Alex Lloyd
Partner, Burges Salmon
Alex is a partner in the firm’s Corporate team, working in all areas of corporate finance, and is also a member of the firm’s Technology sector group. Alex has a particular focus on technology sector M&A, venture capital and private equity and leads the firm’s BScale initiative aimed at supporting high-growth tech businesses and their investors.
Joel Dunning
Associate Director, GS Verde Corporate Finance
GS Verde Group are a multidisciplinary advisory group specialising in M&A advice to business owners and management teams across legal, finance, tax & communications. Joel advises on accounting, tax, financial management and financial advisory matters through the lens of “the next transaction” – whether that be start-up, growth through capital, growth through acquisition or exit. With an accounting and tax team of c. 20 across UK & Ireland, we deliver this with a bespoke outsourced finance team service, from bookkeeper to FD/CFO, within the infrastructure and compliance of an accountancy practice.
Katie Calvert-Jones
Alumni Relations and External Engagement Professional, University of Bath School of Management
Katie is Head of Alumni Relations & External Engagement within the School of Management, University of Bath, and is responsible for the business school’s strategic collaborative partnerships: locally, nationally and internationally. This includes working across multiple stakeholder groups, but focussing largely on alumni and industry connections.
Her work directly impacts the School’s rankings, accreditations and student recruitment activities, supporting broader international reputation, through ensuring delivery of high quality events, services, and communications.
She is a passionate advocate for education and the transformational power it holds and has a particular interest in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Kimberley Brook
Director, SETSquared Bristol
Kimberley Brook is the Director of SETsquared Bristol, a tech incubator supporting high tech and high growth businesses. With a background in commercial and contract law, Kimberley began supporting Innovation in 2016 when she started teaching researchers at University of Bristol about the value of IP. She went on to be the programme manager for the successful Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre which created a third of the UK’s funded quantum technology start-ups before moving to SETsquared in 2022.
She has supported the creation and growth of over 100 deep-tech companies and helped to establish a new pipeline of commercially minded researchers from local Universities who will drive forward innovation in the region.
Naabil Khan
Author, Skin For All
Naabil Khan is a dedicated and innovative fourth-year medical student at the University of Exeter, fervently committed to enhancing diversity and representation in healthcare and medical education. Alongside her rigorous medical studies, Naabil hosts the podcast “Very Junior Doctors,” created the website “Skin For All,” founded the newsletter “Future Dr,” and is a prominent activist for representation and diversity within the medical field.
A significant part of Naabil’s advocacy is “Skin For All,” an online educational platform that showcases common skin conditions across diverse skin tones. The platform has garnered a substantial following and praise for its inclusive approach, comprehensive disease profiles, and user-friendly language. This initiative has been lauded as a crucial resource for medical students and the public alike, with many comparing it to the award-winning “Mind The Gap.”
Natasha McKenzie
Founder & CEO, Talisman Sparro
Natasha McKenzie, Founder CEO of Talisman Sparro, has over 25 years of marketing experience working in global agency and brand consultancy firms.
Her mission is to drive transformation and innovation by collaborating with leadership teams to create impactful solutions. She specialises in developing strategies for high-potential businesses, building brand equity, generating success, and promoting sustainable growth.
As a Fellow at the University of Bristol, she is an active investor in the local ecosystem, reflecting her commitment to making a positive impact.
Richard Potter
Director of Digital Strategy, Microsoft
Richard advises business leaders around the world on a range of digital transformation challenges. He is passionate about building innovative enterprises.
In his day job Richard works with Microsoft’s customers giving them clarity and confidence about their digital journeys, helping them turn their aspirations into transformational business results.
He is a renowned keynote speaker and event facilitator with an energising and engaging style. He lives in the UK but travels extensively, shamelessly collecting and telling stories everywhere he goes.
Richard Spilsbury
Founder & CEO, Link Stone Advisory
Richard founded Link Stone Advisory to deliver advisory, finance, people, legal and IT support from experienced professionals. We provide advisory and fraction services for middle market clients and corporate development transformation for accelerated transition across M&A, fundraising and strategic delivery.
The difference is we have already done it in practice and it’s not just another project for us. Richard previously worked for Future Plc, PlaySports Group and PwC.
Rosie Bennett
Chief Operating Officer, Mystic AI
Rosie Bennett is the Chief Operation Officer at Mystic AI – a Y Combinator alumni company providing infrastructure to easily deploy AI products and services.
She has a professional foundation in media and technology having held senior positions at Liberty Global (UPC) and the BBC. Before joining Mystic, she was the investment lead at SETsquared Partnership and Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Bath.
Over the past 20 years, Rosie has had the privilege to be involved in a number of early stage start-ups as a founder, NED, advisor and VC associate.
Thanh Quan-Nicholls
Innovation Manager, Future Space Bristol
Thanh is the Innovation Manager at Future Space Bristol providing support to a community of high-tech high-growth businesses in life sciences, health tech, digital, advance engineering and robotics. She mentors early stage start-ups to reach their full potential and connects entrepreneurs and tech innovators with scientists, researchers and graduate talent – to spark collaboration and growth.
Thanh has over 20 years of senior experience delivering R&D funding and partnership-working across public, academic and commercial sectors, and is co-founder of Women’s Tech Hub Bristol, a locally organised group for advancing gender diversity in technology.