Making a Difference in Business - 25 March 2009 - SPEAKERS    


Speakers at this event include:


KAREN DARBY
Founder, SimplySwitch


Karen Darby is a highly successful and inspirational entrepreneur with a classic rags to riches story.  One of five children, Karen grew up on a council estate in Mitcham and left school at 16 with one GCSE.  SimplySwitch is her third and most successful venture to date.  

She secured venture capital funding from Bridges Community Ventures, which was subject to the business meeting certain social criteria such as being based in one of the most deprived areas of the UK.  Initially launched as Simply Energy Ltd offering consumers a free and impartial switching service for gas and electricity, it quickly extended its portfolio of products to include home phone, mobile, broadband and a range of financial products and was re-branded SimplySwitch.

SimplySwitch created over 100 jobs in a deprived area and helped thousands of consumers save over £20m on their household bills.  In August 2006 Karen sold SimplySwitch to DMGT (Daily Mail & General Trust) for £22m.

Karen was a finalist in Cosmopolitan's Woman of Tomorrow award.  In June 2006 she won the Finance Award at the CBI's First Women Awards and was a finalist in the 2006 National Business Awards.

She is also a regular guest on BBC News, Sky News and BBC Radio 5 Live.

Matthew Rock, Caspian Publishing has said of Karen, “....she is a super-inspirational entrepreneur. Her story, of creating several major business success stories while also juggling a real life at home, is a tale of our times – of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, woman and mother in the 21st century."

Find out more about Karen at her website www.karendarbydirect.com



CHRIS ARNOLD
Strategic & Creative Director, Symple


A former Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi, Chris founded the ethical marketing agency FEEL (which merged to form BLAC) before setting up Symple.  Chris has been chairman of the DMA Agencies Council and Creative Council as well as a board member of the DMA.  

He has worked in many top advertising agencies over his 20 year career and with many of the world's top brands.  Chris Arnold is also founder of Creative Orchestra, a social enterprise creative incubator.



Chris is author of 'Ethical Marketing & the New Consumer', writes the ethical blog on Brand Republic and writes the creative column for Third Sector magazine.

SKYE HELLER
Associate, Bridges Ventures



Skye Heller previously worked in the equity capital markets divisions of Goldman Sachs and Macquarie Bank in Sydney.  Prior to joining Bridges, she worked at London-based New Philanthropy Capital.  Skye holds an MBA from INSEAD, and a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.


Bridges Ventures is a privately owned fund management company with a social mission.  It is a founding principle of the company that all the funds raised will set out to achieve a clear social purpose as well as aiming to achieve financial returns for investors.

The company aims to bring the best of venture capital to the businesses in which they invest.  Their founders, directors and investors are leaders in private equity, financial services, business and entrepreneurship.  



MAGGIE LOO
Associate, Bridges Ventures



Maggie Loo started her career as a strategy management consultant with McKinsey & Company in New York City.  Prior to joining Bridges, she worked at London-based Climate Change Capital.  Maggie studied environmental science and public policy at Harvard University and has an MBA from Columbia Business School.





ANDREA COCKERTON
Founder, Mudhut


Andrea's expertise is in de-risking investment and business critical pitches.  Mudhut has worked with nearly 300 companies and individuals via one-to-one projects, entrepreneurial bootcamps, investment competitions, training days and conference sessions.  

She works closely with SMEs in sectors including social enterprise, telecoms, games and the events industry on both commercial and investor pitches, working with a UK university on a pitch to Richard Branson for £5m funding and helping three young entrepreneurs to pitch directly to Bill Gates in Seattle.  

See www.mudhut-communication.co.uk



The evening will also include:

Pitches from exciting and innovative pre-selected businesses to a panel of judges.