Council and Committees
EILEEN SCHOFIELD - PRESIDENT
Eileen was admitted to the roll of Solicitors in England and Wales in 2000, she now runs her own award winning Law Firm, a niche commercial and employment law firm which she set up in 2009. Alongside the national employment law practice Eileen has set up a HR Division, Schofield HR providing outsourced HR advise to SME’s
Eileen was the first solicitor in the UK to set up a transatlantic video link for a client to give evidence from the US.
Eileen was appointed to the role of President of Birmingham Law Society in 2014/2015, during her tenure as President Eileen represented the Society nationally and internationally and raised the profile of the Society with City of Birmingham leaders, parliamentary decision makers and business leaders, both nationally and internationally.
Eileen was elected as the first female Chair of the Board in its 200 year history, she led the Society in marking its 200 year celebrations and obtained a coveted blue plaque on the Society’s premises.
Eileen sits on the International Committee and Employment Law Committee of the Birmingham law Society. Eileen was a founding member of the Legal Tech committee
Eileen is the President of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce which is the largest regional division of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce which supports business from a range of sectors, she is the former Vice President of the Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce, a division which facilitates business between the US and the UK. Solihull Chamber
Eileen is a founding member and Chair of The West Midlands Irish Business Group in association with the Irish Government. The Group collaborates with and supports businesses in and around the West Midlands region to facilitate networking and business opportunities.
Eileen is a Board Director for The Law Society of England and Wales and sits on the People & Remuneration Committee for the Law Society.
NEELAM AFZAL - ABCC VICE-PRESIDENT
Neelam is a Partner and Solicitor in Employment Law at Wildings Solicitors.
With just over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, she is renowned amongst her clients for her dedicated approach and passion for assisting and supporting employers and employees.
Neelam advises across a broad spectrum of both contentious and non-contentious matters having managed a varied Employment Tribunal caseload and undertaken advocacy. Neelam has also provided full employment services to corporate business clients, including one of the UK's largest independent healthcare services providers, leading to commercially astute and pragmatic advice. Neelam advises employer’s and her clients range from the Healthcare Services, Energy and Utilities, Financial Services and Manufacturing.
HANNAH MONTGOMERY - VICE-PRESIDENT
Hannah is an award-winning Chartered Marketer with a passion for social care. For almost two decades, she’s worked globally marketing with her work recognised in The Times and The Guardian. In 2016 she set up a marketing consultancy firm, Golddust Marketing, which she continues to run today. She has also launched Grace Cares, a not-for-profit that wants to stop care items needlessly going into landfill, make them available to people at around a third of the price, and use the profits to help care workers, older people and their families with hardship grants, support the community with social groups and activities and leave a better planet for future generations.
She currently supports the Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce as joint Vice President. Her focus is inclusivity and diversity in the workforce, supporting the future workforce and sustainability in business.
JULIE POPPLETON - LICHFIELD & TAMWORTH VICE-PRESIDENT
Our Vice President Julie Poppleton, is the Director of Careers for Chase Terrace Academy part of the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust. Julie has extensive experience of strategically leading careers at a Local, County and National level. Julie supports and mentors other Careers Leaders to develop their careers education information and guidance. Julie is Chair for a National Professional Careers Forum with over 250 registered careers professionals. Julie has nationally published articles, podcasts and has been a keynote speaker for a wide range of local and national organisations. Julie is intensely passionate about engagement and developing partnerships between education and business. Julie feels this is critical to enhance young people’s employability, inspire enterprise and entrepreneurship and opening up routes for all individuals to succeed in the labour market.
JOHN MOORE
I’m John and am the joint owner and Director of Fruition Accountancy, based in Lichfield & Stratford Upon Avon.
My mantra in life is to help people to be successful in their businesses and personal lives and am passionate about Lichfield.
I have many other roles including being a non-executive of a Caravan Park in Wales. Locally I am Finance lead of the amazing Grace Cares CIC and Mentor to Tayla Evans at Envirotent, as I am passionate about Sustainability and the community we live in.
I am also a Board Member and Finance Trustee for the incredible Free@Last Charity looking to improve young peoples lives in Inner City Birmingham and aim to beat poverty.
