Managing Director of the U.K.’s premier mechanical stainless steel polishing company. She was presented with the Attwood Award in October 2009 to reflect her commitment to U.K. manufacturing. She is keen to promote the use of mechanically polished stainless steel finishes in a variety of industries including architectural, pharmaceutical and nuclear. She has been a Wiba committee member for several years and is also a member of the Citizenship Committee for The Birmingham Civic Society looking at The Next Generation Awards. She is a member of the Marketing and Technical committee for the British Stainless Steel association and is frequently asked to speak on surface finishing at industry conferences.

She has a BA in Humanities from The Open University and a MA from Birmingham City University where her dissertation was based on Kant’s Critique of Judgment. Kirsty is an administrator for the Midlands Philosophy Network and a member of the British Philosophy Association. As well as ambitious ‘metal bashing’ goals she is also looking forward to returning to Birmingham City University to complete her PhD in cognitive science and religion. She is also a published fiction writer and an ex-equity card holder, having performed with the Birmingham Royal Ballet as an actor in Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. Kirsty has a large family of animals, headed up by her teenage son, and she is getting married in 2010 if she has time!

.Website: www.professionalpolishing.co.uk

Janette has been a wiba member for many years, an active committee member since 2003, Chair from 2005-7 and Treasurer since 2007.

She is Principal Consultant at Just Real Solutions, an independent management consultancy specialising in international business, diverse cultures, personal and business development.

As a professional speaker and active networker with extensive management experience across all sectors she helps raise the profile of diversity, leadership and the importance of people reaching their potential in today’s global business economy.   Chair of the Friends of Symphony Hall/Town Hall, she plays an active role in community and CSR activities. A qualified coach and director, she is a non exec director in the public sector and cabinet/equalities office ambassador for diversity in public appointments.

Website: www.justrealsolutions.com

Lucy Caddick is an Audit Manager with BDO LLP, working with a wide portfolio of private and publically owned businesses and specialising in the manufacturing sector. Lucy is also involved in learning and development, covering both personal and technical skills training.
 
Having graduated from Manchester University with a BA degree in European Studies and Modern Languages in 2003, Lucy joined BDO LLP as a trainee and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW in 2006.
 
Outside of work Lucy is kept very busy by her 2 year old son, and she also enjoys spending time supporting Aston Villa Football Club and playing 5 a side football.
 
  BDO LLP is the award-winning UK Member Firm of BDO International, the world's fifth largest accountancy network, with more than 1,000 offices in over 100 countries. 

We believe in the personal touch; strong client relationships and personally tailored solutions. We realise no two businesses are the same. So whether your business is a start-up or a multi-national, we can help you achieve your goals.

Website: www.bdo.co.uk

Merran joined Gateley LLP in 2004 as a trainee solicitor and has been with the firm ever since. Merran is a solicitor specialising in all aspects of employment law.

Gateley LLP is a full service national law firm that promotes the commercial interests of companies, individuals and organisations. It offers solutions-driven, flexible and commercial legal advice based on an integrated and partner-led service. The firm's approach is simple: to understand the needs of its clients and respond with robust and clear advice that will add value to their business, organisation or individual requirements.

Merran is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and has experience of a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious work arising out of employment relationships. She has experience of an array of claims issued in the Employment Tribunal with particular experience in relation to issues concerning employment status. Her non-contentious work includes advice on redundancy and restructuring initiatives, discipline and grievance issues, structuring and negotiating exit packages for senior executives and drafting contracts of employment and employment policy documentation. Merran also provides advice on corporate transactional work involving sales and acquisitions.

Website: www.gateleyuk.com

Rebecca is a solicitor at Gateley LLP, specialising in commercial litigation.

After graduating from Southampton University in 2001 and completing her Legal Practice Course in Bristol, Rebecca moved up to Birmingham and started work at Gateley LLP in April 2006.

Rebecca advises a wide range of clients from individuals through to Public Limited Companies on a variety of contentious commercial and contractual matters. She undertakes a broad range of commercial litigation in the County and High Courts and also advises on and engages regularly in Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Website: www.gateleyuk.com

Vicki Is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (FCIPD) and has a BA Honours in International Relations and International Business (from the American University in Washington DC) as well as a B.Ed. Honours (First Class) from University of Central England.

Although American born, she has been resident in Birmingham for over 37 years.

Her professional life has combined work in business and commerce with over twenty years as a self-employed consultant to public, voluntary and community and private sector organisations.

She set up VV Resources in 1987, a consultancy practice with a well established national reputation for running training and development programmes as well as for business consultancy. 

She has been on the Boards of an NHS Trust (11 years), Women in Business Association WIBA - and CIPD Black Country and Birmingham Branches (9 years).  She served as Chair of both WIBA and CIPD Birmingham. She is also an active member of Handsworth Rotary Club and a member of the NAC (North American Connection)

She is the author of several publications and CDs mainly on managing change, management and ‘empowerment’ using her extensive experience in HR and people management.

Vicki has had extensive exposure in the media – radio, TV and newspapers – expressing some of her controversial and hard hitting views on topical subjects.

Website: www.vvresources.com