Ian is non-voting Chairman of the Voting Panel. 

He is a Director of Ford Sinclair Ltd., Chairman of Design Portfolio Marketing Services Ltd. and a member of the Investor Relations Society.

Throughout his career, Ian has been involved in the quoted growth companies sector. His early career was as a stockbroker, analyst, broadcaster and financial journalist in this area and, since founding Design Portfolio in 1991, he has been active in helping many companies with their investor communication and corporate reporting requirements.

We are delighted to welcome Kerry to the Voting Panel once again and further details will be available in due course.

Heba is the CEO and founder of UtterBerry Ltd. UtterBerry is a patented intelligent wireless sensor system which works on extremely low power. Fitting in the palm of the hand, UtterBerry’s miniature sensors monitor multiple variables including x-y-z displacement, employing on board artificial intelligence and wirelessly relay processed data in real time. Despite their size, they work to sub-millimetre precision, measuring multiple variables; collecting and interpreting data at the source and transmitting information in real time. UtterBerry was named as one of London's Best Hardware Companies to Work For and Buy From 2021 by BestStartupUK.

Heba is a businesswoman and electronics and computer engineer with a track record of technical innovation in the areas of wireless sensor and sensor network design. She is passionate about technology design and expanding STEM education and hi-tech manufacturing in Britain. Heba’s technical expertise includes artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, blockchain, optics, semiconductors, compound semiconductors and communication systems. She has in-depth knowledge and experience in embedded software markets, networking, wireless sensors and cyber security. She cultivates strong customer and partner relationships, enabling parties to maximise their contributions in their respective areas of knowledge.

Heba has been awarded an OBE for her contributions to technology, innovation, and STEM education 2018. In 2021 Heba received the Women of the Year Woman of the Year award for Innovation. Heba is committed to sustainability and the application of engineering to create new sustainable technologies in the electronics industry. Heba participated in COP26 and supports the government in international engagements related to sustainability.

In 2021, Heba established UtterBerry’s new Innovation and Manufacturing Hub in Leeds, taking the opportunity to research and invest in new, clean, green energy sources to power this new venture. The Hub is creating approximately 800 new jobs and apprenticeships in Leeds over the next five years, creating economic growth and adding new advanced manufacturing capabilities in the UK.

Anton is a Managing Director and European Co-Head of Technology. 

He has been with Rothschild & Co since 2004 and has extensive experience across all types of transactions including: acquisitions, disposals, public and private M&A, IPOs, and debt advisory mandates. Anton has a broad technology remit with a particular focus on software companies. 

Rothschild & Co is one the leading global financial advisers, providing independent, expert advice on many high profile transactions. 

Anton earned a BBusSci (Hons) in Finance, Economics and Accounting from the University of Cape Town in 1999 and is a Chartered Accountant.

Chris Bray is a partner in the Heidrick & Struggles’ London office. He is the Managing Partner for the Global Technology and Service Practice in EMEA

Chris partners with clients to develop efficient hiring processes and define position requirements, screens potential candidates, and assists with the execution of each search. His functional expertise is in Go-To-Market positions, particularly for US-headquartered enterprise technology companies.

Chris has executed a number of President level searches for companies such as Adobe, Amazon Web Services, AVEVA, Intuit, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, Sage, Salesforce.com, ServiceNow, Splunk, VMware and Workday.

Chris has also recruited CEO and members of the Board of Directors for portfolio company executives for private equity and venture capital firms such as Summit Partners, Bridgepoint Advisors, Hg Capital, Providence Equity Partners, Silver Lake Partners, Corsair Capital, among others.

An accomplished search professional, Chris joined Heidrick & Struggles in 2010 from another major executive search firm where he was a consultant in its software practice. Previously, he began his career in search working for a UK-listed executive search firm.

Chris holds a bachelor of arts (honors) degree from The University of Reading. 

Harry is a financial PR and media strategist. For almost 30 years, he has designed and implemented successful communications campaigns to raise the profile of public and private companies in a variety of sectors, with a particular strength in technology-led businesses. Harry has been the key PR adviser in over 30 IPOs on the London Stock Exchange (Main Market and AIM), NASDAQ and other global bourses, as well as in other transactions and corporate events such as M&A, MBOs, crisis communications, boardroom disputes and shareholder activism.

Harry’s strength in PR strategy is built on his previous experience as a management consultant advising foreign governments on their economic reform programmes. 

Carolyn is Chief Executive of Founders Forum Group, overseeing all FF events and businesses, and steering the strategic development of our global network. Currently, under the FF Group umbrella, Carolyn is also leading the relaunch of Tech Nation – the UK's leading growth platform for scaling tech companies, and co-founding the Miroma Founders Network. Previously, Carolyn was President at Informa Tech, a FTSE 100 UK, where she presided over the joint venture between Founders Forum and Informa Tech.

