TAYLOR BENNETT FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice Principal of Heriot - Watt University Dubai. Professor
Professor Dame Heather McGregor is the Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai. Professor McGregor was previously the Executive Dean of the Edinburgh Business School, having held the post since 2016.
In her early career she worked in financial PR and investor relations before doing an MBA at the London Business School and joining ABN Amro as a sellside analyst. She then spent eight years with the bank, working in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, before joining Taylor Bennett in 2000. In 2016 she became Executive Dean of Edinburgh Business School, the graduate school of business of Heriot Watt University.
As well as founding the Taylor Bennett Foundation in 2008, Heather was also a founding member of the steering committee of the 30% Club, which is working to raise the representation of women at senior levels within the UK's publicly quoted companies. She is also an experienced writer and broadcaster, and wrote under the pseudonym Mrs Moneypenny in the Financial Times for seventeen years.
Originally joining the Foundation in 2019, Gabrielle is the Head of Programmes and leads on the delivery and development of the Foundation existing and new programmes. With previous project management experience spanning across the educational tech sector and a social mobility charity, Gabrielle is experienced in devising and operationally delivering programmes of support to young people.
A champion of Taylor Bennett Foundations' core mission, neurodiversity and social mobility, Gabrielle is keen to create and deliver programmes that nurture talent and help diversify the PR & Communications industry.
Job Titles:
- Director, Brunswick Group
- Director, Brunswick Group Read
James is a former barrister with eight years' experience of corporate reputation and public affairs across a range of sectors including financial services, food and drink, retail and tech.
Through creative brand based campaigns as well as Westminster lobbying and in depth thought leadership, James has extensive experience of both the media and politics. Having worked at MHP Communications and Bell Pottinger he has worked on clients such as Airbnb, Burberry, Just Eat, Pret a Manger, Red Bull and Sainsbury's.
James sits on the board of the Tory Reform Group, is a vice chair of the Battersea Conservatives, a donor of the liberal conservative think tank Bright Blue and a member of Inner Temple. He campaigned on the Stronger In campaign, the 2017 Conservative General Election campaign and the 2018 Local Elections.
Job Titles:
- in 2023 As a Programme Manager
- Programme Manager ( PR Training Programme )
Jessica joined the Taylor Bennett Foundation in 2023 as a Programme Manager responsible for the delivery of the PR Training Programme.
Before joining the Foundation, Jessica worked at a diversity recruitment company, focused on social mobility and working with Black students to develop their applications for university. She has previous experience in community engagement and programme delivery.
Jessica has a strong interest in representation and access. She is also passionate about storytelling, and champions stories written by diverse voices.
Job Titles:
- B2B Communications, Google
Jo Ogunleye is a PRWeek 30 under 30 alumni, currently leading Tech, Fraud, Transport, and Sports PR at professional services firm, KPMG, where she is also a committee member of its African-Caribbean Network. In her seven years in the communications industry, she has also worked at some of the world's largest agencies, including Ketchum, Grayling and Edelman; securing sector experience across healthcare and transport, and in-house experience at the City of London Corporation in property and digital infrastructure.
Jo has long advocated for more diversity workplace representation. She chaired the City of London's BAME and Women's staff networks in her previous role, and in 2020 she was part of the teams that established the PRCA's Race and Ethnicity Equity Board, the UK Black Comms Network, and the first ever Black History Month collaboration across the Big Four auditing firms, while guest editing a special edition of PRWeek which focused on the issues, initiatives and voices of BME comms professionals.
Job Titles:
- Programme Manager ( Mentoring & Summer Stars )
Kimberleigh joined the Taylor Bennett Foundation in December 2022 as Programme Manager for PR Mentoring Programme and Summer Stars Internship programme.
Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked cross-sector in the arts; administering, producing and facilitating participatory arts programmes, working collaboratively with and for community groups from underrepresented backgrounds in educational establishments, community organisations and creative spaces.
Kimberleigh is passionate about representation, social change and creating safe spaces, where connecting and nurturing participants' voices and making a positive difference is at the heart of the work produced.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair and PR Manager, Savills
- Vice Chair and PR Manager, Savills Read
Kuldeep Mehmi is a communications professional with over seven years experience in the industry, specialising in corporate and financial communications.
He is currently a PR Manager in the commercial real estate communications department at Savills, the global real estate advisor. In this role, Kuldeep manages the PR programmes for the Central London and international investment team, office agency, development and strategic investment advisory teams in London and for Scotland across all commercial real estate.
Kuldeep is a TBF alumni and is a founding member of the TBF alumni board. He regularly speaks on issues around diversity and inclusion and at Savills he is a key member of the diversity and inclusion group.
