Liz Barclay is the Small Business Commissioner for the UK. She has a background in broadcasting and journalism specialising in small business, personal finance and consumer affairs and is author of several business books. She is also Chair of the Fair by Design Campaign (to tackle the poverty premium); and a non-executive Director of the Lending Standards Board.

Until she took up the role of SBC Liz was a Financial Inclusion commissioner, an Ambassador for Business Debtline, a member of the Fundraising Regulator Standards Board and ran backinbusiness.org.uk to give small businesses a voice with policy makers. She worked with Boards and small businesses on improving governance, trust and culture, inclusivity, employee engagement, and understanding customer behaviour. She is also a communication and presentation skills coach and chairs national and international conferences.

Adam Bastock is the founder of Small99. Small99 breaks down the journey for micro and small businesses to net zero into a series of manageable, bite size steps to follow.

Having spent a decade working with and in small businesses, he understands the challenges owners have with limited resources and time. Most owners feel overwhelmed with the amount of information about net zero, and Small99 was founded to cut through all the noise.

With 99% of the economy made up of small businesses, Small99 provides practical guidance on how they can reach net zero quickly and accelerate the transition to net zero.

They have a goal to guide 1 million businesses to net zero by 2025.

With entrepreneurship in his blood, Gosbert has spent the last 10 years working across the startup ecosystem in both Europe and Africa. Prior to Startup Discovery School, Gosbert worked for Exeter Velocities, a Business Accelerator focused on sustainable solutions to the challenges of urbanisation. In this role, he worked with more than 40 startups and focused on building and managing a network of early-stage investors.

He has also worked for the Africa Technology Business Network, where he played a key role in launching ‘Her Future Africa', an Accra-based innovation camp focused on enabling innovative solutions to the continent’s challenges and providing access to under-served communities in Ghana Gosbert also sits on the UK Department of Business and Industrial Strategy’s SME Engagement Group.

This group regularly meets with Ministers and has provided strategic support to the Government in formulating business support policy during COVID-19 and beyond.

Andrew Goodacre has been the CEO of Bira since 2018 and is passionate about working with the high street and supporting small businesses.

Mr Goodacre has a strong background in retail and hospitality, and since taking up the role, has been integral in pushing forward independent retailers and showcasing their importance of them being at the very heart of every good high street throughout the UK and a vital part of life and the economy within local communities.

He started his career in hospitality, spending 25 years working in the retail divisions of national breweries and pub companies.

Andrew was also formerly a member of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) before becoming the CEO of the Residential Landlords Association in 2013.

Victoria Jenkins, founder of adaptive fashion brand Unhidden and leading advocate for disability inclusion, has been named as Co-Chair of a major new independent review, backed by UK Government, aiming to address and overcome the inequality faced by disabled-led businesses. The Lilac Review will commence for an initial two-year period, with Victoria Jenkins co-chairing alongside the Minister for Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake and the Minister for Disabled People, Mims Davies.

With over 16 years' experience in the fashion industry, including at brands like Victoria Beckham, Victoria Jenkins founded her award-winning business Unhidden in 2016 informed by her own lived experience of living with chronic illness and disability. Unhidden has since been featured on Dragon’s Den and showcased at London Fashion Week twice and is the only adaptive fashion brand to become a member at the BFC. A TEDx speaker, author and host on Channel 4’s ‘The Unique Boutique’, Victoria is ranked as the second most influential person as part of Shaw Trust Disability Power 100.

Kerensa is an award-winning tech leader and bestselling fiction author. She spent the first two decades of her career as a TV producer, before qualifying as an executive coach, and working for a few years as CEO of a social enterprise at Buckingham Palace. Previously the BBC’s Head of Strategic Delivery, these days Kerensa balances a portfolio life including writing, leading Data Platforms in BT, NED positions in the charitable and private sectors; and co-hosting special series of The Tech Leaders podcast. Computer Weekly selected her as the 7th Most Influential Woman in UK Technology 2023, and she has spent more than a decade helping small businesses unlock their potential.

Sholto is responsible for Seller Success at eBay, where he’s driven by eBay's purpose to "create economic opportunity for all" and his passion for supporting small businesses - and the unique people behind them. Sholto is also a proud member of the Steering Board for the Lilac Review, a government-backed independent review aiming to tackle the inequality faced by disabled-led businesses and level-up entrepreneurial opportunity across the UK.

During his time at eBay, Sholto has held a variety of roles where he’s been able to advocate for the needs of small business owners, including UK Chief Operating Officer and Global Customer Experience Strategy & Transformation. Prior to eBay, Sholto has also held leadership positions across the Telecommunications, BPO & Retail sectors and provided mentorship support to later stage start-up businesses.

Marsha Powell Founder of BelEve UK, a London based Girls Charity, that equips girls and young women with the support network, skills, and confidence to make informed choices about their future and become the next generation of female leader.

Committed to the development and social mobility of young women, this HR professional uses all her transferable skills, knowledge and experience from her 15-year career in the city and her Masters in Personel Development to develop and sustain a platform that contributes to the female empowerment and gender equality narrative in the UK.

BelEve gives girls and young women support, guidance, education, confidence, self-esteem, opportunities, positive solutions, and role models.

Chris Sims leads BT Business' Small and Medium Business (SMB) unit, connecting the UK's vibrant SMB community. His career boasts a wealth of experience, spanning the mobile industry and traversing the globe, where he honed his expertise with industry leaders like EE and Orange.

Beyond his leadership role, Chris actively invests in the future by serving as a passionate coach and mentor for BT's next generation of leaders through the early careers programme. He recognises the importance of mental well-being, championing its awareness within the organisation.

Chris' dedication extends beyond the immediate sphere, as he serves as a vocal advocate and active ally for the broader small business community - support female, disabled, and minority-led businesses, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.

Matt Smith is director of research and policy at the Global Entrepreneurship Network - a community connecting entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and policymakers across 180 countries.

Matt has worked at the heart of the UK’s world-leading entrepreneurial ecosystem since 2008, first as co-founder of student entrepreneur charity NACUE, and most recently as co-founder of think tank and entrepreneurship foundation The Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE), where he remains a senior fellow, facilitating partnerships and providing strategic guidance to the team.

Matt helped launch the European Startup Network in 2016 and from 2020 has served on the board of the National Enterprise Network - connecting enterprise agencies across the UK.

Joseph Williams is the LGBTQ and disabled Co-Founder & CEO of worker-tech company Clu. A former Activist in Residence at Kings College, he has spent the last 20 years campaigning for social and economic inclusion. He is a cited expert on the future of work, and the skills economy with specialism in developing technology and services that promote inclusive economic growth.

Dr Tom Williamson is Assistant Principal of ARU Peterborough, responsible for the Faculty of Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the Faculty of Creative and Digital Arts and Sciences. Tom's research explores the role of Universities in providing support to Start-Ups, SMEs, and Entrepreneurs.

As a practitioner Tom has previously sat on, and Chaired, the Board of EEUK and is currently a management board member of the Small Business Charter. He is a small business owner and has been involved in many start-ups further highlighting his interest and commitment in the enhancement of Education by closely engaging with Industry and Entrepreneurs.