Be the Change consortium – Driving Workplace Access and Social Mobility in the West Midland

Scarlett Allen- Horton

Founding Director, Harper Fox Partners

Scarlett Allen-Horton is a highly accomplished recruitment leader, Business Partner to Lord Sugar, BBC Apprentice Finalist, innovative entrepreneur and founder of the multi-award winning Harper Fox Partners. Scarlett is also a keynote speaker, business coach, RFC board advisor and voluntary ambassador for numerous charitable and purpose driven organisations.

With over a decade of experience in global executive search and leadership assessment analysis, Scarlett has a proven track record of success and expertise in various subjects, particularly within recruitment, STEM and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

As a female founder, Scarlett has secured significant investment and scaled her fully retained search business from a zero starting point to a seven figure enterprise. Scarlett’s dedication to her work has earned her multiple client quality, EDI, top consultant, and leadership awards spanning the last decade.

Her impressive achievements and expertise has led to Scarlett being featured in prominent media outlets such as The Times, Business Leader, BBC News, The Independent, and Daily Mail.

Scarlett’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is demonstrated by her role as an EDI ambassador and advisor to the Recruitment Employment Confederation UK and numerous voluntary initiatives. In addition, she serves as a board committee advisor to the UK Black Business Show and is a judge for the REC Awards and Black Talent Awards.

Scarlett is a sought-after keynote speaker, having delivered inspiring speeches at various events such as Karen Brady’s Women in Tech Expo, Radio 5Live, EON Leadership Series, NatWest Rose Review, UK Construction Week and Local Councils to name a few. She is also a dedicated business coach with a focus on purpose, passion, and profit and has helped many aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders achieve their goals.

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Alistair Antoine

Black Talent & Leadership in STEM

No bio provided

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Earl Beckles

Senior Designer Exterior Production Design Quality, JLR

Earl has been a professional car designer at Jaguar Land Rover for over 26 years and joined after being sponsored by the company at the Royal College of Art in London where he completed the MA in Vehicle Design. During his time there he has worked on several premium brands such as BMW, Land Rover, Mini, MG and Range Rover. He has been responsible for designing several vehicles which are in production today. Freelander 2 interior conceptproduction & concept Freelander 2 Exterior. The 2018 Jaguar Sportbrake and the 21 MY Jaguar XF sedan and Sportbrake.

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Lucy Hatfield

Senior Early Careers Cohort Leader , JLR

My name is Lucy Hatfield, and I am a Senior Early Careers Cohort Leader at JLR. I have been in this role for nearly 1 year and myself and my team support the delivery of the graduate and undergraduate programmes at JLR. Prior to this, I worked at Aston University as the Head of Placements. I’m passionate about supporting young talent to succeed in the workplace.

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Jude Onwudili

Reader in Chemical Engineering, Aston University

Dr Jude Onwudili is a Reader in Chemical Engineering at Aston University, Birmingham (UK) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He obtained his PhD in Chemical and Process Engineering in 2005 at the University of Leeds (UK), where he held several research and teaching positions before joining Aston. He is an expert in advanced thermo-catalytic processing of biomass and wastes and currently leads a Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals (SFC) Group within Aston’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI). He has published over 100 academic papers with over 5500 citations. Dr Onwudili is EBRI’s Director leading on Industrial Research Engagement in line with Aston University’s 2030 Strategy of Inclusivity, Entrepreneurship and Transformation.

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Olu Orugboh

CEO and Founder, Synergy Solutions

Olu is the CEO and Founder of Synergy Solutions, a specialist management consultancy practice, focussed on helping companies stay at the forefront of evolving technology and the ever-changing world of customer expectations, whilst remaining resilient and futureproofing their business.

As a senior leader and seasoned professional with over 20 years’ experience, leading businesses through change, transformation and migration into digital environments, Olu has assisted a range of companies from start-ups, through to high growth scale ups to FTSE listed companies both in the UK and Internationally to embrace digital technology, safely, whilst remaining resilient and responsive to the rapidly changing environment. Olu has deep international experience, assisting enterprises to turnaround their failing operations through to putting in place infrastructures to support growth initiatives and introduce digital innovation. She has extensive business experience having had the opportunity, through both her own business and other executive level positions to shape the strategy for a wide array of businesses and introduce digital technology, providing a range of companies with the opportunity to speed up response and enhance the quality of that response, which she believes to be vital in the delivery of an agile business.

Olu is  highly committed to assisting organisations to become resilient and future proofed. In addition to running a business, Olu is a mother to two wonderful children  and is passionate about growing the impact of digital technology in underserved communities.

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Damini Sharma

CEO and Founder , The OM Group

A qualified SHEQ and CDM Consultant, passionate about providing accessible and easy-to-understand advice on all CDM and Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality management issues. Extensive experience of working with companies on Integrated Management Systems, in addition to managing a team and running a business. Currently undertaking an MBA with Aston University (2021).

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Councillor Sharon Thompson

Sharon Thompson’s story begins with her experience as a homeless teenager, which has shaped her drive and determination to bring about social change. In 2010, Sharon made a conscious decision to change her life in a decade. Since drawing up a life plan, Sharon has received numerous national awards for her contributions to social change and politics. She has held senior leadership positions and served as a magistrate, and since 2014, has been an elected Councillor for the City of Birmingham.

Sharon has held several non-executive director positions. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on political engagement, homelessness, housing, women in leadership, and Black, Asian, Ethnic Minorities in Leadership. Her presentations are practical and inspiring, challenging audiences to develop their leadership skills both personally and professionally through self-leadership.

In May 2023, Sharon was appointed Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, the very first ethnic minority to hold the position in our city. As Deputy Leader, Sharon also holds the Cabinet portfolio for skills, jobs and apprenticeships, strategic partnerships and Cost of Living. She shares major sporting events with the Leader and is the WMCA portfolio Holder for Levelling Up and Devolution.

In May 2024 she was reappointed Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills. The new portfolio enables her to continue her work on major sporting events, skills, jobs, apprenticeships, Cost of Living, Levelling Up and Devolution. In addition, she has political leadership responsibility for the international promotion of the City and inward investment, promotion of the City with partners such as West Midlands Growth Company.

On a more local footing the portfolio includes responsibility for development of BIDs, land use planning such as Local Development Plans and Neighbourhood Plans. Alongside oversight of  major physical regeneration and infrastructure projects in the city and engagement with key economic growth partners, partnerships, and investors.

In June 2024, Sharon was appointed Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority. She is the first woman to hold the post and whilst supporting the Mayor, she primarily focuses on the skills agenda.

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