Centrica – Senior Leader Development Programme

Facilitators

Kathleen O’Donovan is a mentor, lecturer and presenter, drawing on extensive experience of executive and non executive responsibility on a global scale, serving on major UK and overseas boards including multi-sector businesses. She has a deep understanding of boardrooms and their dynamics, with broad-based experience of the City, financial strategy, M&A and restructuring. Kathleen is currently Chair of the Invensys Pension Scheme and Founder Partner of Bird & Co Board & Executive Mentoring Ltd. Formerly, she has held Non-Executive Director roles at ARM Holdings Plc, DS Smith plc, Prudential plc, O2 Plc, Great Portland Estates plc, EMI Group plc, and the Bank of England. Kathleen was also co-Chair of the International Rescue Committee UK, a charity supporting conflict zone refugees. Kathleen trained as a Chartered Accountant and her previous roles include CFO of BTR plc/Invensys plc and Partner at Ernst & Young. She became the FTSE 100’s first female executive director and its youngest-ever CFO. Chris has worked in equity markets for over two decades in both the UK and the US and is a chartered financial analyst. He started his career as Investor Relations Manager at BT before moving to Nomura as a Senior Equity Analyst, where he was in charge of analysis for European and North American telecommunications and technology companies, and the in-house valuation methodology. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) he has directed an MSc in Finance as well as facilitating sessions on financial analysis, valuation, portfolio management, investor relations, corporate finance and operational management. Chris is currently Head of Finance at a start-up, consults with a range of companies, including a hedge fund.

Kathleen O’Donovan Writing an Effective Board Paper and Preparing for Board Meetings

Chris Ansell Understanding Financials

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