We are pleased to be hosting a pre-conference dinner for our UK customers on Monday 11th October.

Dress code: Business attire
Location: Drinks reception: Colonial Suite    Dinner: Terrace Suite
Time: 6pm for 7pm seating.

The evening’s theme is centred around Innovation and we are pleased to have two speakers from industry to share some insights, experience and anecdotes on how UK organisations are embracing innovation, what are the driving forces behind it and what successes have been achieved from it.

Sir Richard Needham
Senior Independent Director of Dyson

"Richard was hugely entertaining, an excellent raconteur with useful business insights."
ICBI

As Senior Independent Director of Dyson, Sir Richard is responsible for developing the company's manufacturing and sales operations in Europe, the US and the Far East.

Richard originally served as a Conservative MP and Trade Minister. He is widely credited for reinvigorating UK exports, and for regenerating Northern Ireland's infrastructure and economic base. He took huge risks by insisting that Belfast's bomb-damaged city centre be reconstructed in glass and steel, to show confidence in the future.

Since leaving politics Richard has worked as Chairman, Director or advisor to twenty firms - from start-ups to global giants like GEC. Aside from his role at Dyson, he chairs Avon Rubber and Imperial College's DeltaDot (which invented the world's most advanced DNA sequencer). He also serves as Vice Chairman of NEC Europe.

Heading-up Dyson's move into China, Richard has developed contacts at the highest reaches of Government and at local Party Secretary level. He understands the pitfalls and the need to enter the market at the right level, in the right place and with the right partners.

Richard sets out the measures necessary for any organisation to secure its future. Delivered with trademark gusto and a sharp wit, his message is clear: keep innovating, look after suppliers, maintain margins, refuse to allow passengers, stress test your strategy, train those it most benefits and work out what customers are thinking - not what you want them to think.

Lee Hopley
Chief Economist, EEF

Lee Hopley has worked as an Economist at EEF for the past eight years.  As Chief Economist she leads EEF’s work on the economy and industrial policy.  This encompasses both macro-economic issues and matters relating to productivity and competitiveness. 

Lee coordinates the department’s work on issues including skills; investment; tax; innovation; energy and globalisation.  She is responsible for developing and communicating EEF’s policy thinking to members, the media, the government and other key policy formers and manages the work of the Economic Policy Committee and Education and Skills Committee.

Lee will talk to us about the latest research on Innovation due to be published in September.

To register for the dinner please select from the dropdown list on the Inforum UK 2010 conference registration form.