Within the Chamber, I am on the Business Sustainability sub group and also mentor as part of the Future Faces programme.
JULIAN FISHER
With 25 years’ experience in marketing, Julian Fisher is the MD of PR agency Townhouse Communications, based in Lichfield who provide publicity advice and services. Julian founded the firm in 2003 and locally clients include cutlery firm Arthur Price and nationwide, Townhouse is a long-standing supplier to The National Lottery. Townhouse are specialists
Outside of work Julian is a board member of local charity We Love Lichfield and he is on the management committee of the Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Association.
Married, Julian is a keen tennis player who tries to get on the court as much as possible, when not acting as a chauffeur to his two teenage sons.
MATTHEW CLAY
Matt oversees all fundraising and partnership activities, as well as audience and community development teams, at Lichfield Garrick Theatre. Lichfield Garrick is a busy mid-scale theatre in the heart of the city, presenting and producing a varied programme on stage, as well as a community engagement programme. Matt’s role involves working closely with local networks such as the GBBC, as well as relationships with sponsors and funders. He has been at the Garrick since 2016, and has over 15 years’ experience of working across theatres in the Midlands, including Derby Theatre and Curve Leicester. Matt is a Trustee of People Express, a community arts charity based in South Derbyshire.
NICOLE PLOWMAN
Nicole Plowman is the Marketing & Strategy Director at KEP Print Group, an award-winning, full-service commercial print company based in Tamworth. She is a leading member of the team in charge of developing corporate strategy, and she directs all marketing, PR, social media, and brand strategy for KEP. Nicole’s career started in her home state of Indiana, USA where she worked in marketing and PR in the motorsports industry at some of the largest races in the world. She also owned a personal brand development and interview coaching business for young women. An honours graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music with a degree in music education, her background as an educator and performer has shaped her approach to brand development. Outside of the office, Nicole sings with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus and enjoys spending time with her family at the race track.
SARAH FINDLAY-COBB
Sarah Findlay-Cobb is the CEO of Landau Forte Charitable Trust, a family of six academies across Derby and Tamworth. She has extensive experience with over 11 years of headship experience (in four different schools, including 2 all through schools), 18 months as a Deputy Regional Director for Reach2 and 18 months as the Director of Education for Reach South, line managing 13 schools (10 primaries, one special school, an All Through and a UTC) in Plymouth, Bournemouth and Wiltshire.
She is experienced in providing the vision and leadership required to ensure a high quality of education for all pupils. She has a proven track record of successfully raising standards, closing gaps, leading and coaching staff at all levels to improve educational services, thereby providing pupils, teachers and leaders with the very best environment to achieve their full potential in a truly collaborative partnership.
SHARON MCCORMICK
Sharon is a counsellor and the proprietor of a Midlands-based Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) ‘The Listening Centre', established in response to the need for local organisations to access first-class welfare support and stress management solutions for their staff. Together with her team of 30 counsellors, they provide talking therapy, workplace mediation, trauma support and tailor-made training. She is well respected and regarded within her profession and regularly invited to speak at trade conferences and contribute to articles.
Striving for best practice and an aptitude for teaching, Sharon launched a training centre ‘Adept Central’ in 2017. Her wealth of knowledge and expertise is now inspiring the next generation of counsellors.
Sharon is dedicated to actively challenging the medicalising narrative of distress and also volunteers for two charities: NSPCC and the Royal British Legion at our National Memorial Arburetum.
EILEEN SCHOFIELD - PRESIDENT
Eileen was admitted to the roll of Solicitors in England and Wales in 2000, she now runs her own award winning Law Firm, a niche commercial and employment law firm which she set up in 2009. Alongside the national employment law practice Eileen has set up a HR Division, Schofield HR providing outsourced HR advise to SME’s
Eileen was the first solicitor in the UK to set up a transatlantic video link for a client to give evidence from the US.
Eileen was appointed to the role of President of Birmingham Law Society in 2014/2015, during her tenure as President Eileen represented the Society nationally and internationally and raised the profile of the Society with City of Birmingham leaders, parliamentary decision makers and business leaders, both nationally and internationally.