Prior to joining Savills, Kuldeep worked at MHP Communications, FTI Consulting and Hawthorn Advisors advising on predominantly financial services clients.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director at FTI Consulting LLP
- Managing Director, Strategic Communications, FTI Consulting
- Managing Director, Strategic Communications, FTI Consulting Read
Lena Ahad is Managing Director at FTI Consulting LLP. She brings 30+ years' experience in corporate communications - with a primary focus on technology brands. Her role at FTI Consulting focusses on the strategic development of integrated global programmes and providing communication counsel to global and FTSE 100 brands across EMEA, North America and APAC.
As an active member of FTI's global D&I taskforce, Lena has also supported the Taylor Bennett Foundation through its work experience schemes and graduate intake programmes. She has a passion for creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the communications industry and supporting leaders of the future.
Job Titles:
- KPMG 's Global Head of Citizenship and Diversity
Lord Hastings is KPMG's Global Head Of Citizenship And Diversity. He was previously the BBC's first Head Of Corporate Social Responsibility, a role he took on after leading the Corporation's public affairs.
A non-executive Director of British Telecom and Trustee of the Vodafone Group, he also represents KPMG International on the Global Corporate Citizenship Committee of the World Economic Forum and is a board director of the Global Reporting Initiative.
As well as being Patron of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, he works with and supports Millennium Promise UK, UNICEF, the UK's Council Of The Overseas Development Institute and the USA's Centre For Global Development.
In 2003 he was awarded a CBE in recognition of his services to crime reduction, including fifteen years as Chairman of Crime Concern, and in 2005 he was awarded the honour of an independent peerage to the House Of Lords by Her Majesty The Queen.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, the PR Office ( PRO )
- Managing Director, the PR Office ( PRO ) Read
Marc Cohen is MD at The PR Office (PRO), with 15 years' experience working financial communications and corporate communications.
Marc has advised a wide range of companies (from start-ups to some of the world's biggest businesses), as well as political leaders, governments and NGOs on all aspects of their PR and communications.
After graduating from Law School, Marc started his career working in the City at Deloitte, before moving into communications and working at Bankside Consultants, FTI Consulting and Kreab Gavin Anderson (part of Omnicom Group Inc.)
Marc has held several voluntary not-for-profit roles, including acting as a Non-Executive Director of UK Israel Business, Member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and is currently Chair of the Norwood Investec Private Equity Dinner.
To relax, Marc enjoys sports, Netflix, electronic music and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Four in 2022 As the Finance Manager
- Head of HR, Four Communications Group Limited
- Head of HR, Four Communications Group Limited Read
Marcia La-Rose joined Four in 2022 as the finance manager. As the company grew, so did her role and Marcia is now the Head of HR and oversees the HR function as well as personal finance issues such as salaries and tax. Marcia has the answer to most questions and is a quick thinking resolver.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Managing Partner, Taylor Bennett
- Managing Partner, Taylor Bennett Read
Matthew became a Trustee of the Taylor Bennett Foundation in 2018. As Managing Partner of Taylor Bennett, he has had a close involvement with the Foundation since its creation in 2008.
At Taylor Bennett, Matthew leads international searches in the fields of corporate affairs, government relations and sustainability. He also manages global assignments and projects in conjunction with Taylor Bennett's Asia offices, its DACH region partner, GK Personalberatung, and US-based partners, Heyman Associates.
A graduate of the London Business School's Emerging Leaders Programme, Matthew previously read Latin American Studies and Spanish at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Joining the Foundation in October 2021, Nicole is responsible for coordinating programmes and ensuring the smooth running of our flagship programmes, new initiatives and events.
Nicole has a strong passion for Diversity and Inclusion. She attends D&I events and reads up on new research to keep her knowledge on the cutting edge.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Trustees and MD, Pinch Point Communications
- Chairman of Trustees and MD, Pinch Point Communications Read
- Trustee for Send
Sarah is MD of Pinch Point Communications and a Non-Executive Director of the Health and Safety Executive.
She started her career as a journalist with the BBC, leaving in 2000 to work in PR, she has worked in international development, public transport and the NHS. In 2011 she won the inaugural Institute of Directors and Chartered Institute of Public Relations PR Director of the Year award for her work with the board at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.
In 2013 she founded Pinch Point Communications, an agency working across all sectors on a range of internal and external communications initiatives designed to enhance, manage and defend reputation.
Sarah has served as a trustee for Send a Cow, vice chair of Governors at Bishop Road School and was President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in 2015, she lives in Bristol and has recently discovered the joy of running.
Job Titles:
- Campaign Director
- Chief
- Chief Campaign Director, CBI
- Chief Campaign Director, CBI Read
Syma Cullasy-Aldridge is the Chief Campaign Director, CBI. Before joining the CBI, Syma held policy and communications roles across central government, including at PUBLIC, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. She also set up and ran the external engagement team in the Department for Exiting the European Union. In the private sector, she worked in aerospace, defence, security and space as director of policy and communications in the industry's trade association.
Syma is passionate about increasing diversity in this field, personally recognising the value that diversity of thought and experience brings to an organisation. She has been on the board of trustees since January 2021.