Carolyn was also appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her services to London Tech Week, which she’s led for the past eight years. In this time, she built its global profile, advanced its mission to showcase the best of UK tech, and spearheaded Informa’s global expansion of Tech Festivals to Africa and Asia.

Carolyn also serves on the board of 01 Founders, a free-to-access coding school; Founders Makers, a creative partner to Europe’s leading challengers, scaleups and major brands; Grip, an AI-powered networking solution, and RM plc, a company providing information technology products and services to educational organisations. Carolyn is passionate about growing a dynamic and inclusive tech community to realise the positive impact of technology on our world and to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Kath is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Boardwave. Since its 2022 launch, Boardwave has emerged as a mission-driven hub for the UK and European software industry, attracting over 1,500 members. With a commitment to non-profit growth and offering free membership to CEOs and founders, Boardwave provides vital resources and support to drive the region towards global leadership by 2034. Backed by more than 80 top investors and alliance partners, Boardwave champions the collective advancement of the software sector.

Prior to Boardwave, Kath led global marketing for a leading AI-marketing business which successfully exited in 2022. She has a communications background and has run some of the UK & Europe’s most successful marketing and communications firms focused on the technology sector. 

Nezahat has over 20 years of experience as a strategic advisor, investor, business owner and ecosystem builder in Silicon Valley and Europe.

She has served as Head of Advisory practice of UniCredit from its foundation. Previously she was Managing Director and Head of Technology Investment Banking for EMEA at Nomura.

Prior to Nomura, Nezahat served as Director at Temasek, spearheading direct TMT investments in Europe, and served on the boards of Secret Escapes and BluJay. Previously, she provided independent strategic advisory services including as a Senior Advisor to Atlantic Bridge Capital in early and growth stage investments, and as a founding member of the Future Fifty Programme of Tech Nation, a Downing Street supported initiative to foster UK tech ecosystem, as well as initiating Tech Nation’s fintech efforts.

Nezahat had previous technology investment banking experience with Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers where she advised on a number of M&A and capital raisings across software, internet, payments and deep tech verticals. She currently serves as independent NED on the board of Logo Yazilim, largest software company in Turkey, Advisory Board of Emotion Network in Italy, and the voting panel of UK Tech Awards.

Nezahat has an MS in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Middle East Technical University, Turkey, as top of the graduating class.

Georgie heads up marketing and operations at Augmentum, the UK’s only publicly listed fintech fund, which involves raising the VC’s profile with investors and the wider fintech ecosystem and supporting portfolio companies.

Georgie has worked in a number of startups across people, strategy and growth leadership positions. Following her MBA and a consultancy project with Crowdcube, Georgie moved into venture capital.

Passionate about diversity and inclusion, particularly in VC and entrepreneurship, Georgie co-leads the UK Women in VC community and is a qualified coach, working with women in tech and entrepreneurship. 

Fatima is a Technology fund manager at Polar Capital. She focuses primarily on US and European technology companies across different subsectors, with a thematic framework and growth bias. She holds an MSc in Chemistry from Imperial College London, and is a CFA charterholder.

Elona is the Chief Executive Officer of IRIS Software Group and all of its subsidiaries. Elona is dedicated to ensuring IRIS is the most trusted provider of mission-critical software and services. She is very passionate about building winning teams that put customers at the heart of everything IRIS does, providing them with an exceptional experience and value-add solutions. IRIS was crowned Tech Company of the Year at the UK Tech Awards 2022.

Elona joined IRIS in 2016 as Chief Financial Officer and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2018, and then Chief Executive Officer in 2019. Before joining IRIS, Elona held several senior leadership roles in Big 4 and PE-backed businesses, including Mavenir, Acision, Arthur Andersen and Deloitte.

Elona graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Accounting and Economics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. Awards include UK Tech Awards Tech CEO of the Year 2023; Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting in the US 2022; Top 50 Women in Accounting 2021; UK Tech Awards Business Woman of the Year 2020; Global Banking and Finance Business Woman of the Year UK 2020 and the Venus National Finance Professional of the Year 2018.

Elona is passionate about tech, education and diversity. Born in communist Albania, Elona won a scholarship at the age of 16 to attend an international college in Wales alongside students from over 100 different countries. This life changing experience has driven her to focus on making a high social impact and providing opportunities to those from under-privileged and under-represented backgrounds.  She is a Trustee of Hg foundation, a charity focused on removing barriers to education and skills in technology, and is a Board Director of Boardwave, the networking platform for European Software leaders.

Gareth is PwC’s UK Technology Industry Leader. He is passionate about supporting UK Tech and Software companies grow and thrive. Gareth has enjoyed over 20 years' experience in the sector with PwC and works with a mixture of early stage, PE backed and listed clients. Gareth also has significant experience in supporting his clients with deals and IPOs, in both the UK and US markets.

Tim Nixon is the CEO of Teneo’s global Management Consulting division as well as serving as the leader of the Global Technology Strategy and Transformation practice. 