Eileen was elected as the first female Chair of the Board in its 200 year history, she led the Society in marking its 200 year celebrations and obtained a coveted blue plaque on the Society’s premises.
Eileen sits on the International Committee and Employment Law Committee of the Birmingham law Society. Eileen was a founding member of the Legal Tech committee
Eileen is the President of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce which is the largest regional division of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce which supports business from a range of sectors, she is the former Vice President of the Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce, a division which facilitates business between the US and the UK. Solihull Chamber
Eileen is a founding member and Chair of The West Midlands Irish Business Group in association with the Irish Government. The Group collaborates with and supports businesses in and around the West Midlands region to facilitate networking and business opportunities.
Eileen is a Board Director for The Law Society of England and Wales and sits on the People & Remuneration Committee for the Law Society.
EMMA-LOUISE HEWITT - VICE-PRESIDENT
I am the Vice President of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce and a Partner and the Head of the Employment Law Department at Sydney Mitchell LLP. I deal with all aspects of the minefield that is employment law for both employers and employees providing guidance and support.
With my role in the Chamber, I support my Vice President’s and the President of the Chamber in their roles as well as the Chamber itself and its and its members. I am an active networker within the Borough of Solihull, not only on a business level, but also on a personal basis being part of a wider community of people and supporting local businesses, which really excites me. Relationships are really important to me and I thrive on that. If I can help I will.
I have been part of the Chamber for 13 years. For the last 3 years I have sat on the Solihull Chamber Executive Committee, helping to drive change, promote engagement, encouraging work inspiration amongst businesses for the next generation, as well as supporting both the Chamber and its members and I will keep on doing this!
SUSIE ANKRETT - VICE-PRESIDENT
After more than 21-years as Director and founder of Plum Personnel, a staffing and employment company based in Solihull town centre, in 2022 Susie Ankrett founded Plum Executive a specialist recruitment consultancy.
Susie now provides strategic recruitment advice and guidance to organisations that want to be the best at attracting and retaining talent using her expertise and knowledge.
Previously she was a Lecturer and Manager at the Solihull College and University Centre for nearly 2-decades where her passion and belief in lifelong learning was ignited.
She is a member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and a member of the Board of their Advisory Council.
More recently she has taken on the role of Chair of Solihull MBC’s Forum for Supported Internships working with key stakeholders across the Borough with the goal of creating routes that will support more young SEND individuals into paid employment.
Amongst her greatest achievements Susie is particularly proud of leading Plum Personnel to become the first recruitment company in the UK to achieve ‘Diversity Assured’ status. She is also very honoured to appear in Hansard after suggesting a Bill to her local MP which would extend the rights of parents for flexible working. This was presented and read in Parliament.
Susie truly believes that learning and jobs transform lives – and this inspires her to try to make a difference in the work she does.
A member of the Solihull Chamber since 2001, she is currently one of the Vice-President.
AMANDA HOLDEN
My name is Amanda Holden. I am a partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing at The Wilkes Partnership Solicitors. I have always worked in residential property throughout my career and I really enjoy the variety of the clients and the properties that I deal with. My aim is to make the trials and tribulations of buying and selling residential property as painless as possible for my clients as the process can sometimes be very stressful! We have 3 offices across 3 different sites – Birmingham city centre, Hodge Hill and Shirley. I work out of the Shirley office but my clients are based all over the country.
As a firm we have been involved with the Chamber of Commerce for many years and I have been a member of the Solihull Executive Committee for 3 years. I love being part of a team of different professionals who work across different sectors and have learnt a lot about the work of the Chamber regionally as well as locally. I regularly support the Chamber’s networking events and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
ANDY COLE MBE
Andy has been Director of Partnerships, Media and Property for the NEC Group since 2018, the UK’s leading live events business with over 750 large scale events per year across the UK’s largest exhibition venue, two arenas (soon to be three) and the Birmingham ICC. Before that Andy had a background of twenty years in hotel management and six years managing Touchwood Shopping Centre. Andy is close to the NEC Masterplan which is part of the UK Central Solihull Hub Area, one of the best connected development zones in Europe.
Andy lives in Solihull and was awarded an MBE in 2016 for services to retail and charity, prior to his move to the NEC where he remains heavily involved in local good causes and business groups and sits on the Board of Arden Multi-Academy Trust and chairs the Visit Solihull tourism steering group.
