At The Sharp End: Innovation in Business

In this edition, Frank asks the members how their businesses are embracing innovation.

Featuring:

Frank Nigriello, Director of Corporate Affairs for Unipart, the international logistics, manufacturing, and consultancy group. Frank’s also a former journalist and broadcaster, and has a wealth of experience in working with business leaders on strategic issues. He has also served as the Prince of Wales’ Ambassador for Responsible Business in the South East, and is an industrial fellow at Oxford Brookes Business School.

Alistair Cory, Director – Oxford University Science & Innovation Campus UK. Currently Director of the 10 acre University of Oxford Science and Innovation Campus, and engaged in the development of a new 14.7 hectare Innovation District (LO:GIC Locate Oxford: Global Innovation Cluster) and launchpad to the Oxford Cambridge ARC region. Also focused on building the Oxford Innovation Ecosystem and OXGenesis, the OU Science Park Innovation Generator – a dual accelerator and incubation hub, with accelerated solution lab – AccSol Lab. An experienced development director who has led the successful delivery of a variety of property and business enterprise initiatives. Having held Management and Director Leadership roles, Alistair has the passion and commitment to pursue high quality results, working closely with research groups and industry, clients and development teams to achieve high value outcomes.

Graham Caleb, Board Member at Predli. Pragmatic Mentor, Executive and Non-Executive Board Member of Companies in Europe & USA operating across a wide range of industries including Hi Tec, Retail, Health, Government, Telecoms and Manufacturing. UC Berkeley Student Mentor & Contributor to the UC Berkeley Innovation Index, Volunteer Lecturer/Teacher at City of Oxford and Abingdon & Witney Colleges, Fellow of Cherwell College.

Jo Stevens, Managing Director, Oxford Innovation (OI). Formerly Marketing and Business Development Director, Jo joined Oxford Innovation in November 2000 and has seen the company grow from 30 employees to a team of nearly 130. During this period, OI has also merged with SQW to form a Group business focused on the encouragement of innovation, enterprise and place-making. At its core, OI are a company that provides valuable support to technology, science and knowledge-led SMEs and start-ups. Currently OI runs a network of over 20 Innovation Centres, supporting around 1,000 companies, and running investment networks and providing coaching support and incubators.

Mike Jennings, Chairman of the Jennings Group of companies, and leading on values based cultures which put people first. Mike wants every business to mean something more than merely a vehicle to make profit.

Piers Foster, Leading the team at XIST2 Digital Marketing Agency. Piers runs the business and makes sure projects are always delivered on time. Piers’ background is in running digital marketing projects and programs for a variety of enterprise clients – easyJet, BBC, Nestle, Domino’s Pizza, to name a few.

Stephen Clarke, Principal of Cherwell College, Stephen is a former British Diplomat and First Secretary for the UK Government responsible for education and social development in Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and Central Asia. He also acted as a policy analyst on Education Skills and Conflict Resolution for intergovernmental relations. Stephen also has extensive experience on advising businesses and NGOs on democracy, education, and human rights issues.

Tony Hobbs, Managing Director of Chapman, Robinson and Moore. As MD of CRM, Tony has an overview of all activities, but has a particular interest in business development. This has evolved through a combination of working closely with clients on the financial management of their business, and background studying and courses that he has undertaken, which has led to the development of CRM’s Business Improvement Programme, something which Tony derives a huge amount of satisfaction from. Tony enjoys seeing his clients succeed, knowing that CRM have made a positive contribution towards this success. Tony also enjoys working as a non-executive director for companies, providing strategic as well as financial input and support.

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