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Dave MacleanPackt PublishingDave is founder and CEO of Packt Publishing. Producing over 700 new video, course and book titles annually, Packt’s mission is to help software developers globally keep their tech skills up to date. Packt has a global team of 600 split between Birmingham and Mumbai. |
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Marc ReevesReach PLCMarc Reeves is West Midlands editor-in-chief for Reach plc, and editor of the Birmingham Mail and its website, BirminghamLive. In a 30-year career in regional media, he has held senior positions across the country, but in 2006 returned to his home town as editor of the Birmingham Post. Since then, he has led the company’s transformation into a digital-first business, and BirminghamLive, with 38 million monthly page views, is now one of the largest regional news sites in the UK. |
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Richard HillNatwestRichard Hill is Head of Automotive and Manufacturing at NatWest, primarily responsible for the strategic development and driving growth for these sectors. He is a prominent figurehead in industry, representing the RBS Group and the banking sector on key bodies such as the UK Automotive Council, WMG HVM Catapult and The ScaleUp Institute. He also provides thought leadership across a number of channels including academia, trade and Government. Richard is passionate about the critical need for a globally competitive manufacturing base. Graduating in Business Studies, his career has revolved around the Auto and Manufacturing sectors. He joined the RBS Group in 2005 as Head of Sales at Lombard Vehicle Management; and subsequently led the Automotive Sector in 2010 and the Manufacturing Sector from 2015. Prior to this, he headed up Group Sales for Manheim Europe, the world’s largest provider of vehicle remarketing solutions. He has also held various senior sales and marketing positions with BMW Financial Services Group and Rover Group. |
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Roy MeredithWest Midlands Growth CompanyRoy Meredith works in a senior role for the West Midlands Growth Company leading the tech, digital media and creative sectors for the organisation, providing support for companies looking to set-up or establish their businesses in the region, advising on business planning, property, funding, recruitment, training, marketing, and all other aspects of their commercial operations. |
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Sarah WindrumEmerald GroupSarah is the Co-Founder of the Emerald Group, an IT consultancy based in Warwickshire. The Group works with businesses and organisations wanting to harness technology to achieve their desired goals. She is a Board Director of the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership leading on economic growth of the digital creative sector and a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority Digital Board supporting digital transformation across the region and securing investment in new infrastructure including fibre and 5G. |
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Tim KayKPMGTim is a Director at KPMG in the Midlands where he heads up the regional Technology and Media sector team. He has spent 18 years with the firm in London, Birmingham and further afield. In his 16 years based in London he advised Fortune 10 software companies, Oil and Gas Majors and telecoms providers on issues as diverse as datacentre compliance and supplier management. In 2011 he set up the High Growth Technology Group based in Shoreditch with the aim of making KPMG relevant to the burgeoning start-up and high growth tech sector in the UK. After a detour into innovation for KPMG he has come to the Midlands to support the rapidly expanding local tech scene. |