Head of Public Affairs, ScaleUp institute

Josh Robson is Head of Public Affairs and External Relations at the the Scale Up Institute, a private sector, not-for-profit company focused on making the UK the best place in the world to scale up a business.

Josh is a public policy specialist, working with policy makers to identify opportunities that will support scale up businesses and keep scaleups at the top of the UK political and business agenda. Josh has previously held strategic and public affairs roles at Energy UK, UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy, and Knauf Insulation Northern Europe.

Director (Leeds and Birmingham), Bruntwood

Rob is Bruntwood’s regional lead for Yorkshire and the West Midlands – supporting the development of thriving cities including Leeds and Birmingham.

Drawing on more than 20 years’ experience within Bruntwood, Rob specialises in facilitating collaborative partnerships between the private sector, local authorities, research institutions and universities to create world-class innovation districts and drive strategic growth.

Producer/CEO, Good Gate Media

John Giwa-Amu runs production and gaming company Good Gate Media Ltd and sister company Red and Black Films. John’s first produced feature film, Little White Lies, won two BAFTA Cymru Awards.

John has won the BBC talent Award, a Screen Award, a BIFA, has been honoured as a Breakthrough Brit and a Future Leader by Screen International. He sat on the board of Film Cymru Wales as a director for 7 years and advised Welsh Government’s Media Investment Fund. He has graduated from the internationally acclaimed film/media business initiative, Inside Pictures and C4/Ingenious/BBC/Barclays sponsored Indielab.

CEO, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

The GBCC exists to Connect, Support & Grow local businesses. It is a mid-sized not for profit business membership and support organisation that has been in business, for business, since 1813. It delivers support and services aimed at helping local firms go global.

Henrietta became CEO in 2021 at age 30, making her the youngest CEO in the organisation’s 210 year history. She is a vocal advocate for Greater Birmingham’s businesses, representing Chamber members’ interests through a range of regional and local stakeholder boards and groups.

Prior to becoming CEO, she was Director of Policy & Strategic Relationships leading the GBCC’s research, campaigns and support activity, including on preparing for, and the impact of, the end of the Brexit transition period. She is a governor and honorary fellow of University College Birmingham. She was named Birmingham Live’s Young Business Leader of the Year at their 2022 Business Awards and Young Leader of the Year at Business Desk’s West Midlands Leadership Awards 2023.

Founder and Chief Executive, Downtown in Business

Frank McKenna is the founder and chief executive of Downtown in Business. Before establishing the Downtown brand Frank was a full time politician, serving as the leader of the North West Regional Assembly, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council and a Parliamentary Assistant.

Since entering the world of business, Frank has served on the Merseyside Entrepreneurship Commission; Liverpool Vision’s Strategic Planning board; and advisory boards on both the Lancashire and Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership’s. From 2008- 2013 he was a Non Executive Director of a hospital trust board.