Women in Business, Trading Across the Commonwealth Conference

Event Information

The Department of International Trade is delighted to announce it will be hosting its inaugural 'Women in Business – Trading Across the Commonwealth Conference' on 8th March as part of the Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme. 

Taking place at Austin Court in central Birmingham, you have the option of joining us in-person or virtually. This free event is not one to miss, aiming to champion, celebrate, connect, and empower Women in the Commonwealth.

Whether you join in-person or virtually you can expect an inspiring day of keynote addresses from successful female entrepreneurs and government officials. 

You will also have the chance to join a variety of business-led topical panel discussions. These discussions will give you an insight into the challenges and opportunities of international trade, providing you with the tools and support to increase your exports. 

Save the date and secure your ticket today, the full event agenda and headline speaker will be announced in the coming weeks and we can't wait to share it with you!

Agenda:

Keynote Speaker: Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE 

Ruby was former chief executive of Mitre group and was the first Asian woman to be appointed to the role in a FTSE 250 Company. During her time at the organisation, she increased the company turnover by £1.5bn. In 2007 she received a CBE for her services to business and promoting diversity.

Ruby has also been chair of the Women’s Business Council, had a position in the House of Lords since 2015 and is currently chair of The Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Keynote Speaker: Sally Gunnell OBE DL

Sally is a former track and field athlete who won the 1992 Olympic Gold Medal in the 400 metres hurdles, 5 Commonwealth Golds and a number of other Championships. She remains the only woman to have won the European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic 400-metre hurdles titles. 

Following her retirement from international athletics, Sally began working as a television presenter and is a champion for fitness, health, self-fulfilment and well-being. Sally runs a number of corporate well-being programmes and supports initiative for healthy and active families.

Chika Russell - Founder of Chika's: Our Journey to International Growth 

Nigerian-born entrepreneur Chika Russell is founder of the African-inspired ‘Boldly-flavoured’ snacks, Chika’s. Chika, who in 2015 received offers from all five dragons in the BBC show Dragons' Den – accepting one from Peter Jones only to later turn him down, has recently secured a multi-million-pound investment.
 
Chika joins us to share her inspiring story of courage and vision and its importance in her company’s journey to international growth.

Christine Hamilton: Latest Update on the Export Support Service 

The Department for International Trade’s Export Support Service (ESS) is the first point of contact if you have questions about exporting. No matter the size of your business, how much you export or where in the UK you are based, you can use the service to get answers to practical questions.

The ESS team will be joining us to give an overview of their services and signpost you in the right direction for any exporting queries you may have.

Clare James MBE – MD East Midlands Airport

Clare was appointed Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, the second-busiest UK airport for freight traffic, after London Heathrow.

Prior to her appointment, she was Operational Excellence Director at Manchester Airports Group and has worked in senior roles managing UK airspace. Clare was awarded an MBE in 2007 for services to the Royal Air Force after a distinguished career serving her country. 

Theo Clarke MP

Theo was elected MP for Stafford in 2019. Clarke has several Committee Roles including International Development, Women and Equality and the Independent Commission for Aid Impact.

In 2020 Theo was appointed the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Kenya. She helped implement the UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement which grants duty-free access to the UK market for Kenyan businesses

Deborah Leary OBE – CEO Forensic Pathways

Deborah is CEO and Founder of Forensic Pathways an international consultancy and technology design company specialising in the development of innovative technologies for the criminal, threat intelligence and business intelligence arena.  

She is also President of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, holds an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Birmingham and has been awarded international Women Entrepreneur of the Year, European Women of Achievement and British Female Investor of Year, amongst others. She is also a Department for International Trade Export Champion.

DR Laura Cohen MBE

Dr Cohen was appointed Chief Executive of the British Ceramics Confederation (BCC) in 2009. The BCC are the trade body representing the collective interest of manufacturing ceramics in the UK.

After a metallurgy and materials science degree and PhD at Cambridge, she worked for 20 years in many technical and regulatory roles before joined the BCC. Laura is a visiting professor at The University of Manchester and Henry Royce Institute.