DAYNA WINTER
Born and raised in Solihull. Owner of two coffee shops and private meeting space in Solihull. Always looking for opportunity to grow my own business and talk business with others. Constantly wanting to give back into Solihull and raise awareness for other independents in the hospitality sector especially.
ERICA BURKE
I have been a Solihull resident for 17 and a small business owner for 20 years; the last four of which has been as the owner/Director of the HR Dept Solihull where we help local business owners with all of their HR and employment issues- recruitment to redundancy and everything in between.
Aside from my extensive and expert knowledge of human resources and my warm personality, one of my other strengths is the ability to help solve problems. On the Solihull Chamber Executive Committee, I am a critical friend offering independent and objective perspectives, I listen, I generate ideas and I respect other people’s perspectives.
I know the commitment it takes to make a difference as part of the Executive Committee and I give up my time, my expertise, and my money to do so. As a Chamber member I have always been active both visibly but also privately promoting the great work that it does for small business owners.
I live, work, network, socialise, and shop in Solihull. I have a vested interest in ensuring local businesses thrive and that Solihull grows new talent that is re-invested into the local economy.
IAN ROGERS
Ian Rogers is the founder of Solihull Summer Fest. Solihull’s very own music festival.
Solihull Summer Fest’s success won “Best Independent Business” at Solihull BID Excellence Awards 2022.
Ian is a continuous ambassador of Solihull. A passionate advocate, he exerts time, energy and enthusiasm into profiling the borough. He's a key stakeholder for The Solihull Tourism Steering Committee.
Projects aside of Solihull Summer Fest include:
The Forbidden Circus. Solihull’s first ever Immersive Horror Attraction. The event attracted 8199 visitors to the Borough.
Pairc Festival. Celebrating Irish music, heritage and culture. The event was a huge success in it’s launch year and is on course to become The UK’s Biggest Irish Music Festival.
Shirley Social. A community event in Shirley Park. The event draws the local community to green spaces, and raises awareness of local independent businesses.
During his first term on the Solihull Chamber Executive Committee, Ian and Jas Rohel created the Solihull Secret Supper Club. A multi venue dining experience, visiting restaurants with tantalising cuisine from around the world. The concept assists the hospitality industry whilst raising money for the Solihull Chamber chosen charity.
JAS ROHEL
CEO of Education Awards
Director of Partnerships and Radio presenter.
Jas Rohel is the Founder and CEO of the Education Awards, an annual event recognising the unsung heroes in education by celebrating both the people and establishments making incredible contributions to the sector.
Jas works with numerous event sponsors to develop and implement projects in education that directly contribute back into the outstanding work of teachers and educational organisations.
Jas also runs a local Solihull Radio station called “On Your Radio- Solihull”. She is radio presenter for “The Education Show” and “Talking Business” and “The Hospitality Show” on the radio. On air, she discusses a vast amount of business, hospitality and education topics where she interviews key leaders from across the industry.
KEVIN JOHNS
Kevin Johns is a director and shareholder of Prime Accountants Group, one of the largest independent firms of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers in the West Midlands.
Kevin takes an active interest in the development and growth of the business community within Solihull, and has been an active member of the executive committee for 12 years including 2 years as President and 4 as Vice President. Kevin is Chairman of Solihull BID and was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2019 for his services to Solihull.
For over 30 years, Kevin has worked with a wide variety of businesses, from owner managed to multi million pound turnover businesses. His diverse portfolio of clients has enabled him to develop an understanding of the various needs within the business community, which allows him to bring forward the views of many business leaders to ensure they are heard.
As a mature business owner, Kevin is dedicated to ensuring the local business community goes from strength to strength after the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the effects HS2 are having on our region and the currently cost of living crisis.
Away from the office Kevin is treasure at Silhillian Rugby Football club and supports his children follow their passion for ski racing.
KIM HULSE
Passionate about supporting local businesses, Kim is a co-founder of Visit Knowle, a company formed to bring together businesses to collaboratively work on projects for the benefit of the village. Kim focuses on developing and delivering the marketing strategy, working with local stakeholders to deliver “support local” campaigns, to raise the profile of Knowle and its businesses and as such is an advocate for supporting local businesses. Kim also delivers business support and works with the events team on projects such as Coronation Celebrations and Late Night Shopping.
