Our presenters

Pae is a design engineer with multidisciplinary expertise, including hardware and software. She has a master degree in Global Innovative Design from Royal College of Art and Imperial College London and a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from Chulalongkorn University. Before funding Trik, Pae worked as a Project Manager leading a design and engineering team at an international oil and gas company, PTTEP and currently a CEO of a technology start-up GetTrik Ltd.

Pae received the Innovate UK Design in Innovation Award for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017. 

Paul Collins is the MD and co-founder of SPICA Technologies, a technology specialist and systems integrator whose purpose is to help Facilities respond to the changing needs of the workspace through connected technology. Paul has over 20 years experience of enterprise systems integration, starting his career with IBM before going on build a successful IT Integration and Collaboration consulting practice, operating as CTO. Paul and his co-founders launched SPICA Technologies in 2015 to provide clients with innovative connected-device solutions, exploiting technologies such as the “Internet of Things” to help them deliver better products and services.

Paul is BT Group’s English Regions Director with over 30 years’ experience in the digital, tech and ICT sector through his career at BT.

BT’s Nations & Regions team is part of BT Group Corporate Affairs – it is responsible for developing strategic relationships with combined and local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, business, education and community organisations to focus on the success and growth of the UK’s regional and local economies.

Paul and his team of region leads across England are also responsible for maintaining key political relationships on behalf of BT Group with MPs, elected mayors and local councillors on any matters relating to BT Group activity.

Paul also maintains a strong focus on strengthening BT innovation and R&D relationships with further and higher education institutions across the English regions in line with the UK’s Industrial Strategy. BT is the 2nd highest spender on R&D of any sector in the UK.

Paul is based in the South West and sits on the following external boards:

Peter Andrews joined the Bank of England in 1979. He served in the Economics and International Divisions, and completed a DPhil in Economics from Oxford University, before being seconded to the IMF in 1990 as Personal Assistant to the Managing Director.

On returning in 1992 he worked in the Gilt-Edged and Money Markets Division, and was Head of Division (1997-2000). From 2000-06 he was Head of Monetary Assessment and Strategy Division. He became Agent for Greater London in 2007. He is Chairman of the Bank of England Cricket Club.

Pete is an Employee Benefits Consultant at Verlingue who specialises in creating Health and Wellbeing solutions to help organisations in both the private and public sectors protect and support their employees. With over 15 years’ experience in the sector, he has particular expertise in the Private Medical Insurance and Occupational Health sectors, and takes a consultancy lead approach with his clients.

Phil Brady is a strategic communications consultant with over 20 years’ experience advising corporations, government and NGOs.  His focus is on helping to develop compelling narratives and communicate these to key stakeholder groups by the most effective channels.  He is currently Executive Director of property PR marketing business Good Relations Property, working with clients including Berkeley Group, Redrow and Ballymore.

Preethi duped the literary world by leading a double life as her own PR consultant to get her novel noticed. It paid off!

After her manuscript, Gypsy Masala, was rejected by most publishers, Preethi Nair left a lucrative career as a management consultant to set up her own publishing and PR company. Not having the resources to rent an office and publish her book, Preethi established a multinational in her bedroom and duly appointed feisty director, Pru Menon (an alter ego) to energetically and shamelessly hype her work. Nobody else knew of her scheme!

Working as several different people and with a frenetic double, sometimes triple life, Preethi gained substantial press coverage for herself. And after two years and an amazing journey, her faith in her own talents and her perseverance in the face of consistent rejection were rewarded; she signed her three-book deal with HarperCollins.

Preethi Nair won the Asian Woman of Achievement award for her endeavours.

'Pru' Menon' (the alter ego) was short-listed for PPC Publicist of the Year!

The BBC have bought 100 Shades of White for a television adaptation.

Her latest book, Beyond Indigo, a fictionalised account of her extraordinary journey is released in September 2005.

Preethi Nair also works as a travel writer for the Sunday Times, is a contributor on Radio 5 Live’s book panel and works with organisations to inject her unique brand of creativity into the work place.

Born in India, Rajesh Agrawal moved to London in 2001. As an entrepreneur he founded RationalFX in 2005, and Xendpay in 2014, both companies utilising technology to reduce the cost of international money transfer for businesses and individuals. A West London resident, Rajesh is passionate about promoting entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for young people. He was appointed Chair of Oxfam’s Enterprise Development Programme in 2015 and has been a Patron of the Prince’s Trust for many years.

In 2010 in the library at the LSE, Reza Merchant set up The Collective, frustrated by the lack of high-quality, accessible accommodation for young people in London. The Collective is one of the most innovative and dynamic property companies in London. It is the UK’s first and the world’s largest co-living provider, providing young people with a new way to live, focused on community, convenience and quality.

Richard Brown is Research Director at Centre for London. He leads our research and events programme, and writes and speaks widely on urban economics, housing and government.

He joined Centre for London in 2014 from London Legacy Development Corporation, where he was Strategy Director, planning the development of London’s Olympic Park and the surrounding area. Before that he worked at the Greater London Authority, first as Private Secretary to Mayor Ken Livingstone, and then as Manager of the Mayor’s Architecture and Urbanism Unit, which promoted great architectural and urban design in policies and projects.

He previously worked as a journalist, and as a researcher on local government at the Audit Commission.