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Advisory Board

The Birmingham City Business School Advisory Board provides advice, guidance and support to the Director of School and other senior colleagues within the school, helping to achieve its vision and strategic objectives.

The Board helps in ensuring that the school can operate as a leading school in its approach to meeting the needs of the employers and other stakeholders, in the UK and overseas.

Board Members

Dr Abubakar M Dembo

Director: Internal Audit/Alumni

An experienced banker and civil servant, Abubakar has expertise in banking operations, marketing and relationship management, credit administration, debt recovery, budgeting, financial accounting, auditing, and the tendering process.

Andrew Connors

Regional Head Midlands and Head of Public & Third Sector, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Lloyds Bank

Andrew is Midlands Regional Head for Lloyds Banks’ Corporate & Institutional Banking business and national Head of Lloyds’ Public & Third Sector business which includes UK Government, Higher Education and large Charities.

Andrew Lawton Smith

Partner: Fieldfisher

Andy is the Head of the Corporate & M&A team in the Midlands at leading European business law firm, Fieldfisher. He works for managerially-owned enterprises as well as large UK and overseas-owned corporates and private equity-owned companies on significant acquisition, disposal, joint venture, debt and equity raise and equity capital market projects. His key focus markets are Tech and Advanced Manufacturing.

Daljinder Mattu

Senior Policy Lead Cyber Security (Midlands): Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport

Daljinder has extensive private and public sector experience, advising business and government leaders on a diverse range of issues (corporate reputation, stakeholder, media, internal, crisis comms & CSR, etc).

Darrel Edwards

West Midlands Business Advisors

As owner of West Midlands Business Advisors, Darrel specialises in helping businesses grow both organically and by acquisition and supports both the exit strategy and business sale.

He is Regional Director for Boardroom Advisors providing senior level strategic support to local businesses. In his previous career, he has successfully led five manufacturing businesses with 70 to 600 employees.

Deborah Leary

CEO, Forensic Pathways

As CEO and Founder of Forensic Pathways (FPL), Deborah has responsibility for the strategic management and direction of Forensic Pathways, focusing particularly on the exploitation of its product and service offering to international markets and the company’s commitment to Corporate Governance.

Eugene Nizeyimana

CEO and Managing Partner: SSCG Group

Eugene Nizeyimana is an accomplished entrepreneurial engineer, business leader and international management consultant with more than 20 years’ experience and a track record in delivering multi-channelled capabilities and solutions across a broad range of clients in over 15 global markets and industries, ranging from Professional Services, Management Consulting, Oil and Gas (E&P), Technology, Manufacturing and Automotive Sectors.

Fleur Sexton

CEO and Co-Founder of PET-Xi Training, Co-Founder of PET-Xi Restaurants

Fleur Sexton is a Deputy Lieutenant, representing Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Honorary Doctor of the University (BCU), Businesswoman of the Year and CEO and Co-Founder of multi-award-winning PET-Xi Training, one of the most hard-hitting and dynamic training providers in the UK with a reputation for success with the hardest to reach.

Ghanshyam Nabar

Founder & Director, UICONNECT LTD (UK India Connect)

Ghanshyam Nabar is a dynamic and results-driven leader with over 18 years of experience in driving strategic growth and economic development across diverse sectors. He possesses a proven track record of building high-value partnerships with key stakeholders in government, industry, and community organisations, securing substantial funding, and leading cross-functional teams to exceed targets and deliver exceptional results.

Jonathan Couch

Head of Communities Impact & ESG Communication Specialist: OSB Group

As Head of Communities Impact & ESG Communications for a FTSE 250, Jonathan is responsible for delivering the Community Impact Strategy with a key focus on people. Whether through engaging employees to volunteer their time to good causes, raise funds for deserving charities, or identify and manage sponsorship partnerships to provide significant help to the underserved and overlooked in our communities.

Lorraine Gbadegesin

Director and CEO: Lozboutique

Lorraine is a certified business coach with extensive experience in the fashion industry, exemplified by her successful fashion consultancy brand, Lozboutique.

She has a solid background in finance and project management having worked with various public and private organisations in diverse roles.

Mark O'Sullivan

Managing Director, BanaBay

Mark is a multiple business owner and serial entrepreneur spanning the fresh produce, recruitment-creative sector, digital, tech and retail industries.

Prior to starting multiple businesses Mark had a 19 year career in logistics. However, opportunity arose in the fresh produce import/export industry and this led Mark to the path of entrepreneurship and he hasn’t looked back.

Marvel Gabula

Director

Marven is a visionary company director with a proven track record in real estate, property development and management, health and social care, and multiple projects including planning, acquisition, strategy, design, construction, administration and management.

Michelle Lynch

Owner and Director: Lynch’s Resources Ltd

Michelle is the owner of the award-winning Lynch’s Resources, specialising in hybrid accounting and finance services for small and medium enterprises.

Paul Cadman

Professor in Entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University, regional business leader and charity ambassador

Paul is a national and international award-winning Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of success working in technology, manufacturing, retail, consultancy, media and membership organisations. Paul has taken businesses from conception to £100m plus turnover based largely on organic growth, experience, strategy and contacts.

Shaz Umbreen

Director of Brand and Marketing, National Trust

Shaherazad Umbreen is a director, non-exec director, and leader of innovation in brand, marketing, and sustainability. Enabling social justice is Shaherazad’s core purpose. She delivers inclusive and purposeful strategies for organisations which work to make the world a fairer place.