This session will centre on the realities of being a NED for an early stage company, particularly those raising investment. We will highlight NED recruitment pathways to startups and university spin-out boards, what they are looking for in their non-executives and how to secure the positions. This session will touch on acting as an Investor NED, and the considerations involved when investing in an early-stage company.
We will be joined by Sarah Turner the Co-founder and CEO of Angel Academe; an investment group that focuses on investing in female-founded tech startups and introducing more women to angel investing.
Sarah will be joined by Jodie O’Keeffe, Director at NW3 Ventures. An angel investor and NED investor director for Figaro.ai, Jodie will be sharing her experience of being an investor and a NED in a tech startup.
Ian Hobday, Founder and CEO of Startup Gurus and First Flight NED’s and Advisors Ltd will be sharing knowledge on NED recruitment to spin-out companies and the specific needs of firms of this type.
This event will be hosted by Rowena Ironside, Co-Founder, NED and past Chair of Women on Boards UK. Rowena has significant experience as a non-executive director in a range of organisations, as well as being an active angel investor.
Speakers
Rowena Ironside
Rowena spent 25 years as an executive in the ICT sector, starting out writing software in Australia; building an IT services business in London; and running international services businesses in the software and hosting industries. Rowena has been a non-executive member of boards in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors since 2006, including 5 years as the inaugural Chair of the charity Compassion in Dying. She was executive Chair of Women on Boards UK from its launch in 2012 until October 2020 and is currently Chair of the healthcare charity PSPA and an independent committee Chair for THIS Institute. Rowena attended INSEAD’s Leading from the Chair programme in 2019.
Other bios to follow
This virtual event is free to Full and Directors’ Circle members. It will also include an opportunity for Q&A and sharing experience with other members of our network, under Chatham House rule.