Tell us a little bit about you and your company
I’m Head of Govt affairs for 3M, a science-based technology company that applies our science to creating products that make things better – helping people to be safer and more productive and safeguarding the environment. We’re much more than Post-it notes! 3M is headquartered in the St Paul in Minnesota, but we will have had a presence in the UK for 75 years next year. I have been with the company since November 2024.
Can you give us some background to your working career?
I have spent my whole career in either frontline politics or helping companies to engage with and shape government policy and regulation. I spent many years working with technology businesses (as well as a short stint at the FA!), but I have really enjoyed pivoting my career to a role in a materials science company and experiencing all the innovation that has to offer.
Why are you a BID board director, and why do you volunteer your time for the local business community?
Bracknell is a lovely place to work, and I was inspired by the opportunity to make it even better by collaborating with the diverse range of directors already on the board who represent business interests from many different sectors and bring such a wealth of skills and experiences to the task.
Why are you passionate about the Bracknell BID area?
The Bracknell BID area has so much going for it with global businesses having chosen to locate here. The BID has delivered some significant projects during its first phase, and I am pleased to be able to join it for its next phase. It’s a great example of businesses making improvements which benefit everyone working and living in the area.
What skills and experience do you bring to the BID board?
I have a strong professional background in external communications as well as building strategic relationships to influence decision-makers and bring about change. Outside of work, I have sat on the boards of charities of various sizes, so I bring some governance experience from that.
What projects or initiatives delivered by the BID are you most proud of?
I think the Board can be really proud of the shuttle bus that enables people arriving in Bracknell station to get to their place of work rapidly – it’s a practical solution which enables employees to use public transport with all the associated environmental benefits.
What difference do you hope the BID will have made in the next five years?
I hope that the BID will have continued its current path to support businesses in the BID area to become more sustainable as well as taking more measures to enhance our local environment.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I go running regularly and I love cooking and spending time with my family. I was lucky to see Oasis at Wembley last summer and that has inspired to me to make time for more live music. My background means that I’m a political geek, so I also listen to a lot of political podcasts!
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?
‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’ – it’s very well-known phrase and maybe even a bit of a cliché but I think it’s true. When I made my last career move, I was very purposeful in looking for an organisation where, in addition to opportunities to learn and grow, the culture aligned with my values, and I feel very fortunate to have found that at 3M.