Global Brunch - The Power and Potential of Partnerships

Fiona Latter

Programme Lead - Creative, Culture and Heritage, West Midlands Combined Authority

Fiona Latter is an ILM Qualified Business Coach and Mentor who has been working with freelancers and businesses within the creative sector for over 15 years. She first worked within the creative economy in East London, helping to transform sector businesses there through a series of London 2012 Olympic Legacy Programmes including Fit for Legacy and Supplier Readiness Programmes. The concentration of design, fashion and digital businesses resulted in this area becoming a major hub for creative businesses within the wider economy and Fiona was then asked to deliver the first ever £1.3 million DCMS funded Scale Up Programme for creative businesses here in the West Midlands, with the region also being identified as a key regional creative hub.

To date, Fiona has supported over 250 creative businesses and freelance practitioners in the West Midlands region resulting in contract wins of over £3million for the West Midlands creative economy. She regularly advises and supports creative businesses in the region, and has also represented the creative sector both nationally and internationally by establishing Trade Missions to Malta, Brussels and Germany. These Trade Missions have resulted in contract wins for West Midlands based businesses in each of these countries as well as established relationships now between our respective regions.

Professor Gino Martini

CEO, PHTA Ltd

Gino joined PHTA Ltd from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) where he held the role of Chief Scientist for more than three years. With extensive experience in oncology, rare and infectious diseases, and drug development, Gino also brings expertise in policy development and external advocacy to his appointment in Birmingham. An experienced academic, Gino has also held senior development and advisory positions within industry, including GSK, Roche and SmithKline Beecham.

John Richards

Director of Knowledge Exchange , Aston University

Knowledge Exchange professional with over 25 years experience of overseeing collaborative research, technology transfer and business development activities.

These activities are core to Aston University's mission and our 2030 strategy. Our pioneering and sector-leading work has been recognised by successive iterations of the national Knowledge Exchange Framework and through high profile honours including the ‘University of the Year’ accolade from the Guardian and the ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ award from the Times.