Leaders Lunch with Naomi Smith, Ryan Wain and Jo Phillips

On Tuesday, 17th September Downtown in Business invites you to join us for the latest ‘Leaders Lunch’ event. Join us from 12:30 – 2:30 PM for an exclusive round table lunch event in Birmingham with Naomi Smith, CEO of Best For Britain, Ryan Wain executive Director of Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and Jo Phillips Journalist and former political advisor to Paddy Ashdown and Bob Geldof.

These fantastic speakers will address an exclusive guest list of professionals from various sectors in the Birmingham City region and beyond, sharing insights from their work and experiences.

Naomi Smith has been CEO of Best for Britain since 2019, having previously served as their Chief Operating Officer. She was also Executive Director of Campaigns at the business lobby group London First. Before focusing on her campaigning work, Naomi spent 15 years working in finance and accounting with Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. She holds the FCMA/CGMA designation (AICPA/CIMA).

Naomi will be reflecting on her work at Best For Britain and looking towards the future of the country and economy post-Brexit. Naomi will discuss the continuing impact of Brexit and the current economic climate on businesses, drawing from her extensive experience running successful campaigns and understanding both the social and economic impacts of Brexit. She will provide valuable insights on the challenges facing the Birmingham region and beyond, offering thoughts on how current legislation can be leveraged to benefit businesses and individuals.

Best for Britain is a cross-party campaign group working for an inclusive, confident, and united Britain that is outward-looking and respected as a trusted partner on the global stage. Launched in April 2017 to stop Brexit and continue the UK’s membership in the European Union, the organisation has since shifted its aim to encourage greater internationalism and re-engagement with Europe. Their team of polling scientists, researchers, communications experts, and digital strategists provides the public and parliament with the data and tools needed to navigate post-Brexit challenges.

As executive Director of Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Ryan is a powerhouse in political strategy and policy, leading the charge at the Tony Blair Institute with a mission to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time. His work, including the ground breaking Future of Britain programme, is shaping a new policy agenda that is making waves globally.

Ryan brings a wealth of experience in political strategy and policy, with a focus on providing actionable solutions for the challenges facing leaders today. As the leader of the Institute’s Policy and Politics team, Ryan is dedicated to shaping a new policy agenda that can help tackle the long-term challenges posed by technology, climate change, and geopolitical shifts.

Ryan is also the driving force behind the Future of Britain programme, a flagship initiative of the Tony Blair Institute that has successfully engaged with these critical issues. His work during the COVID-19 pandemic, which influenced government policy on vaccines and saved lives, is just one example of his commitment to turning radical ideas into reality.

Before joining the Tony Blair Institute, Ryan served as a Senior Political Advisor to the Labour Party, where he focused on education and youth policy. His experience in both global creative agencies and politics makes him a key voice in the discussions on how Liverpool and other cities can navigate the complex challenges ahead.

Jo Phillips is a former adviser to both Paddy Ashdown and Bob Geldof. She now works as a freelance journalist and political commentator and her latest book, ‘Why Vote – How to make your voice heard in a world of broken politics’ is a fascinating read.

Jo also joined the Downtown team back in March to provide her weekly take on the world of politics in her blog, Just Jo and where she details her weekly musings on current politics. She also works alongside DIBs political commentator Jim Hancock and our Group Chair and chief executive Frank McKenna as a presenter on Downtown’s weekly Politics Podcast. She will provide a highly experienced and unique analysis of the issues of the day.

If you would like to attend this event, please email alice.evans@downtowninbusiness.com.