With over twenty-five years of marketing experience Kim has spent the last 10 years as a marketing consultant to independent retailers and small businesses focusing on defining the customer offer and developing trading & marketing strategies. Working with small businesses on growth plans, Kim offers ideas, strategy and action plans for businesses.
Kim is an active member of the Chamber and is serving her second year on the committee. Kim leads the “Keep Business Moving” working group and frequently attends networking events. She is also a regular attendee of Solihull Tourism Forum and sits on the Visit Solihull Tourism Steering Group.
LOUISE DUNN
Louise Dunn is a seasoned Recruitment professional, having worked for nearly 20 years servicing candidates and clients in the Solihull, Birmingham and Warwickshire area within the business support sector. She has built up an extensive network of candidates and clients during this time, and is synonymous with delivering results and providing a quality professional service. She has a natural ability to engage, and listens enthusiastically to peoples needs, in order to make the right match.
Historically, she has successfully managed temporary desks managing up to 80 temporary workers, with her seamless and robust account management skills to ensure smooth delivery of day to day activities. Since co-founding The Recruitment Duo in October 2021 she has imparted valuable market knowledge, and guided 25 businesses to successfully recruit and retain talent for 91 permanent positions in a post pandemic market. She has honed a wealth of knowledge regarding businesses in the Solihull and surrounding area, and her expertise is regularly called upon by businesses particularly in the IT/Telecomms, Education, Property/Housing, Engineering, Fleet and Professional Services industry sectors. She predominately recruits for Administration, Customer Service, Sales/Marketing, HR, Finance/Payroll and management positions.
PAULINE CLARKE
I am the Senior Corporate & Communities Fundraiser for St Basils, the largest Youth Homeless Charity in the West Midlands with over 44 accommodation projects in the region and a dedicated youth hub in Solihull and Birmingham.
The charity have been members of the Chamber for over ten years and Pauline an executive committee member since 2021. A creative Business Development Manager, Pauline has extensive experience within the Leisure and Hospitality Industry, having worked in corporate sales for Merlin Group including Bear Grylls Adventure at the NEC and knows how vital it is to drive and develop connections within the region.
Previously to this, as the owner of a successful company, Pauline can empathise with the challenges faced by business owners in the current climate. Her role allows her to develop strong and purposeful relationships with a variety of employment and educational sectors, delivering workshops in schools, colleges and universities in the area. This not only provides a good barometer of the overall health in the community, but also gives ‘real time’ feedback to the committee on how their outcomes are delivering.
A Midlands girl, passionate about wanting to make a serious contribution to the development and growth of the community where we live and work and make a real difference’.
REBECCA GATER
Rebecca joined Solihull College & University Centre in 2016 as Assistant Principal, becoming Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality in 2019 and appointed as Principal and Chief Executive in 2022. Rebecca started working in the further education sector as an hourly paid lecturer in Business and Management and has over 20 years’ experience, with expertise in curriculum and quality.
She joined Ofsted as a part time inspector in 2015. Rebecca is a passionate ambassador for further education and was awarded a Doctorate in Education for her research on FE senior leadership. Rebecca was elected on to Solihull Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Committee in May 2023. Solihull College is a patron of the chamber as well as a headline sponsor of the Annual Awards.
STEVE WHITMARSH
Steve lives in Baddesley Clinton, is married, and has two daughters at Solihull School and Southampton University. Steve has been an active member of, and still supports, Knowle and Dorridge Round Table, enjoys motor sport and spends his spare time sailing at Olton Mere and offshore, in between taking his daughters to various hockey, netball and sailing fixtures.
After attending Arden School, Steve undertook an apprenticeship with Land Rover, where he later became their youngest ever production manager at the age of 22.
Steve then had a successful career in fleet sales and fleet management for Rover Group, Volvo Car UK and RAC before securing venture funding from local investor Forward Group to found Multifleet Vehicle Management Ltd in 2011. Multifleet trades as runyourfleet and is based in Henley In Arden.
