We're delighted to announce that the below inspiring individuals will be on the Business Panel on the evening.
Wincie Wong - Head of Digital X Workforce Technical Capability, NatWest
Wincie Wong uses her background at the leading edge of creative and disruptive innovation in the banking industry to break down barriers and transform the shape and diversity of the tech and data workforce. An international speaker and a digital evangelist, she is passionate about spearheading the growth of a diverse technology workforce as co-founder of the NatWest Girls Can Code network and founding member of Tech She Can, a charity representing 250+ corporates working together to increase the number of women in technology roles in the UK through education. She is also co-host of the NatWest Technically Speaking podcast series discussing current topics in the evolving world of tech.
Wincie has a background working with the UK government to tap into the huge unrealised economic potential of female entrepreneurs by making the UK one of the best countries in the world for women to start and grow a new business as recommended in the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship. A serial entrepreneur herself, she has been featured in Season 2 of BBC’s My Million Pound Menu with host Fred Siriex for her business running Burmese supper clubs – now available on Netflix globally. In 2023, she was named Woman of the Year at the Women in IT Awards, Standout 45 for the Innovate Finance Women in FinTech Powerlist, and was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential BAME Leaders in UK Tech by Inclusive Boards & the Financial Times in 2019. Having grown up in New York City, she’s spent the last 14+ years across the pond in London where she is passionate about making innovation useful for customers.
Edwina Dunn - OBE
Edwina Dunn is a pioneering and successful leader in the data industry, known for delivering transformative business change. She co-founded dunnhumby, which revolutionized the retail and consumer goods industry by pioneering Tesco Clubcard and other global loyalty programs. Her vision and work transformed the way retailers used customer data to drive their businesses, providing insights that had previously been unimaginable. The success of dunnhumby has been replicated worldwide, becoming the industry standard for customer insights. Its strategic importance was underlined when it was acquired by Tesco in 2011.
Edwina has served on a number of government boards including HMRC (NED), The Geospatial Commission (Commissioner) and The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (Chair). She also invested in a new generation of data and predictive algorithms when she became Chair of Starcount. Her pioneering work has earned her numerous accolades, including an OBE for her services to data and business in 2019, honorary doctorates from a number of universities.
Today, Edwina leads her Campaign: The Female Lead which is an active community of 8 million women, underpinned by an educational foundation, and focused on celebrating the achievements and diversity of women who shape our world. Using data to understand the challenges women face, Edwina works with businesses and the government to create new, mutually beneficial models and policies for the workplace.
Abisola Barber - Director at Citi and Non-Executive Director
Leveraging her background as a former Business Manager/Chief Operating Officer within Global Markets, Abisola is a strategic troubleshooter: driving transformational change programs, global consistency in thematic risk oversight, leading on product compliance risk management and enhancing cross-departmental collaboration & operational effectiveness – all whilst championing strong conduct, culture, and colleague development.
Prior to joining Citi, Abisola spent close to 10 years at Barclays in various roles across the Corporate and Investment Bank. During her tenure in Barclays' Non -Core unit, Abisola led high-profile divestment projects across Rates, Commodities, Consumer Cards and Corporate Loans, contributing to the successful c.£95bn RWA reduction.
Abisola additionally holds experience in and exposure to an array of industries and professions including Entertainment, Public/Third Sector, and Commercial Services. Her formative years were spent in Government and Politics, as a Strategic Advisor and Board Member for several Local Government Groups and UK National Agencies - providing direction and leadership for content, execution and delivery of key Children & Young People's Services. Abisola's professional work has seen her present on and write for national outlets, including BBC (Television and Radio), London Live and The Guardian; and partner with brands including Adidas, Nike, Puma in shifting the industry’s response to supporting the modern woman.
A multi-award winning Professional recognised by the likes of the Financial Times (2017), Women in Banking & Finance (2018), The Black British Business Awards (2019), Yahoo Finance (2019, 2020) and The Baton Awards (2021) for her trailblazing career and pioneering work in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion both inside the workplace and in society, Abisola is also a Non-Executive Director in Higher Education – serving as an Independent Board Member for the University of York’s governing council, and Advisory Board Member for the School for Business and Society at the University of York. Her passion to make a positive contribution to society has led to her global recognition.
Abisola holds a BA (Hons) Philosophy, Politics & Economics from University of York (2013); and MSc International Public Policy from University College London (2014).
Unfortunately, one of our panellists, Norma Gillespie, is no longer able to attend the event on Thursday.