Council and Committees
EMMA-LOUISE HEWITT - SOLIHULL PRESIDENT
I am the Vice President of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce and a Partner and the Head of the Employment Law Department at Sydney Mitchell LLP. I deal with all aspects of the minefield that is employment law for both employers and employees providing guidance and support.
With my role in the Chamber, I support my Vice President’s and the President of the Chamber in their roles as well as the Chamber itself and its and its members. I am an active networker within the Borough of Solihull, not only on a business level, but also on a personal basis being part of a wider community of people and supporting local businesses, which really excites me. Relationships are really important to me and I thrive on that. If I can help I will.
I have been part of the Chamber for 13 years. For the last 3 years I have sat on the Solihull Chamber Executive Committee, helping to drive change, promote engagement, encouraging work inspiration amongst businesses for the next generation, as well as supporting both the Chamber and its members and I will keep on doing this!
NEELAM AFZAL - ABCC VICE-PRESIDENT
Neelam is a Partner and Solicitor in Employment Law at Wildings Solicitors.
With just over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, she is renowned amongst her clients for her dedicated approach and passion for assisting and supporting employers and employees.
Neelam advises across a broad spectrum of both contentious and non-contentious matters having managed a varied Employment Tribunal caseload and undertaken advocacy. Neelam has also provided full employment services to corporate business clients, including one of the UK's largest independent healthcare services providers, leading to commercially astute and pragmatic advice. Neelam advises employer’s and her clients range from the Healthcare Services, Energy and Utilities, Financial Services and Manufacturing.
DAVID MITCHELL - CANNOCK CHASE PRESIDENT
David Mitchell is a highly experienced Managing Director, marketing strategist, and Chartered Institute of Marketing Fellow. He specialises in business consultancy, brand positioning, and creative direction, and he also focuses on web strategy, design, and creating focused content. His full-service agency offers comprehensive marketing and communication services, including graphic and web design for print and on-screen and retained services to help clients maximise the impact of their marketing. As President of the Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce, David passionately advocates for local businesses, supporting them in developing effective marketing strategies for sustainable growth.
With a hands-on approach, David provides businesses with the information and tools to create, develop and differentiate their brands, attract clients, and build long-term success. As president of the Cannock Chase Chamber, he shares valuable insights and resources from the Greater Birmingham Chambers network, encouraging businesses to engage, collaborate, and make the most of their Chamber membership. His leadership helps ensure that Cannock remains a dynamic and prosperous business hub.
CARMEN WATSON
Carmen is Chairperson of Pertemps Network Group.
She has over 30 years’ experience in recruitment and is responsible for promoting and delivering best practice in the field of attraction, recruitment and retention of talent on behalf of clients ranging from SME’s to Blue Chip organisations, servicing both the public and private sectors across the UK.
She is a strong advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, is a member of the Business in the Community Race for Opportunity Leadership Team, is a Foundation Committee Member of City & Guilds and Advancement Board Member of Aston University.
Carmen received an Honorary Doctorate from Aston University in 2021 and is a Doctor of Business Administration.
She was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands in April 2023.
EILEEN SCHOFIELD
Eileen was admitted to the roll of Solicitors in England and Wales in 2000, she now runs her own award winning Law Firm, a niche commercial and employment law firm which she set up in 2009. Alongside the national employment law practice Eileen has set up a HR Division, Schofield HR providing outsourced HR advise to SME’s
Eileen was the first solicitor in the UK to set up a transatlantic video link for a client to give evidence from the US.
Eileen was appointed to the role of President of Birmingham Law Society in 2014/2015, during her tenure as President Eileen represented the Society nationally and internationally and raised the profile of the Society with City of Birmingham leaders, parliamentary decision makers and business leaders, both nationally and internationally.
Eileen was elected as the first female Chair of the Board in its 200 year history, she led the Society in marking its 200 year celebrations and obtained a coveted blue plaque on the Society’s premises.
