On Wednesday last week Dr. Emily Shuckburgh, OBE, lived up to her billing as “Britain’s smartest woman”. Her clarity on the hard, scientific facts of climate change was matched by her passionate commitment not to let this generation leave a legacy of catastrophic climate disaster for the next. There is no question that she held our attention. If anyone wishes to take up the invitation to follow up with an email, it can be done here. We are taking bookings for our April 3rd dinner, when Mike Coupe, Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s will be our guest speaker. This should be a fascinating evening, with KKR now joining the competition for Asda and the CMA due to rule shortly – and with plenty of questions that could be asked around Sainsbury’s strategy and current trading. This is likely to be a sell-out evening, so do book for yourselves and your guests quickly, on the website or by writing to Clare.
Meanwhile, I am delighted to confirm that Chuka Umunna, MP, will be our guest speaker on May 1st, with further support from The Independent Group to be confirmed. More details to follow, with booking to open shortly.
As previously announced, James Harding will be speaking on June 5th. James is editor and co-founder of Tortoise Media, with our own Katie Vanneck-Smith and with Matthew Barzun, the former US Ambassador to Britain. James describes Tortoise as “the love-child of TED Talks and The Economist” and its motto is “Slow down, wise up”. Those who have heard James speak before at MGGB, while he was director of news and current affairs at the BBC, will know that he is anything but slow.
Finally, Paula Nickold has postponed her attendance in July until next season. I’m very pleased to confirm that Dame Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of ITV, has confirmed that she will be our speaker at our July 3rd dinner. With ITV’s current airtime sales in the Brexit doldrums and with all to prove from the subscription funded “Britbox”, there’ll be lots to demand our attention.
Booking for June and July will open in due course.
I look forward to seeing many of you this week at our Brexit breakfast and on April 3rd at Claridges for dinner.
Best wishes,
Phil Smith
Chair 2018-2019
MGGB