Tim has 20+ years’ experience of strategy & transaction advisory in management consulting and senior industry roles; living and working across the UK, India, Southeast Asia and the US.

Tim’s day-to-day client focus is advising leading technology & software firms and industry investors on critical issues, including strategy development, top-line growth, performance improvement and M&A. He has deep expertise in software growth strategy, cloud transformation, pricing & packaging for technology offerings and Commercial Due Diligence.

Tim also leads Teneo’s functional consulting expertise on topics such as near-/offshoring, cost base restructuring, PMI, Target Operating Model redesign and complex programme delivery.

He was previously a Partner with Credo, a boutique strategy consulting firm in London, which was founded in 1999 and acquired by Teneo in 2017.

Nik first joined Summit in 2017. Today, as a Vice President, he focuses primarily on the technology sector in Europe. Nik’s investment experience includes Akeneo, Odoo, OneStock SAS, Red Points and TradingHub.

Prior to Summit, Nik worked as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Leveraged Finance Group at Goldman Sachs. He holds a BS, with first class honors, in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Nik is a co-founder and advisory board member at Kickstart Global, a non-profit organization focused on educating and mentoring student entrepreneurs.

Helena is a Principal at Highland Europe, a $3bn+ AuM growth equity fund focused on backing European-rooted technology entrepreneurs. Helena currently works with ME+EM, Modulr, Huel, Zwift, Plentific, and Meditopia, and previously worked with Wolt (acquired by Doordash). Prior to joining Highland in 2016, Helena was part of the Healthcare Investment Banking team at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Helena is a graduate of the University of Oxford (MBiochem) and London Business School (MSc Management). 

Mark is Head of the IP Group plc Technology business, running a £350m portfolio of early-stage, “Deep Tech” companies. The portfolio includes some of the UK’s most exciting emerging technology start-ups, such as Featurespace, Oxbotica, and Garrison Cybersecurity. He led the first investments into First Light Fusion, which recently achieved nuclear fusion, and the ground-breaking technology company Ultraleap. He was also on the board of Wave Optics when it was sold to Snap Inc in one of Europe’s biggest ever venture-backed Deeptech exits. Mark has almost 15 years’ experience as a Board Director of early-stage technology companies and has overseen well over 100 private and public company equity investments. He holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge, UK.

Julie has 25 years of experience in Equity Research, covering both UK and continental European companies across a wide range of healthcare subsectors including healthcare services, biotechnology and digital health. She joined Panmure Gordon in November 2015 from Canaccord Genuity. She was No.1 Extel rated 2018 and rated Analyst of the Year 2022 by the Small Cap Network Awards. She is also a panel member for NIHR i4i (invention for innovation), assessing early-stage medical technologies. Julie has a PhD in Microbiology from University of Kent.

Ben is an Executive Director in J.P. Morgan’s Innovation Economy Team. Ben began his career on the RBS graduate scheme witnessing the full force of the 2008 global credit crisis. After working across Retail, Business, Commercial and Corporate he spent two years at Santander where they were actively trying to double the SME market share in the UK.
 
An opportunity then presented to move into the world of tech and supporting early-stage high growth companies. He moved to Silicon Valley Bank’s UK Office in 2017 as employee number 120. Over the next seven years he went from VP to MD, the UK office grew to 400 and his final role was Head of Enterprise Software for EMEA (a relationship management and sales team).
 
Ben Joined J.P. Morgan in July 2024 as an Executive Director, Head of Venture UK within the fast-growing Innovation Economy team. His team support Series A+ tech companies with treasury, banking and debt solutions whilst connecting them to the wider JPM platform.

Skyler is responsible for portfolio M&A at ECI, working alongside management teams to help with making acquisitions. That means supporting those teams in anything from refining strategy and sourcing targets to building an M&A function inhouse. Skyler is also a member of the ESG committee, where she enjoys working with our annual charity partner on some of the fundraising initiatives.

In her role in the Origination Team, Skyler also gets to know founders and management teams who may one day chose to partner with ECI, to help them understand what that partnership could bring to their business.

Skyler joined ECI in 2019 after three years in mid-market private equity and two years in private equity advisory and executive search. She graduated with a degree in English Language and Literature from Oxford University.

We are delighted to welcome Mark Whitmore to the Voting Panel. Further details will be available in due course.

Rosh leads J.P. Morgan’s UK & Ireland’s Innovation Economy business – the Innovation Economy team focuses on supporting companies ranging from Series A through to Private Equity and PLCs across four key verticals: technology, life science, disruptive commerce and climate tech. Rosh has spent over 20 years working with high growth companies and previous to joining J.P. Morgan, started and led Silicon Valley Bank’s Corporate Banking practice. Rosh loves working with Founders and CEOs and helping scale their businesses – he has been responsible for providing the UK innovation companies with over $2bn capital. Outside of work, Rosh is a keen martial artist and cycles regularly (when he’s not shuttling his two young daughters to gymnastics, cub scouts and football).