BYPY 2011 Winners

2011 Overall Winner - Hilary Allen

Age: 31
Job Title: Associate
Company: Davis Langdon

Hilary is an associate at Davis Langdon, a chartered quantity surveyor and a University of Cambridge graduate. Hilary currently works in Davis Langdon’s banking, tax and finance team, helping to manage key client accounts and assisting with the firm’s land development initiative. Hilary is a group mentor for the civic leadership programme ‘UpRising’, which is aimed at 19-25-year-olds in Birmingham. She is an active member of Birmingham Future and contributes a lot to the organisation in her role as co-ordinator for the leadership team. She has also been a part of Birmingham Future’s strategy committee.

 

Communications Category Winner - Alex Burrows

Age: 32
Job Title: Head of Strategy
Company: Centro

Alex is head of strategy at Centro, where he is responsible for establishing its lobbying function alongside developing the strategic direction for integrated transport across the West Midlands metropolitan area. A registered lobbyist with the UK Public Affairs Council, Alex has over seven years experience in the ‘dark arts’ of lobbying, working across the transport, betting and wine and spirits sectors. He led the team that secured funding for the Midlands Metro City Centre extension and is currently championing the High Speed 2 rail development programme. A board member of Colmore Business District, he is also a member of the management advisory committee for Cruse Bereavement Care and Birmingham Future’s City Centre Committee.

 

Entrepreneurial Category Winner - Nicolas Holzherr

Age: 25
Job Title: Founder
Company: QRky Ltd

Nicolas graduated from the University of Aston with a FirstClass Honours degree in international business and modern languages, where he was founding president of the ‘Students in free enterprise’ society that runs projects in the local community. In 2009, he founded three companies: QRky Ltd, which used quick response technology to link digital contact and multimedia data; Recip.ly, which links recipe websites with online supermarkets; and Co-Go Coffee Ltd, which sells high-quality, ethical takeaway coffee. Named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 by Midlands Business Insider magazine, he is a guest lecturer at the University of Birmingham’s Business School and also at Birmingham City University.

 

Financial Category Winner - Emmet Keating

Age: 31
Job Title: Principal
Company: Catalyst

Emmet is a principal at Catalyst, an award winning international corporate finance advisory firm. A graduate of Manchester University, he joined Catalyst in 2006 and recently played a major part in the team winning the Birmingham Post award for Finance and Investment team of the Year and the Insider Midlands award for Corporate Finance Advisory team of the Year. Emmet is part of the Institute of Chartered Accountants local committee, helping to organise events such as annual dinners and speaking to local school and university students about career opportunities. He is also informally mentoring a promising finance manager at a local, privately-owned business, helping him to move from a manager to director role.

 

HR, Recruitment & Training Category Winner - Etta Parkes

Age: 31
Job Title: Operations Manager
Company: Graduate Advantage

Etta has been the operations manager for not-for-profit project Graduate Advantage since 2008. She leads a large team dedicated to delivering work experience placements to graduates across the West Midlands. Alongside overseeing and managing the operations of the main Graduate Advantage Project, Etta has also managed several niche graduate recruitment programmes, targeting specific areas of Birmingham. Etta also volunteers on an annual basis through BXL, Education Partnership for Birmingham and Solihull, undertaking practise interviews for Year 11 students. Following successful completion of her CIPD course, Etta was invited to lecture on the Professional Development Scheme at Solihull College and has delivered evening and weekend sessions to professionals in HR across Birmingham.

 

Inspiring Leader 2011 - Paul Thandi

Job Title: Chief Executive
Organisation:  The NEC Group

We are delighted to present Paul Thandi as Birmingham Future’s Inspiring Leader for 2011. Paul became chief executive of the NEC Group in 2006 after 18 months as the Group’s commercial director, where he was responsible for delivering the largest haul of new business in any single year of the company’s history.

As chief executive, his vision and energy drives the Group forward, generating a can-do culture that permeates beyond the organisation itself and into the wider community.

Through his position on the boards of Marketing Birmingham, CBI West Midlands Council, Birmingham & Solihull Employment and Skills and Birmingham Prospectus Advisory Group, as well as in his role as President of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, Paul clearly demonstrates a commitment to the wider business community, driving change from the inside to deliver future success.

This approach is reflected in the NEC Group’s proposals to develop a new hotel and casino complex that will attract £120 million to the region and create over 1,000 jobs.

Married with three children, Paul is a keen charity supporter and is heavily involved with Marie Curie Cancer Care. He also gives generously of his time to mentor up-and-coming professionals across the region.

Paul can’t help but inspire those around him. He is an extremely worthy winner of our Inspiring Leader award.

 

Legal Category Winner - Damian Johnson

Age: 31
Job Title: Head of Structured Products Legal
Company: Deutsche Bank

Damian is head of structured products legal for Deutsche Bank in Birmingham. Damian is a qualified solicitor with 13 years experience in the financial services sector. He gained his legal qualification whilst working for West Bromwich Building Society, which sponsored his law degree. Damian takes part in Outward Bound Trust activities, including rock climbing, canoeing and orienteering to help raise money for charity. He also supported the Raise the Roof Campaign, an initiative pushing for a rise in the stamp duty threshold to assist first-time buyers, joining a delegation of financial services organisations in delivering a petition to Downing Street.

 

Property & Construction Category & 2011 Overall Winner - Hilary Allen

Age: 31
Job Title: Associate
Company: Davis Langdon

Hilary is an associate at Davis Langdon, a chartered quantity surveyor and a University of Cambridge graduate. Hilary currently works in Davis Langdon’s banking, tax and finance team, helping to manage key client accounts and assisting with the firm’s land development initiative. Hilary is a group mentor for the civic leadership programme ‘UpRising’, which is aimed at 19-25-year-olds in Birmingham. She is an active member of Birmingham Future and contributes a lot to the organisation in her role as co-ordinator for the leadership team. She has also been a part of Birmingham Future’s strategy committee.