the Korean DMZ to the corporate battlefield, Robin has demonstrated success in navigating the high stress, and sometimes combative, complexities of data-led transformations. She has consulted with hundreds of …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology

Favourite Quotation: “Remember your superpower”

Nicola Gribbin

CIO at SSE Distribution & Co-Founder & CEO my Ocean Life, the Seafaring Network.

at SSE Distribution, Ocean Life, the Seafaring Network.

Nicola Gribbin is an accomplished Chief Information Officer (CIO) with over 20 years of international experience in various industries, including retail, oil and gas, maritime shipping, and technology professional services. She currently serves as …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology, Energy, Maritime

Favourite Quotation: “Be the change you wish to see in the world” Gandhi

Norma Dove-Edwin

Chief Digital and Information Officer

at Thames Water

A strategy focused executive with considerable experience in leading digital and business transformation programmes, gained from working in top FTSE multinational, complex organisations, such as BAT, Shell, QBE Insurance and National Grid. Norma is …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Technology

Favourite Quotation: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

Lydia Nicola

Head of IT

at Amnesty International

With nearly 20 years experience in computing projects, having grown up around IT and doing testing and support on the side whilst still in school, Lydia’s focused her career on being the interface between …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Technology, Charity, Operations

Favourite Quotation: “There’s really no such thing as the ‘voiceless’. There are only the deliberately silenced, or the preferably unheard,” – Arundhati Roy

Susan Mann

Assistant General Counsel & Director

at Bank of America

Susan Mann is an Assistant General Counsel and Director in Bank of America’s investment grade debt capital markets legal team in London, United Kingdom. Supporting Global Corporate & Investment Banking, Susan advises on a …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Legal

Favourite Quotation: “Don’t hide your magic!”

Kanu Bhatkulikar

Regional Head of Operations, Europe & Asia Pacific and Global Head of Trade & Transaction Reporting

at TD Securities

Kanu Bhatkulikar is currently the Regional Head of TD Securities Operations and Business Services for Europe and Asia Pacific. She is responsible for managing and overseeing capital markets trade operations, client onboarding and regulatory …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Technology, Banking, Operations, Risk & Controls, Regulatory Compliance

Favourite Quotation: “Be An Optimist Prime not a Negatron” – Transformers (play on words for Optimus Prime and Megatron)

Laura Laing

Head Of FX, Metals & Derivatives Operations, Europe

at TD Securities

Laura started her career at JPMorgan before moving to TD Securities, where she held a number of junior positions within Operations before moving on to manage a small team. Following successful growth of that …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance

Favourite Quotation: “She was unstoppable not because she didn’t have failures or doubts, because she continued despite them.” – Beau Taplin

Matthew O’Leary

Associate Vice President, CIO London

at TD Securities

Matthew joined TD Securities in 2020 and became the Chief Information Officer for London in December 2022. Prior to joining TD, Matthew held a variety of technology senior leadership roles at Citi and Barclays, …

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Industry: Finance, Technology

Favourite Quotation: “Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom” George S. Patton

Pippa Dale

Director, DCM (Debt Capital Markets) Investment Bank Partnerships

at London Stock Exchange Group [LSEG]

Over 20 years of experience of working in Investment Banking. Pippa came out whilst working for one of the French banks and wanted to transfer to Hong Kong, taking her partner, so traveling to …

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Industry: Finance, Primary Capital Market, Debt