Bernie Davies
CEO & Founder, Bernie Davies Global
As featured on ITV Wales, multi-award-winning Bernie Davies, is the Creator of the Your Way Empowerment Series, a TEDx Speaker, Bestselling Author, Diversity and Entrepreneurship Leader, with a previous outstanding 21-year legal career.
Bernie is Past Chair of the Neath Chamber of Trade, Board member for Business in Focus and Fio Arts Charity, Ambassador for the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club, Advisory Panel Member for Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, Mentor, Welsh Government Excelerator Coach and Founder of Bernie Davies Global.
Bernie supports entrepreneurship programmes with a focus on diversity, for major banks, universities and government agencies
Corie Sewell
Business Centre Manager, Lexus Cardiff
Corie Sewell, a dedicated colleague to the automotive industry since October 2015, has been worked within prestigious brands such as Volkswagen and BMW, currently proudly representing Lexus Cardiff as their Local Business Development Manager. Beyond the world of cars and negotiation, Corie is a keen sports enthusiast, passionately backing Manchester United, Glamorgan Cricket, and Welsh Rugby.
His love for cricket extends to playing for Aberdare CC. As a keen cricketer, Corie showcased his cricket skills in the Australian Summer of 2010. One of the prouder moments in life was the birth of Corie’s daughter Eleri, entering our unique world on the first day of the Covid Lockdown in March 2020
Emily Gallagher
Senior Account Director, SBW
With 10+years’ experience in advertising, Emily’s current position as Senior Account Director at SBW advertising allows her to manage and execute campaigns driven by the need for change. First set up in 2004, SBW has established themselves as one of the leading integrated and marketing advertising agencies in Wales and the South West.
SBW aims to change behaviour for the better, by connecting, engaging, and empowering audiences. Informed by insight, SBW develops sound strategy and award-winning creative ideas and campaigns, delivered with passionate service for businesses, charities, and public sector clients.
Jim Carpenter
Director, Think Orchard
Jim is joint CEO at The Orchard Media & Events Group, a leading integrated marketing & communications agency based in Cardiff. Established in 2010, Orchard has vast experience in devising and delivering integrated campaigns that span creative, content, communications and events & experiences.
Having worked with a vast array of clients, Jim will look at entries through the lens of strategic thinking, creative solutions and impact or effectiveness. He’ll be looking at the ways entrants connect with their audience using bold ideas and concepts, innovative products & experiences, and smart business thinking.
Jo Polson
Managing Director, Vindico
Jo, based in Swansea, is currently managing director of Vindico, bringing experience from previous roles at Fleet-e, Think Air, Parc y Scarlets and Behemoth.
With a robust skill set that includes network and web design as well as network security and architecture, Jo contributes valuable insights to the IT industry.
Laura Williams
Director & Head of Cardiff Planning, Savills
Laura heads up the Savills Cardiff Planning team, providing commercially-driven advice on a range of large and complex strategic and regeneration projects throughout Wales and England, for a variety of clients, including landowners, developers and institutions.
Laura has over 16 years of experience of planning and environmental impact assessment.
Richard East
Founder, Safehands Recruitment
Richard East is the co-founder of Safehands Recruitment, which was established in 2013. Over the last 11 years, it has expanded across England and Wales, revolutionising the supply of healthcare recruitment.
Safehands focus on finding the best care professionals who are right for the job and we are the preferred supplier for many care providers in Cardiff.
Richard Pring
Co-Founder, Wales Interactive
Richard is a Multi-Award-Winning Film and Computer Games Director. In his career he embarked on a diverse range of roles in games and television, ultimately steering him toward co-founding his own successful studio Wales Interactive in 2012 becoming one of the leading video game entrepreneurs in the UK.
His acclaim is particularly notable for his pivotal role in Horror Games and the resurgence and sustained triumph of the Interactive Movie genre. Illustrative of his prowess are titles like “Maid of Sker,” “The Complex,” and “Five Dates,” which collectively solidify his reputation as a pioneer within the industry.
Dr Sarju Patel
Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University School of Medicine
Dr Sarju Patel obtained his PhD in 1996 and has worked for Cardiff University School of Medicine as a researcher and as an educator ever since. With over 20 years of teaching and research experience, he plays a key role in the design, delivery, and assessment of the undergraduate medical curriculum in Cardiff. As well as teaching on the course, Dr Patel has held several leadership roles including, Associate Dean for Equality, Diversity & inclusion, College of Biological and Life Sciences, seconded Year 2 lead for Bangor Medical school, Academic representative on the Education Committee and Co-Chair Student Staff Race Equality Task Group. Currently, Dr Patel is the Year 2 Director for the Medical course in Cardiff and Chair of the Universities Staff working group for the Race equality Charter Mark application.
In addition, Dr Patel has a passion for Equality, Diversity & inclusion and is currently developing and working on projects that he hope will help create an inclusive environment and curriculum where all, students and staff can flourish and reach their potential. Hand in hand with this, he has a passion for widening access and has developed and run a project in Grangetown since 2018 which has now expanded to include 4 schools from disadvantaged areas of Cardiff. The projects key aims are to raise aspirations and inspire pupils to see University as a possibility.