Women's Networking Event

Anna Nichols

CFO at IPG Mediabrands UK

Anna is responsible for driving financial strategy and performance, corporate risk governance and transformation ensuring that IPG Mediabrands remains agile and financially robust in an ever-evolving Media landscape. Anna has been instrumental in optimising financial and operational performance, spearheading cost-effective initiatives and driving change. Previously Anna has held senior financial and business management positions at Sky, Barclays Investment bank, Virgin Media, and Channel 5.

Anna lives in London with her husband and 2 teenage children, Willian and Charlotte and enjoys playing netball, wild swimming and skiing in her spare time

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Julie Thomas

Group Director of Operations at Jersey Post

As Group Operations Director at Jersey Post, Julie leads the strategy and delivery of Postal & Freight operations across a 300 strong team and 3 business entities spanning the Channel Islands and the UK. With over 30 years in the Post Office industry in both the UK and Jersey, Julie has specialised in leading large-scale people and operational change programmes in highly regulated and unionised environments.

As well as establishing new commercial deals in the UK and Jersey, Julie has recently reset the Postal Services Licence for Jersey for a new 10 year span, led on a significant regulated financial services project for Jersey Post, achieving special ‘public services’ product exemptions through government and financial services conduct authority discussions, and reversed the loss trajectory of the core business now seeing year on year financial growth.  

Julie’s passion is developing talent, passing on her experience wherever possible and involving a wide cross section of her team to first create then help to lead and embed her plans.

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Kirstina Combe

Chief Risk and Regulatory Officer at the London Metal Exchange

As the Chief Risk and Regulatory Officer for the LME Group, Kirstina has a broad remit, covering the Second Line Function for the LME including Risk, Compliance, Regulation, Onboarding and Government Affairs. Kirstina has also recently overseen the implementation of the LME’s Programme Strengthen, overseeing the exchange’s transition of change to enhance and strengthen the markets to ensure that they thrive in the long-term.

Within the LME, Kirstina sits on the LME’s Executive Committee and chairs the LME’s Executive Risk Committee as well as the steering committee for the implementation of the LME’s new trading platform. In addition, she is co-sponsor of the LME Diversity and Inclusion Forum, and she mentors a number of individuals outside of her division at the LME. 

In June 2024, Kirstina was appointed to the FCA’s Secondary Markets Advisory Committee and is a member of the International Regulatory Strategy Group for the City of London. She is also a 30% Club Mentor (campaign group of business chairpersons and CEOs taking action to increase gender diversity on boards and senior management teams).

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Nicky Keeley

Director of Cyber & IT Risk at British Airways

As Director of Cyber & IT Risk at British Airways, Nicky Keeley leads the strategy and delivery of cyber security and IT risk management. With extensive experience in the aviation industry, she has built and led a team of 36 professionals to manage cyber and IT risks, ensuring compliance with key regulations.

Nicky has played a pivotal role in creating the UK regulatory framework for aviation cyber security and has collaborated with international and national stakeholders to advance cyber security in aviation. She is currently an advisory member of the UK Government Cyber Advisory Board and is co-chair of the  Eurocontrol CYBERG Working Group.

Prior to her time at British Airways, Nicky gained her deep knowledge of the aviation sector working for the UK Civil Aviation Authority and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Nicky's pragmatic approach and ability to translate complex topics into achievable goals make her a trusted leader in cyber security.

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Sarah Rapson

Executive Director - Supervision at the Financial Reporting Council

Sarah Rapson is Executive Director, Supervision of the Financial Reporting Council. The FRC’s role is to underpin investor and broader confidence in UK plc which enables businesses to attract capital and grow through high standards of corporate governance, reporting and audit. Sarah leads the work to enhance audit quality, through monitoring of auditors; supervisory oversight of Recognised Professional Bodies; and to uphold and encourage high standards in corporate reporting. 

Sarah is sponsor for the FRC’s women’s network.

From 2016 to 2021, Sarah was Director of Authorisations at the Financial Conduct Authority. From 2005 to 2016, she held various senior positions at the Home Office, including Board Member, Director General of UK Visas and Immigration and Chief Executive of HM Passport Office.

She is a Non-Executive Director of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Before joining the Civil Service, Sarah’s career had been in retail financial services.

Sarah lives in London with her husband and nearly adult son.

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Sue Whalley

Chief People & Performance Officer at Associated British Foods

Sue joined ABF plc end of 2019 leading the Group’s People agenda including remuneration, leadership development and succession planning for groupwide senior roles, workforce engagement, inclusion and diversity and wellbeing. Sue is accountable for the health, safety and environment centre of excellence, the group procurement team and global security team. She works closely with the Board, CEO, the divisions’ executive leaders and helps foster groupwide networks. 

Prior to ABF, she spent 12 years at Royal Mail latterly as the UK business CEO leading a major phase of transformation. Sue started her career at McKinsey & Co rising to Partner. 

Sue joined the Centrica board in December 2023. 

Sue invests in developing and mentoring colleagues and supporting diverse talent in executive careers. She is a member of the McKinsey Advisory Board for advancing female executive talent and the International Women's Forum. 

Balancing career and family life is an ongoing challenge! Sue also enjoys travelling, baking, music and running.

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Accelerating impact

We’re proud to once again partner with Smart Works and Bottomless Closet who help unemployed women receive the coaching, clothing and confidence they need to secure employment and change the trajectory of their lives. For the month of March we are clothing gathering donations for both organisations in our London and NYC offices.

If you'd like to support these charities, you can directly donate money to Smart Works here and Bottomless Closet here. Bottomless Closet’s Amazon Wish List with their most needed items is here. 

And finally, we have also worked with The Gateway Project to enhance their work experience offering to disadvantaged children. We used our Women@Berkeley Mentoring Programme materials so children can be mentored at key junctures in their final years of school to make a real impact in their lives, e.g. when considering their post-school options.  

Meet the female winemaker

Our International Women's Day panel event will feature sparkling wine from the British Nyetimber vineyard. Cherie Spriggs is head winemaker at Nyetimber with vast experience of winemaking, having made wine all over the world.

Spriggs’ uncompromising attention to detail and commitment to crafting consistent, reliable wines at Nyetimber has garnered her and the brand much recognition and accolades. In 2018, she won Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge – an achievement for the history books as she was the first person outside of Champagne, France, as well as the first woman ever, to win this prestigious award. Nyetimber even produces a wine named after her – the Cuvee Chérie Multi-Vintage.

Sustainable sourcing and dietaries

We have made active choices for our event to prioritise sourcing local and seasonal produce, ensuring our ingredients are fresh, sustainable, and ethically obtained. Eggs are sourced through ethical means and we greatly value our caterer's collaboration with Compassion in World Farming (CiWF) for their expertise in animal welfare policies.

Our food includes locally produced seasonal ingredients, organic milk and wine, Red Tractor-certified meat, and MSC-certified fish.

Where possible, we implement smart menu planning, optimising ingredient use across multiple dishes to minimise waste. To ensure accurate preparation and ordering, we aim to finalise menu choices and guest numbers as close to the event as possible, allowing us to effectively accommodate any dietary requirements. 

Our evening will be nut-free and our menu offers vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free selections.