After 12 years, runyourfleet now manages over 31,000 vehicles for 1,200 businesses across the UK, is set to turnover £21m in the current financial year and employs a team of 35. The business has seen exponential growth in the last 4 years, and keenly supports both the Solihull and wider Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, as well as local charities and community projects.
STUART WATSON
Stuart Watson is one of the Directors of Leap IT, an IT Support Company based in Solihull.
Stuart setup Leap IT in 2001 after a successful career in IT and now has over 40 staff providing IT Support and IT Installations to over 400 customers throughout the UK and Europe.
Stuart is a firm believer that “Brilliant IT starts with Brilliant Support, too many IT Support Companies concentrate on Sales and not the Helpdesk. Clients are loyal if you give them the right service, moving to a new IT Company is a big decision. Get the Helpdesk running correctly, efficiently and with skilled people and you will have Clients with you for years”.
Stuart is married with two daughters and is a keen festival goer with a converted VW Campervan the whole family stop in at festivals. In his spare time he also enjoys fishing and motorcycling (if the weather is ok!)
TONY ELVIN
Previous Solihull Chamber President and General Manager at the award winning Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull, Tony has a rich and varied hospitality and leisure background working in and operating health clubs, bars, restaurants, family entertainment centres and hotels. He also runs his own events business, The Wine Events Company, hosting tastings, pop ups, collaborations and dinners across the region.
Tony is an active ambassador for the region. Whilst sitting on the Solihull Chamber Exec Team, he is also Deputy Chair for Solihull BID, Deputy Chair for the Solihull Tourism Steering Group, Head Judge for the Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards, The Birmingham Awards and sits on various boards within the region
OMAR RASHID - ABCC PRESIDENT
Omar Rashid is not just your typical HR and recruitment specialist; he is a seasoned professional with a passion for transforming SME businesses and shaping careers. Born and bred in the vibrant city of Birmingham, Omar's journey to excellence has been nothing short of remarkable.
Armed with an MA in Human Resource Management from Coventry University, Omar laid the foundation for his impressive career.
Omar boasts over a decade of diverse experience in various sectors, fine-tuning his expertise in human resources and recruitment. He has worked tirelessly to understand the nuances of talent acquisition, employee relations and organisational development. His journey through different industries has equipped him with a unique perspective, enabling him to tailor HR services to the specific needs of each business.
Omar’s impact extends beyond the boardroom. He currently holds the esteemed position of President of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce, a testament to his dedication to fostering collaboration and growth within the Asian business community.
Omar is not just a leader in the business world; he's also a prominent voice on the airwaves. As the charismatic host of Unity FM's "The Business Hour," he brings insightful discussions and interviews with industry leaders to a captivated audience.
Omar knows that networking is the lifeblood of business. That's why he co-hosts the renowned "The Breakfast Club," a dynamic and vibrant business networking event that brings professionals together to forge connections and explore new opportunities.
Beyond the world of business, Omar is a Chelsea fan, an ardent cricket and darts follower.
Omar's Muslim faith is a cornerstone of his life. His commitment to his values and beliefs informs his approach to business and his interactions with others, fostering an atmosphere of respect and integrity.
NEELAM AFZAL - ABCC VICE-PRESIDENT
Neelam is a Partner and Solicitor in Employment Law at Wildings Solicitors.
With just over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, she is renowned amongst her clients for her dedicated approach and passion for assisting and supporting employers and employees.
Neelam advises across a broad spectrum of both contentious and non-contentious matters having managed a varied Employment Tribunal caseload and undertaken advocacy. Neelam has also provided full employment services to corporate business clients, including one of the UK's largest independent healthcare services providers, leading to commercially astute and pragmatic advice. Neelam advises employer’s and her clients range from the Healthcare Services, Energy and Utilities, Financial Services and Manufacturing.
