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Mikey is the CEO of the Soho Tavern Group, an award winning chain of Indian Gastropubs, he is leading the charge on national expansion and driving their vision to become an international brand. With a deep passion for the food industry, Mikey is committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our customers and shaping the future of dining. In addition, Mikey serves as the acting director for Khatkar Property Group & Soho Investment Holding Group, overseeing diverse projects in both housing and commercial developments. Mikey’s diverse roles allow him to blend creativity, strategic thinking, and business acumen to create innovative solutions and drive success in multiple sectors.
Director General of British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) since April 2021, Shevaun was formerly Head of Business Engagement at Number 10 Downing Street and was at the heart of Government in the Cabinet Office as Head of the Inclusive Economy Partnership.
Shevaun started her career in consultancy in London and New York. She then moved to the Walt Disney Company in strategic planning before joining Disneyland Paris, opening its second theme park. Shevaun then joined the agency world, running global accounts for Millward Brown, Mindshare and WPP.
Following this, she started her own business as a partner in a digital innovation agency and venture builder, Independents United, where she also became an Advisor for the Danson Foundation. Most recently, Shevaun was the New Ventures Director for Avado, building new businesses in Edtech and founding the Academy of Digital Business Leaders.
Shevaun has a passion for business as a force for good and in 2025 was awarded a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for her services to business. She was elected to the International Chambers of Commerce’s (ICC) World Chambers Federation Executive Council and General Council as Vice Chair for Europe and is a Board member of ICC UK. She is a Trustee of the Women of the World Foundation (WoW) and a Trustee of Barefoot College International, as well as a Venture Partner at the Conduit Connect.
Laura Baxter MBE is a values-led CEO and internationally experienced sports leader who believes sport can change not only lives, but society’s perceptions of people and their potential.
As Chief Executive of Special Olympics Great Britain, Laura leads the organisation’s ambition to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities are seen, valued and taken seriously. With more than 20 years’ experience across sport, charity, local government and sports trust sectors in Great Britain, New Zealand and the USA, she has built a career around inclusion, diversity and belonging — from grassroots to international level.
Laura is a dynamic and authentic leader, experienced in influencing governments, regulators, sporting bodies, commercial partners and communities to turn ambition into impact. Her leadership has helped shape significant organisational transformation at Special Olympics GB, while keeping people and their voices at the heart of decision-making.
Her Special Olympics journey began as a volunteer coach in 2007 and has spanned grassroots coaching, major event leadership and international representation, including Head of Delegation for Team Special Olympics GB at the 2019 World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi.
Laura was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to Special Olympics and recognised as a Leaders Under 40 by Leaders in Sport in 2023.
At the heart of Laura’s leadership is a simple belief: sport changes more than the scoreboard. It can change confidence, challenge perceptions, create belonging and ultimately change society.
Daniel Mills joined the Special Olympics Great Britain movement more than 15 years ago and has represented his Special Olympics Stafford club in athletics competitions across the country.
He credits sport with helping him build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging, and is passionate about showing what people with intellectual disabilities can achieve when given the opportunity to participate.
Daniel recently won gold, silver and bronze medals in the athletics competition at the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games in Birmingham. He was also part of Special Olympics GB’s first-ever team of athletes to run the TCS London Marathon earlier this year.
Uko Umotong is a healthcare transformation leader and Co-Founder of UB Healthcare, a fast-growing specialist consultancy supporting health and care systems across the UK. He works in partnership with NHS organisations and Integrated Care Boards to transform complex community care, intermediate care, discharge pathways, and funded care services, delivering improved outcomes, stronger governance, and measurable financial efficiencies.
Prior to founding UB Healthcare, Uko played a key leadership role in the rapid growth and successful acquisition of a leading healthcare provider, overseeing large-scale NHS-facing operations and transformation programmes. With over 15 years of leadership experience across healthcare, financial services, and retail, including senior roles with Bank of Ireland and the Post Office, he brings a strong track record of building sustainable, high-performing services that improve patient experience and system performance.
Beyond healthcare, Uko is Vice Chair of the Black Business Collective and serves on the Executive Committee of Solihull Chamber of Commerce. He is passionate about supporting entrepreneurship, economic growth, and creating opportunities for businesses and communities to thrive, with a particular focus on enabling underrepresented and diverse business leaders to succeed.
Bill is part of the Innovate UK Business Growth team, based at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Innovate UK Business Growth is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the pioneering businesses that drive economic growth. It supports high-potential businesses on their growth journeys through actionable advice, access to vital resources and opportunities to enhance their abilities.
With a long career in the automotive industry, Bill brings extensive experience of manufacturing value chains from component supply to customer relationships and is well-versed in the process of new product development, launch and lifecycle management. He is a frequent contributor to innovation conferences and panel discussions across the region.
During his three-year tenure with Innovate UK Business Growth at the Chamber, Bill has assisted companies in developing clear value propositions and understanding their target customers, accelerating their product development, securing external funding and investment and accessing new overseas markets.
Outside of his work with Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Innovate UK Business Growth, Bill is a Teaching Fellow on the University of Birmingham’s online MBA programme and a member of the advisory board for Aston University’s Centre for Enterprise, Coaching and Innovation. He holds an MBA and a Chartered Institute of Marketing Postgraduate Diploma.
Email: bill.welch@iukbg.ukri.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billwelchuk/
Fran Nolan is a highly successful marketer, mother, and Managing Director of award-winning creative agency, Tribera. With an impressive roster of experience spanning from Head of Product and Proposition at Legal and General, to her prior role of Managing Director of Superdream - Fran is highly regarded in the world of marketing and agencies. With a fervent passion for women in business, Fran is a flagbearer for the work/life balance movement, and advocates for aspiring women who want to excel both in work and at home. In 2024, Fran founded BRUMWIM (Birmingham Women In Marketing), a community initiative built to bridge the confidence gap for women and Birmingham’s creative industries.
Jason Sahota is a Chair, board leader and scale-up entrepreneur with over 25 years’ experience helping businesses grow in a controlled, investable and sustainable way. He works closely with boards and executive teams across professional services, technology and regulated sectors, focusing on governance, cash discipline, operating model design and leadership capability. Jason has held senior leadership roles in global organisations including KPMG, and has built and served as CEO of a global Insurtech business, leading organisations through periods of growth, transformation and operational reset.
Jason currently chairs growth businesses including Under The Hammer, Right Legal Group, and Seergrills where he supports management teams in scaling their platforms while strengthening financial control and execution. He is also Chair of TechWM, where he works with industry, academia and the public sector to grow the West Midlands technology ecosystem and support the next generation of scale-ups. Jason is known for his pragmatic, commercially focused approach, bringing together the perspectives of founders, boards, investors and lenders to drive long-term value creation.
Sara is a visionary and creative leader of heritage and cultural visitor attractions and large-scale capital projects. She is a member of both the WMCA Tourism and Hospitality Advisory Board and the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Council and a regular guest lecturer on the Museum and Heritage Futures, MA at Nottingham Trent University.
With over 37 years of ethical and sustainable leadership, she has been successful in establishing and managing effective, multi-disciplinary and diverse, happy teams of staff and volunteers. She is passionate about diversity, inclusion and sustainability and has achieved success by working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. Sara demonstrates that a high quality, sustainable and accessible visitor offer leads to the long-term support of local assets and successful place making.
