Northwest Business Forum: ESG - What it is and why it is critical to your business

Eddie Austin

CEO, Operam Education Group

A recognised and award winning business leader, Eddie is an entrepreneur, board member and highly respected thought leader within the Recruitment Sector, the founder and CEO of Operam Education Group, a private equity backed business. His experience and knowledge within the recruitment industry spans almost 40 years, building UK and International public and private sector staffing businesses. He is an advocate for deliverable social mobility and wellbeing initiatives, and is a regular key note speaker and contributor to industry reports that highlight trends within the education staffing sector.
Eddie’s extensive experience has enabled him to develop sustainable organic and acquisition growth strategies, building brand transformation, operational excellence and market share. His approach towards employee engagement has been widely recognised as a bench mark that supports brand purpose and impact, he is also vice-chair of a specialist SEND Multi-Academy Trust. Eddie has been recognised by CEO Monthly as their UK CEO of the Year, and included in People Groups choice of Dream Board members.

Gary Kendall

Head of Climate Strategy Implementation, Natwest

Supporting the integration of climate change into NatWest’s strategy and working with franchises and functions as well as our Strategy and Sustainable Banking teams, Dr Gary Kendall is Head of Climate Strategy Implementation. Gary has most recently been working with Nedbank in Johannesburg, within a group strategy role. He has a broad background across various sectors including oil & gas, civil society, consulting, academia, and finance on a career path crossing Europe, North America, East Asia, and Southern Africa. Through these diverse roles he has built experience in sales and marketing, business development, strategy and as a thought leader on systemic socio-economic development challenges including energy and climate change. Gary previously worked for SustainAbility Ltd leading their think tank function and for WWF International’s climate and energy programme.

Simon Lewis

Partner, Brabners

Simon is a partner in the corporate team at Brabners with extensive experience in the recruitment sector. Together with mergers and acquisitions, Simon advises extensively on shareholder relations and employee share plans.

Simon also leads Brabners’ sustainability initiatives. In the past 2 years he has overseen the firm’s successful B Corp certification, development of sustainability goals, membership of Business Declares a Climate Emergency and investment in the Kingsdale Head peatland restoration project. All of which are part of the firm’s strategy to be the sustainable law firm of choice.

Tom Proverbs-Garbett

Associate Director, RSM

Tom joined RSM in 2022 from Pinsent Masons, where he was the UK lead for corporate governance for five years. He has extensive experience managing company secretarial functions in the UK; providing advice on directors’ duties and conflicts of interest; undertaking governance reviews and evaluations of boards; and providing board and director training.

‘As a governance specialist, my practice revolves around helping clients understand the benefits of good corporate governance. As businesses continue to examine their environmental and social commitments, good corporate governance practice will underpin those efforts. The unparalleled experience of RSM's ESG consultancy team creates a one-stop-shop for ESG matters. The team's dedication to assisting clients with the most pressing issues of our time, makes joining a privilege and hugely exciting.’

Tom regularly produces thought leadership on governance issues, with recent articles in The Scotsman and Governance magazine. He blogs for Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. As a fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute, he is currently honorary secretary for its West Midlands branch.