Eileen sits on the International Committee and Employment Law Committee of the Birmingham law Society. Eileen was a founding member of the Legal Tech committee
Eileen is the President of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce which is the largest regional division of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce which supports business from a range of sectors, she is the former Vice President of the Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce, a division which facilitates business between the US and the UK. Solihull Chamber
Eileen is a founding member and Chair of The West Midlands Irish Business Group in association with the Irish Government. The Group collaborates with and supports businesses in and around the West Midlands region to facilitate networking and business opportunities.
Eileen is a Board Director for The Law Society of England and Wales and sits on the People & Remuneration Committee for the Law Society.
JOHNATHAN DUDLEY
I lead Crowe UK’s Manufacturing Business Group, where I focus on driving growth and innovation within the sector. In my parallel role as the National Head of Corporate SME Business, I am dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in all corporate sectors, helping them navigate complex challenges and achieve sustainable success.
As a Chartered Accountant, I represent the West Midlands on the council of ICAEW, our institute’s ‘governance arm’ and an ex chair, and continuing member of, its Manufacturing Community.
My leadership experience is extensive and multifaceted. I have had the privilege of serving on the Crowe UK Executive team and its Supervisory Board, where I contributed to the strategic oversight and governance of our fast growing firm. I have lead teams in the establishment and development of two office locations and am the immediate past Office managing Partner for our Midlands and Southwest Region.
In addition to my leadership roles, I offer strategic advice and personal coaching as an Accredited Mindshop Facilitator (AMSF). This allows me to provide tailored guidance and support to business leaders, helping them to develop their skills and achieve their goals.
With over 40 years’ experience and a commitment to excellence, I strive to foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and drives business performance. My goal is to leverage my expertise to deliver exceptional value to our clients and the community as a whole.
COLIN FYFE
Colin Fyfe is the Chief Executive of Unity Trust Bank plc. He has led financial services firms for 10 years through his roles as Chief Executive Officer at Hinckley & Rugby Building Society and Darlington Building Society. This followed a 29 year banking career with the National Australia Bank Group, with the majority of this time spent at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank. His experience covered corporate, commercial, private, and retail banking and leadership positions spanning marketing, people, sales, and risk teams across these sectors.
Colin holds a Non-Executive Director position with Ahead Partnership, a purpose-driven business which supports young people to improve their careers outcomes.
Colin is a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers in Scotland.
AMANDA LOWE
My firm, STORY, focuses on telling stories that matter. For me, those stories are about social impact, those that make a difference to our communities and the world around us. STORY focuses almost entirely on supporting businesses based here, with offices here or who are investing in our city. From the British Business Bank and the work it does to fund local entrepreneurs, to the Rigby Group, one of the region's most successful family firms with global operations - and plans to address the city's youth employment challenge.
I have led the PR, comms and reputation management for a number of the city's representative bodies, helping to boost our reputation on the national and international stage. From our inward investment body, Business Birmingham to our promotion as a visitor destination for Visit Birmingham, as well as business and policy groups, such as the GBSLEP.
I am passionate about shouting about Birmingham's greatness, leaning into and addressing the challenges it faces and helping businesses here to grow and create much needed opportunity for our next generation.
DR BEVERLY LINDSAY OBE OD
Beverly Lindsay a former Nurse/Midwife and Community Worker, founder of Diamond Travel, an esteemed international travel agency and shipping agent, has led her business to an impressive success since its 1987 inception. Beyond her entrepreneurial prowess, Beverly serves as a notable mentor and advocate for the African Caribbean community in Birmingham, the UK, and globally.
Her unwavering commitment to business and community service, including founder and the current chair of the Association of Jamaican Nationals (Birmingham)UK, has earned her numerous accolades, including The Order of Distinction (OD) in 2008 and an Officer in the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2011.
Beverly made history as the first Afro-Caribbean woman President of the Rotary Club of Birmingham in 2012, the first Afro-Caribbean woman Deputy Lieutenant in 2013 and in 2017, the first woman Vice Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands and received Honorary Doctorates from Aston University and Birmingham City University.
