WACL NED Talk – Building Stronger boards by Improving Ethnic Diversity

We are kicking off the new WACL year with a fantastic virtual NED talk on the critical topic of ethnic diversity on boards.

Open to everyone , please sign up here to join to our session on Weds 4^th October from 12.20pm to 1.30pm. As ever our talks aim to be informative, honest and tangible (and also fun) so that we can help our community.

We know that boards are not as diverse or representative of the population and communities that we serve. While, we have made great strides in gender diversity in the past decade, we are lagging in other areas of diversity such as ethnicity, which will the focus of this session. (We appreciate there are other areas where there is also a lack of representation/ diversity).

At WACL, we believe passionately that all voices need to be heard for business to make the best decisions.

We have a wonderful panel who have passion for building diversity in business and on boards, they will aim to share practical ideas for how diverse groups can navigate their way to board positions. We will also discuss within the business context, how can we drive better and more informed conversation and outcomes around diversity. Our panel is made up of Anurhada Chung a marketeer now CEO of Pukka Herbs and NED at the FTSE100 F&C Investment Trust, Caroline Turner, Director at Sapphire Partners, who have an exceptional track record in securing board seats for diverse groups and our very own Elizabeth Anyaegbuna and chaired by Zoe Howorth.

Please contact [email protected] if you would like to join us

Speaker Biographies

Anuradha Chung

As the Chief Executive at Pukka Herbs, a certified B Corporation, I lead with a vision to use business as a force for good in society. I have over 25 years of experience in marketing and brand management, with a focus on social impact and sustainability. I have worked with global brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever, and Pepsi Lipton, delivering growth, innovation, and purpose-driven strategies across multiple markets and geographies.

I am passionate about creating value that is long-lasting and impact-driven, and I enjoy raising the bar and pioneering new ways of doing business. I actively engage and speak at events where I can use my experience to influence and inspire other businesses on their social and environmental journey. I also mentor women entrepreneurs and serve as a non-executive board member for various organizations. I believe that business can and should be a positive force for people and the planet.

Caroline Turner

During a career spanning over 30 years in organisational development and talent management, Caroline has worked with corporate, public and non-profit clients across a breadth of industries in the UK and across Europe. She has led a range of executive learning and development programmes focusing on inclusion, diversity and inter-cultural communication.

Joining Sapphire in 2015, Caroline’s executive and non-executive search work covers a variety of sectors – particularly financial services – across senior and board roles. Previously, she was a Senior Associate with Brook Graham Diversity Consultants (now part of Pinsent Masons) and led research projects at Cranfield School of Management, co-authoring key reports on corporate governance and diversity. She also led the Global Management MA Programme at the University of Buckinghamshire.

Elizabeth Anyaegbuna

Entreprenuer and co-founder of Sixteenbynine, an indie media planning and buying agency. Established media executive with over 18 years experience gained from commercial, operational and management roles in the TV and digital advertising industry across the UK and Africa. Accomplished negotiator and proven track record in providing high value commercial solutions and growing business across TV, Digital, Social & Branded Content within the broadcast industry with rare multi platform quality – TV, online, press and social. Extensive experience in setting up Ad Sales /Digital Depts and management of client relationships at brand and board level with new and established TV broadcasters. Committed to providing high quality, innovative solutions with proven results at blue chip organisations such as Viacom, Sky Media,Turner & A+E Networks

Zoe Howorth 

A classically trained marketer who began life at Procter and Gamble, Zoe progressed to United Biscuits were she built strong commercial awareness , Zoe then joined the Coca-Cola Company in 1998. Over a 15 year period Zoe progressed from Brand Manager to Marketing Director, across this time she led the marketing campaigns from idea to execution across all of the brands , led international campaigns and worked in developing and rolling out marketing capability programs (The Coca-Cola way of Marketing) . In her final role as Marketing Director she oversaw Coca- Cola’s marketing of the 2012 Olympic games and also served for 3 years on the GB Leadership team which stewarded the whole business through the breadth of strategic, legal, HR, customer and corporate affairs. Finally, Zoe was the lead interface with the companies Sales and distribution partners (Coca-Cola Enterprises) where her role was to deliver inspirational programs which could work ‘at the point of purchase’ in a collaborative way with the sales teams. More recently, Zoe has transitioned into portfolio non-executive roles and holds several board positions. Between 2017 – 2021 Zoe sat on the board of Playfinder, a tech business enabling the online booking of sports facilities across the UK and also chaired Houston PR which is an innovative PR consultancy with an excellent pedigree in both consumer and financial PR.

Today, Zoe sits on the board of Water Babies International, a global baby swimming business, AG Barr PLC, where she chairs the ESG committee and most her most recent appointment is to the board of International Schools Partnership (ISP). ISP is the worlds 5th biggest education group focusing on improving the access to high quality education . Zoe chairs the ESG and brand development committee.