Allan Leighton to speak at Women’s Business Forum

HIGH-FLYING businessman Allan Leighton will be among the speakers at this year’s Women’s Business Forum.

Mr Leighton (pictured) was appointed non-executive chairman of Saltaire-based Pace plc earlier this year.

He will deliver a speech on why you need “sprinters” and “endurance runners” in the corporate world when he addresses an audience of 650 delegates to the event on Thursday, September 29, at Rudding Park in Harrogate.

The forum is being organised by Holmfirth-based Heather Jackson.

Mr Leighton will be joined by Kirsty Bashforth, head of organisational effectiveness at BP plc; Chris Sullivan, chief executive of RBS UK Corporate Banking; and Carla Stent, chief operating officer at Virgin Management.

Mr Leighton was formerly chief executive of Leeds-based Asda and non-executive chairman of Royal Mail.

Heather Jackson, founder and director of the Women’s Business Forum, said:Š “The calibre of speakers at this year’s event reflects the support and interest from the very top of corporate Britain.”

The Women’s Business Forum is recognised as the most significant forum on the issue of women on boards in the UK. The influence of the conference extends from the boards of the FTSE 100 to Westminster. The conference aims to shape the debate over the next 12 months, by getting women, men and organisations to understand why action is needed and what action that should be.

Go to www.thewomensbusinessforum.co.uk