SAPREENA KUMARI - ABCC VICE-PRESIDENT
Sapreena has worked in education for 18 years in further education colleges and most recently in higher education. All roles have focused on social mobility and supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter (or re-enter education)
- Sapreena won the 2019 Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Future Face of Public Sector and Education for her social mobility work
- Sapreena has worked at Staffordshire University since 2022 and is responsible for the university’s admissions, recruitment and partnership strategy
- Sapreena is Vice President of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce of Titan Education Trust’s executive committee, more information can be found here: Council & Committees | Birmingham Chambers of Commerce | GBCC (greaterbirminghamchambers.com)
- Sapreena is also a trustee of Birmingham Museums Trust: Trustees | Birmingham Museums
- Sapreena also sits on governing boards of a multi academy trust and a sixth form
- Sapreena was born in Birmingham and is a huge advocate of the region, its educational opportunities and the rich culture of the region
Sapreena can be best summed up by her passion and enthusiasm for social mobility. She believes in the transformative power of education and the impact it can have on young people’s lives. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is one of her favourite places in Birmingham.
AFTAB CHUGHTAI, MBE
Aftab Chughtai: A Visionary Business Professional and Dedicated Community Advocate
Aftab Chughtai is a business professional and a revered figure in his community, boasting an illustrious career spanning over three decades across both the private and public sectors. His wide-ranging expertise encompasses diverse industries, including retail, education, healthcare, and charitable organizations. Aftab's multifaceted skill set includes formidable consulting, marketing, and project management talents, all of which have contributed significantly to the growth and prosperity of local economies.
Throughout his remarkable journey, Aftab has spearheaded transformative initiatives on an organisational scale, orchestrating impactful change projects and programs across the United Kingdom and Europe. His ability to collaborate with myriad stakeholders and cultivate high-performing, diverse teams in dynamic and fast-paced environments has been instrumental in his success.
Aftab Chughtai's unwavering commitment to public service is truly commendable. For over two decades, he has been a driving force behind numerous community-driven endeavours in Birmingham and throughout the UK. In this time, he has assumed various leadership roles and emerged as a trusted source of wisdom in the realm of community relations. His invaluable insights have fostered cohesion between statutory partners and the communities they serve, with a resolute dedication to crafting integrated and inclusive societies.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements and unwavering dedication to both businesses and communities, Aftab was bestowed with the prestigious Membership to the Order of The British Empire (MBE). This honour underscores his enduring impact and indomitable spirit, making Aftab Chughtai an inspirational figure in the realms of business and community leadership.
AHMER NAWAZ
I'm Ahmer, representing Fraser Russell Ltd. We proudly operate as a Chartered firm of Accountants and Registered Auditors. Additionally, our expertise extends to the realm of insolvency, and we are well-equipped to provide financial solutions. We envision ourselves as a comprehensive destination for all your financial and compliance needs.
We also assist clients who have a tax investigation by HMRC and we offer tax strategies as qualified Tax Consultants. This includes setting up Group Structures with Holding Companies supported by Subsidiary Companies to maximise tax efficiency.
Our Forensics Team deal with all matters from matrimonial to identifying discrepancies in stock levels and beyond.
My role specifically as Head of Business is to bring new clients on board and to ensure quality service is being provided to existing clientele, as well as managing our team of staff to ensure productivity and accuracy levels are being met.
AULFAT BI
Aulfat is the Head of the Capital Allowances and Land Remediation Relief team at Innovation 4 Business, which is a specialist property tax consultancy. She started off her career as a graduate at Deloitte and has been advising clients on these niche areas of tax for over 20 years. Aulfat oversees all aspects of client service from identifying opportunities, completion of reports and tax advisory work. She is both CTA and ATT qualified, and delivers regular training sessions for other tax professionals, such as accountants and solicitors. Outside of work Aulfat loves to travel to new countries.
GURDAS SINGH
Gurdas is a multi award-winning marketer known for his dynamic and self-driven approach, with over seven years of experience in the Advertising and Marketing field. He takes pride in his unconventional journey to becoming a recognised marketer, having also established his own ventures. Although he began his marketing journey as a self-taught individual, Gurdas is now on the path to becoming a Chartered Marketer.
Throughout his career, Gurdas has collaborated with renowned global brands, spearheaded successful campaigns, and made significant contributions to diverse industries, including marketing and events.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Gurdas is actively involved in volunteer roles, such as serving as an Executive Committee Member of the ABCC and co-founding and co-hosting the locally acclaimed networking event, The Breakfast Club, which is open to all and serves the community.
