Institute of Directors London and South East
Director of the Year Awards 2011

Chris Dodson, OBE is a mechanical engineer and inventor with nearly 40 years experience in commercial technology development for industry, particularly in heavy energy consuming and renewable energy related industries.

Today, hundreds of industrial plants employ his many inventions and techniques to carry out a wide variety of commercial processes. Examples include producing the ‘white’ that goes into bright white paint, low fat snacks, fire retardants in office buildings, puffed rice cereals, minerals for car brake linings, wall plaster, destruction of hazardous wastes and production of ‘green’ energy to name but a few. He has particular expertise in the construction, negotiation and management of licence and technology agreements internationally.

Through executive and non-executive positions in a range of SMEs from games software to robotics, Chris has provided his real ‘hands on’ international business experience to those establishing and growing new businesses and technologies. He has worked extensively in Europe, North America, India, Australasia and South Africa.

Chris is currently the Chairman of the Torftech Ltd., a manufacturing company based in Reading. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Chairman of the Institute of Directors (South) and was made an OBE in the June Honours List for his services to Industry.

John Minards is the South East regional leader for PwC and has overall responsibility for the performance of the region. John has been with PwC for 26 years, 14 of those have been as Partner. He has worked with a wide variety of clients including the UK operations of some of the our largest overseas parented companies as well as a large number of private and publicly listed companies, including those listed on the main UK market, AIM and those backed by Private Equity.

Terry Sweeney was appointed Chief Executive of RM Education in 2008 and has overseen a period of significant growth. Before being appointment Chief Executive, Terry was responsible for the Group's hardware activities and, from 2006, was Managing Director of the Group's rapidly expanding Education Resources business. He has been instrumental in driving innovative product strategy and identifying new markets for the Group.

Prior to joining RM, Terry was Global Procurement Manager at British Aerospace. He has a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, an MBA from Oxford Brookes University, and has attended the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme.

Markus is a career banker, having worked for 22 years with HSBC.  His background is principally in Corporate and Commercial Banking in the UK, although Markus has also spent time working within the Technology arena.

Immediately prior to his current role as Deputy Regional Commercial Director for South and East, Markus was Regional Commercial Director for Wales based in Cardiff and before that, Head of the Commercial Leadership Team within UK Commercial Banking based at Canada Square, London.

Markus lives just outside Cambridge with his wife, Lynn.  He enjoys mountain biking, surfing and travelling in his 37 year old VW campervan.

BACTEC is an international Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Landmine Clearance Company, established in 1991. Kevin joined the company in 2003 and has been instrumental in the technological and commercial development of the business worldwide, with export sales increasing by over 250% since 2003.

BACTEC has operated in over 48 Countries, with offices in Australia, Lao, Cambodia, Philippines, Iraq, Mozambique, Libya and group headquarters in Kent. BACTEC places great emphasis in its Corporate Social Responsibility, safety and staff that are clearly demonstrated with the way BACTEC conducts its business.

With a background in engineering and international business development Kevin is a key member of the BACTEC Senior Management Team.

Susan Haird has a degree in Modern History and Economics from St Andrews University and a Diploma in Advanced European Studies from the College of Europe, Bruges. She joined the DTI in 1976. She is currently Deputy Chief Executive of UK Trade & Investment, responsible for International Group and for Strategy and Human Resources Group. Previous posts have included Director Export Control and Non-Proliferation and Director Human Resources & Change Management. Susan has also worked on the nuclear industry; the vehicle industry; and trade relations with a number of East European and Latin American countries.

Since 1996, Webmart founder and managing director Simon Biltcliffe has shaped the business based on his personal ethos that Marxism and capitalism together are unbeatable. Putting his money where his mouth is, the company's success is shared both by employees and by the less fortunate through a charitable trust. Constantly switched on to new possibilities, he puts a lot into people development and training, and also realised early on that harnessing the power of technology would be key to his company's success, freeing staff for more important added-value activities such as a relentless focus on customer service.

Chris Dodson, OBE is a mechanical engineer and inventor with nearly 40 years experience in commercial technology development for industry, particularly in heavy energy consuming and renewable energy related industries.

Today, hundreds of industrial plants employ his many inventions and techniques to carry out a wide variety of commercial processes. Examples include producing the ‘white’ that goes into bright white paint, low fat snacks, fire retardants in office buildings, puffed rice cereals, minerals for car brake linings, wall plaster, destruction of hazardous wastes and production of ‘green’ energy to name but a few. He has particular expertise in the construction, negotiation and management of licence and technology agreements internationally.

Through executive and non-executive positions in a range of SMEs from games software to robotics, Chris has provided his real ‘hands on’ international business experience to those establishing and growing new businesses and technologies. He has worked extensively in Europe, North America, India, Australasia and South Africa.

Chris is currently the Chairman of the Torftech Ltd., a manufacturing company based in Reading. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Chairman of the Institute of Directors (South) and was made an OBE in the June Honours List for his services to Industry.

Lesley is CEO of Nominet - the organisation responsible for the smooth running of the .uk internet infrastructure.

Under Lesley's leadership, the number of .uk domains passed 9 million, with over £8m donated to Nominet Trust.

Respected within the international internet community, Lesley holds a key position within ICANN as Chair of the ccNSO.

An IOD member, she is also a Fellow of The British Computer Society and The Chartered Management Institute. Lesley was a founding Trustee of Nominet Trust and is a Trustee of the Jenner Hall charity.

In 2011, she was awarded an OBE for services to the Internet and e-commerce.

After spending 4 years on short term commission with the British Army, Andy has spent the last 20 years working in the PwC Redhill, St Albans and Dubai offices. Andy currently heads up the South East private company practice and has many years' experience working with clients across all industry sectors.