SUZIE BRANCH-HADDOW
Suzie Branch-Haddow is Vice Principal, External Development at Birmingham Metropolitan College with responsibility for all externally facing activity including: Business Development and Sales, Apprenticeship Recruitment, Work Experience, Income Diversification, Stakeholder Relations, Marketing and Schools engagement.
She is also Chair of Skills West Midlands and Warwickshire, a collaboration of Further Education Training Providers and Colleges across the region working together to forge links between the regional business community and FE sector.
Suzie formed her first business when she was 24 providing marketing and PR consultancy support to the BPS and Education Sector before going into the Further Education sector in 2013. A career move that enabled Suzie to combine values and focus on supporting young adults into rewarding careers through improving the connectivity of business and education.
Suzie is proud to have received the Future Faces President Award in recognition of her support to young professionals through networks and in particular the role she played in merging Birmingham Future and Future Faces and of course.. Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year.
She is also a volunteer Enterprise Advisor at Rigby Hall Special School in Bromsgrove where her young son is a pupil and is passionate about improving opportunities for young people with disabilities and for supporting parents and carers develop careers.
SARA BLAIR-MANNING
Sara is a visionary and creative leader of heritage and cultural visitor attractions and large-scale capital projects. With over 30 years of ethical leadership, she delivers success by working collaboratively a range of stakeholders. Passionate about diversity, inclusion and education she has been successful in establishing and managing effective, multi-disciplinary and diverse teams of staff and volunteers.
She believes that a high quality, creative and accessible visitor offer leads to a strong sense of community ownership and long-term support of local assets, leading to successful place making.
YETUNDE DANIA
Yetunde is a partner at international law firm Trowers & Hamlins and since 2020 has been head of their Birmingham office, which has grown to a head count of over 150 people since opening 13 years ago.
On a day-to-day basis, Yetunde is a property litigation lawyer, using her 25 plus years of experience in the profession to advise the social housing sector and private sector landlords and their agents in relation to non-contentious issues and disputes. Besides this Yetunde is passionate about advancing the equity, diversity & inclusion agenda, particularly for care leavers and the Black community.
Until 2022 Yetunde was on the advisory board of the government-backed Care Leaver Covenant which launched on 26 October 2018 and in December 2021 became the first independent chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority's Race Equalities Taskforce. Yetunde stepped down from the Taskforce in June 2023 having secured the Combined Authority's approval of a five-year strategy entitled "Race Forward", which was devised by the 30-member strong taskforce.
Since stepping down Yetunde has continued to pursue her passion by, amongst other things, being instrumental in the creation of the Black Business Collective, a network launched by Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce in June 2024 which is aimed at Black business owners and entrepreneurs. Trowers & Hamlins is a founding sponsor of the network.
ANNA BRIGHT
Anna has been working with organisations to improve their sustainability for over 20 years and has a private sector background in water, waste and wastewater management, working for Severn Trent for over five years.
Anna has been Chief Executive at Sustainability West Midlands for over eight years, working with businesses, universities, colleges, local authorities, the health sector and the West Midlands Combined Authority to help shape the way that they mitigate and adapt for climate change.
Anna is on the board of the Midlands Net Zero Hub, the Midlands Engine Green Growth Board and she was a Trustee for the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust for six years.
EMAN AL-HILLAWI
I came to the University of Birmingham in 1987 to study and fell in love with the city and its people, so established it as my home and location of my business change consultancy, Entec Si.
As a small business, employing people from across the region, I take pride in developing our network and supporting regional anchor institutions. This has included the delivery of multiple projects and programmes for clients such as Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Airport, Aston University, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.
Working with local organisations, as well as being an active member of networking and membership bodies, helps me keep abreast on the issues being faced by businesses. This enables me to offer insight and support and influence decisions.
Entec Si has held memberships with the GBCC including 1813, Future Faces and the 1MM, since 2015. I regularly attend Chamber events and meetings and contribute to the GBCC’s Small Business Academy and annual IWD events.
