South Coast Business Works question time panel announced

They are Mike Warren, managing director of the Harbour Hotels Group, Derek Headrige, campus principal of Totton College, Simon Rhodes, senior partner at law firm Trethowans, Catherine Turness, executive director of Winchester Business Improvement District (BID); and Nella Pang, chair of the Southampton Property Association.

Boasting an extensive record in the hospitality sector, Mike Warren joined the Harbour Hotels Group as MD in January 2014.

This year will see the opening, with the new yacht-inspired 185- bedroom Southampton Harbour Hotel, featuring the city’s highest restaurant and a luxury Harbour Spa.

Mike Warren said: “I am looking forward to joining this esteemed panel of prominent local business leaders; 2017 is a particularly exciting one for Southampton and we are thrilled to be part of the city’s growth.”

Derek Headrige is campus principal at Totton College, part of Nacro, a Social Justice Charity.

Previously he was group academy dean at BMW where he defined a training strategy across the company, taking them to a Grade 1 Ofsted rating and making them number one automotive manufacturer for training in Europe.

Derek was also head of faculty for Automotive Engineering & Building Services at Highbury Further Education College in Portsmouth, where he led the creation and delivery of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) training programmes.

During his first 18 months, he brought the department from ‘Unsatisfactory’ to a Grade 1 ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted position.

Having started his career in the army, Derek moved on to a role supporting recruits, which gave him an appetite for education and a passion for supporting young people to reach their potential.

Simon Rhodes is senior partner and head of the employment team at Trethowans solicitors.

A lawyer of more than 20 years standing, Simon advises a wide range clients including multi-nationals, national brands and plcs across a broad range of sectors.

Simon has been actively involved in the city over the last few years, including sitting on several bodies such as Future Southampton.

He is passionate about giving Southampton’s residents, workers and visitors a great cultural offering.

Simon said: “The Question Time session is always the centrepiece of the Business Works event and something I particularly enjoy as it provides a great platform for people to have their say.”

As executive director of Winchester BID Catherine Turness works with more than 750 businesses and agencies to shape the city’s future development.

She is passionate about creating thriving destinations and shares her ideas as chair of the Southern BIDs Network.

Her contribution has recently been recognised having won the ‘Rising Star’ category in the 2016 Women in Business awards.

She sits on the advisory board of Court and Tribunal Solutions, and is a trustee of the University of Winchester Academy, which is building a new primary school on the outskirts of the city.

In her spare time Catherine is squeezing in studies for a MBA and is co-founder of an event management company, which raises funds for charities.

Nella Pang has more than 10 years’s commercial surveying experience and is head of office agency for commercial property firm JLL Southampton She was elected chairwoman of Southampton Property Association in 2016.

She is the youngest person to be elected to the position and the first female surveyor. She responsible for hosting networking and CPD events to 450 members.

Nella is a trustee member of Yellow Door, a charity to relive the distress of women, men, young people (aged 12+) and families who have experienced rape and/ or sexual abuse and to carry out prevention work through education.

The session will be chaired by Lee Peck, of Southampton-based PR company Lee Peck Media, whose career spans more than 30 years as a journalist, broadcaster, PR professional, management consultant, motivational speaker.

Lee is recognised by the European Union as an international media expert for his work on an anti-corruption behavioural campaign in Latvia.

This is the fourth time Lee – often called upon to MC events – has taken this role. He said: “The great thing about Question Time is that you never quite know what to expect – and it’s that which makes it both an exciting and brilliant challenge.

“Of course, we can anticipate questions about Brexit, Donald Trump and the prosperity the region but there’s always the question that causes you to stop and pause. The audience is also up for it which makes it great fun!”

Business Works will take place at Novotel Southampton, on Wednesday, February 1 from 10am – 4pm.

Trethowans Solicitors are back on board for the fifth year as principal sponsors alongside event partners Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Destination Southampton.

The three keynote speakers will be Brad Roynon from Go! Southampton the organisation which is setting up the city’s new Business Improvement District, Dave Lees, managing director of Southampton Airport, and Andy Collyer manager of the newly-extended Westquay shopping centre – all of whom have some fascinating insights about the future of the region’s economy.

For exhibitor package details call call 023 8042 4872 or email businessworks@dailyecho.co.uk to find out more.

Visitors to the exhibition can register for free at dailyecho.co.uk/businessworks.