Katie Allen - Professional Speaker and Inclusion Trainer
Katie works with forward-thinking MDs and small business owners who know they need to take action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) but feel the current options don’t align with their values or business needs. She offers a no-nonsense approach to DEI, creating safe, confidential spaces for honest conversations that allow leaders to find the best approach for their business without being lectured or judged.
In addition to her DEI work, Katie is passionate about supporting female entrepreneurs and gender equity. Through her involvement with Women on Boards CIC®, a social enterprise championing female entrepreneurs, she contributes to creating an equal platform for women in leadership and board positions. Women on Boards CIC® empowers women by providing comprehensive training, fostering strategic partnerships and building a supportive community.
Katie is committed to driving unparalleled innovation and influence through mentorship, advocacy and impactful research. Her work not only helps businesses incorporate DEI in a meaningful way, but also supports systemic change through policy engagement and advocacy for gender diversity.
With a background in commercial leadership, HR business partnering, and change management, Katie uses her personal experiences and lessons to help others navigate DEI confidently, empowering them to step into leadership roles with clarity and purpose.
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Marsha Powell - Co-Founder and CEO of BelEve
Marsha is a visionary leader dedicated to empowering young women. Inspired by personal loss, Marsha founded BelEve in 2012 to foster self-belief, resilience, and leadership skills in young women. Her career in finance and wellness prepared her to build a strong foundation for the organisation, which has impacted over 20,000 young women aged 8-22. Marsha’s work is driven by her commitment to mentorship, offering continuous support to the next generation of female leaders. Her story of resilience and passion honours her mother’s memory and fuels BelEve’s mission to make a lasting difference.
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Claudia Jaksch - CEO at Policy Connect
Claudia is the Chief Executive of cross-party think tank Policy Connect. Claudia joined Policy Connect’s sustainability team in 2014 and took on its leadership in 2016. She is a seasoned policy expert with longstanding experience in stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, policy development and achieving policy impact in the UK and at an international level. Claudia became Policy Connect’s Chief Operating Officer in July 2016, leading on strategy development and implementation, impact and performance management, human resource management, financial monitoring and reporting, governance and compliance. Since August 2022 Claudia is the organisation’s Chief Executive.
Claudia holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, a Masters degree in International Political Economy from King’s College London and a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies from the University of Passau, Germany.
Claudia is also a board member of the charity Carbon Copy and supports the organisation’s work on public engagement and local action to tackle the climate crisis as a trustee.
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