Jairaj (JJ) Thakkar is an experienced global HR leader with experience in both corporate and consulting sectors. He held various international senior leadership positions at GE, Rolls-Royce plc, Equinor, Merrill Lynch/Bank of America and Aon based in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Prior to his career in HR, JJ served as a diplomat and founded an IT consulting firm specialising in online training.

He has a deep understanding and experience in all aspects of human capital management and strategic consulting. JJ specialises in working with leadership teams on driving business results through the intersection of strategy, talent, and culture. With a distinct focus on leading large-scale complex change, JJ’s areas of expertise include developing top talent, change management, systematic process improvement, and helping organisations thrive in dynamic conditions.

He is an experienced board member and currently serves on the Board of Durham University and is a Trustee for Reach South Academy Trust.

JJ is a Fellow of The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

Janet is Chief People Officer at Cambridge University Press & Assessment with responsibilities spanning organisational change, HR services and partnering, learning and development, internal communications, and employee engagement.
Janet was previously Director of HR and Organisational Development at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Director of HR at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust and General Manager for Children’s Services at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Trust. Throughout her career, Janet has focused on improving outcomes for children and young people. She has an eclectic background in both HR and general management, with experience of taking organisations through cultural transformation.
With a degree in tropical disease and accreditation as an Agile practitioner, Janet is a graduate from Lord Ashcroft International Business School and Anglia Ruskin University.

Founder of Sandra Johnson Consultancy dedicated to supporting career development and personal branding. A certified CMI coach with 35 years’ experience in strategic communications and policy. I’ve successfully navigated my career across Whitehall, and FTSE listed companies in the UK and India. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), an Accredited Commercial Specialist and Assessor for the Government Commercial Function. As a champion of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, social mobility and wellbeing, I serve as a UN Women UK delegate for Gender Equality and a Judge for the Business Culture Awards.