Speaker profiles

Keynote speaker: 5 in 5: Five innovations which will change our lives in 5 years

Professor Andy Stanford-Clark, IBM Distinguished Engineer, Master Inventor Professor Andy Stanford-Clark leads transformational innovation projects for clients as part of IBM's Corporate Strategy organisation. He is an IBM Distinguished Engineer, a Master Inventor with more than 40 patents, and leads IBM's Quantum Ambassador team in the UK.

Andy is based at IBM's Hursley Park laboratories near Winchester, and has been working in the area that we now call the Internet of Things for more than 20 years. He has a BSc in Computing and Mathematics, and a PhD in Computer Science. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Newcastle, an Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southampton, and a Fellow of the British Computer Society. Deborah Turner, Summit Chair, founder of Deborah Turner Ltd, National Policy Chair for Women in Enterprise, Federation of Small Businesses A chartered surveyor providing property asset management advice to clients, Deborah Turner works mainly with local authorities, assisting them to make best use of their property assets. Dedicated to supporting small businesses, Deborah is the Federation of Small Businesses National Policy Lead for Women in Business. She is co-founder of Breakthrough Women, a not-forprofit organisation, hosting events focused for women at work who want to meet likeminded women and hear from real role models. Deborah recently joined the advisory board for University of Kent’s Kent Business School MBA Programme.

Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist, Institute of Directors Kitty Ussher is a UK macroeconomist and public policy research professional, and works as the Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors. A former MP for Burnley, she served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury (“City minister”) during the early phase of the financial crisis and subsequently as a junior minister at the Department for Work and Pensions. She then moved to the private sector, delivering public policy thought leadership research projects for large corporates and charities. She has served on the FCA consumer panel and in addition to her work at the IoD is also a NED for an asset manager and a fast-growing fintech.

Professor Karen Cox, Vice Chancellor, University of Kent Professor Karen Cox joined the University of Kent as ViceChancellor and President in August 2018. Karen is a Board Member/Trustee of the Nursing & Midwifery Council and a Board Director for the Universities & Colleges Employers Association. She is also an Associate NonExecutive Director for the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Other roles include Director/HE representative for the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, Board Member of the Kent Surrey Sussex Applied Research Collaborative and Member of the University of Kent Multi Academy Trust. Karen has a nursing background and her research interests have focused on cancer and palliative care. Before joining the University of Kent, Karen had served as Head of the School of Nursing, Pro ViceChancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nottingham.

Marian Garcia, Dean, Kent Business School Professor Marian Garcia is a Professor of Marketing and Innovation and Dean of Kent Business School, University of Kent. Marian is also Director of Kent Business School Open Innovation Network and has worked with businesses and public sector on customer-driven business model innovation. She is internationally known for her research on open innovation management and product development by businesses working collaboratively with customers. Liz Gibney, Chairman of the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP), Partner, Master Planner & Urban Designer at Lee Evans Partnership Liz Gibney was appointed as Chairman of the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP) on April 1 2022, having been a board member on KMEP since 2020. Liz Gibney is a Partner at Lee Evans Partnership since the start of 2019. Liz has extensive architectural, master planning and urban regeneration experience. In 2013 she co-founded the charity ‘Dover smART Project’. The charity aims to provide support to people within her home community of Dover through creative arts projects, helping them to discover their potential, a sense of belonging within their community, and to develop personal confidence. Liz is also a respected design advisor for Design South East, and currently chairs its Ashford and Swale Design Panels. She has also previously been an advisor to the Essex Design Advisory Panel the Building Schools for the Future initiative. Liz is a Board Member of the South East LEP, and chairs their coastal communities working group. She is a Patron of the Invicta Chamber of Commerce and has chaired Canterbury for Business since May 2021.

Cllr Roger Gough, Leader, Kent County Council Roger Gough became Leader of Kent County Council in October 2019 after more than six years as the Cabinet Member for Education and then children’s services more generally. He has been the Member for Darent Valley, Sevenoaks, since May 2013.