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.

David has worked at the top level of media communications including politics, education and sport for a generation. As a BBC TV Correspondent/Presenter for more than 20 years, he uniquely reported on General Elections and FIFA Men’s World Cups at the top level.

As Executive Director of the Football Association, he worked closely with four national team managers and led the organisation over thirteen years. Since 2006 he has been employed at senior levels in industry, sport and education in the Middle East, North America, Africa, and the UK.

He is a passionate believer in sport as a power for good at all levels of society and has travelled to Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East to witness that power first-hand. He was one of the first members of the sport’s Anti Racism “Kick It Out” campaign and one of a small group of sports leaders who launched London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

He has been Regional Chairman of a major bank, advised law firms on media rights and has a longstanding role as a Senior Advisor with Portland Communications, supporting on developing the consultancy’s sports offerings, among other areas. He is a keen proponent of nurturing leaders across varied industries.

David's areas of expertise and interest include: Communication Skills, International Relationships, Sport as a Power for Good in Society, Teamwork and Motivation, Nurturing leadership.

Please submit your interest and questions for David by Monday 17 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.

Charlene Hunter MBE is the CEO and founder of Coding Black Females, an organisation dedicated to empowering and supporting Black women in the tech industry.

She holds a BSc in Mathematical Sciences and an MSc inComputer Science from the University of Birmingham, with over 15 years of experience as a software developer andtechnical architect.

Charlene founded Coding Black Females in 2017 to address the under-representation of Black women in tech. The organisation provides a community where Black women can find role models, receive mentorship, and access professional development opportunities. Under her leadership, the organisation has grown significantly, collaborating with major corporations, educational institutions, and government bodies.

Her efforts have garnered multiple awards, including the prestigious Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022. Charlene is a sought-after speaker and panellist at tech conferences and diversity initiatives worldwide,advocating for systemic change to create truly inclusive environments.Charlene's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech industry remains unwavering, as she continues to pave the way for future generations of Black women in tech.

Alethea's areas of expertise and interest include: the tech industry, black women in technology, diversity and inclusion, building communities, software development.

Please submit your interest and questions for Charlene by Wednesday 19 March.