Lunch with a Leader

Simon (Social Services Management, 2003) is Chief Executive Officer of the Security Institute, an organisation founded to promote the highest possible standards of integrity and professional competence in the security industry, offering professional membership, training and development to security professionals.

Simon has been in this role since the begining of 2024. Before this he was Chief Executive Officer of the UK Cyber Security Council (UKCSC), the self-regulatory body for the UK's cyber security profession.

Simon has more than 20 years’ experience of leadership in the charity, education, careers and quality management sectors Simon has more than 20 years’ experience of leadership in the charity, education, careers and quality management sectors, working for organisations including City Year UK, Scope and The Children’s Society. He is passionate about supporting people and organisations to reach their full potential and to make a positive contribution to society. He was honoured on The Powerlist 2023, which was established to showcase black role models to young people.

Simon's areas of expertise and interest include: skills development and training, diversity, inclusion and equity, security, cyber security, social mobility, business and strategy development.

Please submit your interest and questions for Simon by Wednesday 30 October.

Matthew Buskell is a recognised leader and innovator in the field of business-to-business (B2B) web commerce and artificial intelligence. With a degree in Software Engineering from Birmingham, Matthew has consistently pushed the boundaries of technology throughout his career.

In the late 1990s, he spearheaded innovation in B2B web commerce, establishing himself as a pioneer in the field. He further solidified his credentials in the early 2000s as a founding member of Rainbird.ai, which focuses on developing cognitive reasoning models, enabling computer systems to mimic human thought processes.

Matthew's expertise lies in go-to-market strategies, collaborating with enterprise-sized customers in North America and the UK to commercialise cutting-edge technologies. Currently, he is a key member of Google's Enterprise AI practice, where he leverages AI to optimise and streamline B2B processes.

Matthew's areas of expertise and interest include: market strategies, international working, commercialisation AI.

Please submit your interest and questions for Matthew by Wednesday 5 February.

Alethea is passionate about the West Midlands, lives in Coventry and studied for her Masters in Management and Leadership at Birmingham. She is the Deputy Chief Executive for the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, and the high-profile role means she is one of the most senior black women in policing governance in the country.

Alethea leads a team that works closely with communities and oversees major multi-million-pound projects designed to reduce offending and support victims of crime. She has responsibility for commissioning, safeguarding, consultation and engagement, policy development, regional working and collaboration and oversees an external budget of £18 million.

Her background and extensive experience lie in local government, police governance and accountability, strategic policy development and their legislative frameworks. Her current role includes assisting the PCC in holding the Chief Constable to account, fostering collaboration and partnership activity with statutory and voluntary bodies across the West Midlands, both regionally and nationally, and leading and managing an effective and efficient office. 

Her passion lies in community and voluntary sector involvement and co-production in the work that she does; work that impacts hugely on the communities that she serves, bringing ideas, people and inspiration to life. Away from criminal justice she is a Trustee of the Finham Multi-Academy Trust in Coventry, and for the Heart of England Community Foundation and until recently, was a Director for the Coventry Caribbean Association. 

Alethea's areas of expertise and interest include: strategic commissioning, consultation and engagement, restorative justice, victim services and public policy, diversity and inclusion, community and voluntary sector involvement.

Please submit your interest and questions for Alethea by Tuesday 4 March.