Speakers
Rachel Sloane
Rachel Sloane Partnerships Ltd
Rachel Sloane is an award winning broadcaster with over thirty years experience in local radio, both independent and BBC. Through her company, Rachel Sloane Partnerships Ltd, she works as an after-dinner and keynote conference speaker, and as a conference facilitator, compere and voice-over artiste. The company offers media/presentation skills training and publicity advice and produces promotional/training videos. They also organise and run focus groups.
On the committee of the Ipswich and Suffolk Small Business Association and an active member of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Rachel’s charity work includes being a Trustee of the charity Beira-Ipswich Health Initiative, and a Patron of Optua
Phil Eckersley
Agent, South East & East Anglia Agency
Bank of England
Phil graduated in Economics and Econometrics in the 80s, completing a post graduate qualification the following year.
He started with the Bank of England in 1987 having spent three years teaching economics and mathematics in SE London.
In his first four years at the Bank Phil worked as a statistician on money supply data. He moved on in 1991 to work in the management’s accounts office in the Bank, providing detailed cost briefing to Governors and Directors.
In 1994 Phil joined the Bank of England’s agency network, between 1994 and 2002 acting as Deputy Agent in the South East & East Anglia moving on in 2002 to become Agent for Northern Ireland; then in October 2008 he was appointed to be the Agent in the South East & East Anglia.
Phil Chairs a number of business panels in SE&EA, provides regular briefings on the state of the economy for the Monetary Policy Committee and undertakes many business presentations across the region.
He enjoys golf, tennis and reading, although not all at the same time!
Ben Luckett
Strategy Director
Aviva General Insurance
Ben Luckett is currently the Strategy Director for Aviva General Insurance (UK and Ireland). His role includes monitoring market trends, analysing future market scenarios and working with the executive team to devise and drive the strategic agenda.
Ben joined Aviva in 2005 as a strategy manager specialising in e-commerce. Prior to joining Aviva, Ben was a senior marketing manager at Centrica and began his career at Accenture where he was a customer experience consultant focussed on creating compelling digital propositions.
Ben has a degree in English and Sociology.
Tom Whittam
Digital Marketing Executive
Coast Digital
Tom Whittam is currently a Digital Marketing Executive at Coast Digital. With key competencies in SEO, PPC and analytical thinking, Tom is especially interested in optimising onsite conversion rates and understanding the role customer behaviour plays in shaping website functionality and marketing techniques.
Tom’s varied career history has ranged from the technicality of microelectronics to the high and lows of client services management. A keen athlete outside of work, Tom regularly clocks up the miles on his bike and when not in the peloton enjoys catching up on the latest films.
Eileen McKendry-Gray
Senior Associate
Birketts
Eileen joined Wollastons in 2007, prior to its merger with Birketts. She trained with a leading commercial firm in Belfast and qualified in 2005. As well as working in private practice, Eileen has also worked in-house for a well-known online entertainment company, so she understands the needs and demands of fast-moving online businesses.
Eileen's work primarily involves all types of commercial agreements, with a particular emphasis on IT and intellectual property, technology, research and development, software development and online ventures. She also advises on related regulatory fields such as competition law, data protection and privacy law.