Boardroom Insights Cardiff: Board roles across different sectors
For aspiring, early stage and experienced Non-Executive Directors
Non-executive positions are great opportunity to bring your skills to a new sector – but what are the differences? At this IN-PERSON event in Cardiff, experienced board members will share insights on their roles across the private, public and third sectors. They will also reflect on their journeys and the lessons on the way as well as the benefits and challenges of different roles, sharing tips on how to succeed as a NED in different sectors.
There will be ample opportunity for discussion and informal networking in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Alison Thorne, Women on Boards’ lead in Wales, will be facilitating this evening.
More about our speakers:
Alison Thorne, Lead for Wales, Ambassador and Presenter
Alison has developed a non-executive career and has just been appointed as Chair of National Dance Company Wales. Alison is also currently a Governor of Cardiff Metropolitan University; an Independent Panel Member of the Welsh Government’s Public Appointments service; and a Board Member of Sport Wales. Until 2021, she was Chair of the leading equality charity Chwarae Teg and a trustee for six years.
Alison previously held executive board and leadership positions at Otto UK, George at Asda, Mothercare, Lego Retail, and Kingfisher with B&Q. Following 2 years as a partner in a boutique executive search company, Alison set up ‘atconnect’ an executive search and people development company in 2010 which includes mentoring individuals at transition points in their careers.
Alison is based in Cardiff and is the Women on Boards Lead for Wales. She delivers Women on Boards’ CV Masterclass and our ‘Becoming an Effective Chair’ programme, as well as providing 1-on-1 Board CV reviews and mentoring across non-executive and executive careers.
Judi Rhys, Chief Executive, Tenouvus Cancer Care and Portfolio Non-Executive
Judi Rhys is the Chief Executive of Tenovus Cancer Care and has held Non-executive roles as Board Member Sport Wales, Public Health Wales, and as a trustee at Samaritans Cymru, National Voices and Alzheimer’s Society. She is also a Senior Independent Panel Member for Public Appointments in Wales
Born and brought up in Wales and, apart from a few forays across the border at various times, has lived in Wales all her life. She previously worked in the NHS, in higher education and in local government, but since 2006, has been in the third sector, holding positions as CEO at Arthritis Care and British Liver Trust. She values the importance of being person-centred – making sure that everything we do puts the people we are able to support at the heart of our action. Judi was awarded MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours for her work in the voluntary sector.
Denise Lewis Poulton
Denise Lewis Poulton is an experienced non-executive director, trustee and senior adviser to public, private and third sector bodies. Currently a Non-Executive Director of S4C, the Welsh language television broadcaster and multi-media channel for Wales and Trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund & The National Heritage Fund, being Chair of the Committee for Wales. She has served on the Boards of The Wallace Collection and the Welsh National Opera, as trustee of The Wessex Youth Trust and Cadwgan Buildings Preservation Trust and a Vice-President of The Hay Literary Festival.
A corporate affairs and strategic communications specialist, during her career as a consultant Denise advised the Welsh Government and Senedd Cymru and a number of Welsh cultural, media and public sector organisations. Her executive career was spent in leadership roles in multi-national and FTSE telecom companies culminating in her role as Group Director of Corporate Affairs at Orange plc where she launched the brand in 22 countries worldwide and created and built an award-winning portfolio of arts, education and cultural sponsorship.
Born in Adpar, Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion, Denise was educated at Llandysul Grammar School and King’s College, University of London. A Welsh speaker, she is passionate about harnessing the power of heritage, culture and the arts in regenerating communities in Wales and across the UK.
What previous Boardroom Insights attendees say:
“A most insightful evening.I met some fascinating ladies and found the whole event inspiring.”
“I got so much from you and wanted to thank you for sharing your learnings. You’ve helped me reframe what a NED is.”
“It totally surpassed my expectations! Inspirational! I made some great contacts.”
“The session … was a true inspiration to me. It was just what I needed at this time. The speakers you chose shared great insights on what NED roles they’d done, why they’d chosen them and how they got them. I also liked the Q&A session where the panel shared their hints on how to demonstrate what you will bring to the organization.”
With thanks to our event hosts