Presently, Gurdas leads the newly established marketing support service known as WANAMA. This venture is dedicated to assisting both SMEs and large enterprises in optimising their resources for campaign-based marketing projects, with a particular focus on email marketing and outreach.
HARMESH SINGH POONI
I have been involved in finance, property, and financial services for over 35 years primarily in the City of Birmingham having spent some years in Central London within a Bank and high-end property agency. Qualified as an Independent Financial Advisor with J Rothschilds and have operated my own estate agency and national mortgage packaging operation from the Midlands. Was a member of the IAB (Institute of Asian Businesses) back in the day and honoured to be an Executive Member of the ABCC Board. Keen follower of local sport and a volunteer to grass roots football as an occasional referee.
Live and work in our great City with my wife and grown up set of twins and two cats.
MONICA GHAI
Monica is a Solicitor at Shakespeare Martineau LLP and specialises in family law.
Monica can assist with all aspects of divorce and financial remedy proceedings following breakdown of marriage, civil partnership or relationship. She also advises in disputes involving children and domestic abuse. In particular, Monica is often involved in cases where there are complex issues including those with international and cultural elements.
In addition, Monica sits on the Family Law Committee of the Birmingham Law Society and is a Trustee for Anawim Women’s Centre based in Birmingham.
SARTAJ GILL
Sartaj Gill graduated from Brunel University London with a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Accountancy in July 1985. He joined what was then known as Inland Revenue and completed his professional tax qualifications (FTII) in 1991, working as a fully trained HM Inspector of Taxes.
Sartaj spent nearly 20 years in an operational role with Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) which is a specially trained unit within HMRC, set up to tackle the most serious and complex cases involving tax fraud and avoidance. He was an Assistant Director in Offshore, Corporate and Wealthy Compliance involved in senior management, fraud policy and operational procedures, Corporate Criminal Offence (CCO) and an accredited trainer for fraud investigators.
Sartaj Gill left HMRC on 31 December 2020 to set up Housman Consulting, a company offering tax investigation and accountancy services.
TARNBIR ATHWAL
My passion for community and my belief in the power of collaboration drive me in my role as a Executive Board member of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce. Drawing from my background as a former senior ICT project manager in the NHS and higher education, I am now the Founder of desicity.com, the only online UK e-commerce platform that exclusively focuses on South Asian businesses and brands.
I'm proud to say that desicity.com has received recognition with two Startup Business of the Year awards. It has come a long way, evolving from its early stages as a minimum viable product platform to a thriving marketplace with over 260 sellers and 25,000 products. What makes our platform unique is not only its dedication to South Asian businesses and brands, making desi products more easily accessible, but also our commitment to offering a risk-free gateway to online selling. We operate on a commission-only model with no additional fees.
My involvement with desicity.com showcases my dedication to supporting South Asian businesses. We've created a platform specifically tailored to our community, helping some transition from traditional brick-and-mortar operations to thriving in the digital age. Additionally, our platform actively collaborates with South Asian charities and initiatives, contributing to the betterment of the community we serve.
As a proud ABCC Executive Board member, I am passionate about promoting the ABCC externally, fostering internal opportunities for existing members, and serving as a welcoming point of contact for newcomers. My mission is to maintain and grow the ABCC membership while creating a sense of strength and confidence among our diverse members. The ABCC has been instrumental in supporting the growth of desicity.com through its leadership and members, providing valuable knowledge, experience, networks, and exposure.
SARAH FINDLAY-COBB
Sarah Findlay-Cobb is the CEO of Landau Forte Charitable Trust, a family of six academies across Derby and Tamworth. She has extensive experience with over 11 years of headship experience (in four different schools, including 2 all through schools), 18 months as a Deputy Regional Director for Reach2 and 18 months as the Director of Education for Reach South, line managing 13 schools (10 primaries, one special school, an All Through and a UTC) in Plymouth, Bournemouth and Wiltshire.
She is experienced in providing the vision and leadership required to ensure a high quality of education for all pupils. She has a proven track record of successfully raising standards, closing gaps, leading and coaching staff at all levels to improve educational services, thereby providing pupils, teachers and leaders with the very best environment to achieve their full potential in a truly collaborative partnership.
