2024 ADVISORY BOARD
All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
DE&I Specialist
CAE
Strategic Board Advisor
QBS Technology Group

Alex is a well-known face & voice in the IT Channel having worked in IT distribution for almost 30 years – and is currently Executive Director at the UK’s largest distributor – Westcoast Limited where he has worked for 16 years – initially as Sales & Marketing Director and then Managing Director.

As part of his role, Alex has always promoted the cause of Women in Technology and has helped to increase the proportion of women at Westcoast and working successfully to reduce the business’s gender pay gap. He is a regular supporter at The Channel Company’s Women in Tech Festival as both attendee and sponsor and promotes technology as a career for ALL in schools as the Chair of the Berkshire Cornerstone Employer’s group and an Enterprise Advisor (currently to Maiden Erlagh School in Reading). Westcoast increasingly look to support a diverse working environment with recent training for all employees on neuro-diversity and wellbeing aiders across the business.

Alex also sits on the Technology Leadership Group of the Prince’s Trust supporting young disadvantaged people in the UK. He has a high profile outside the technology industry having regular media attention.

Device Sales Lead
Microsoft

Anjana is the Device Partner Sales Lead for UK at Microsoft. She leads the organization that works with our partners’ ecosystem such as OEMs, Distributors, Resellers & SI's to build and sell Devices and Services that enable corporations, consumers and students realize their full potential in the Digital Economy. She has end to end P&L responsibility, strategy, planning and people management.

She enjoys going after new opportunities or solving business problems - together with the amazing network of channel partners, whilst building and mentoring her team to ensure that everyone is energized to do their best work!   Before Microsoft Anjana worked at Lenovo across multiple positions across marketing, sales and operations. In Lenovo, Anjana helped launch Lenovo’s YOGA & Legion franchises which have since gone on to global dominance. She also helmed marketing for the Android & Chrome Groups, leading several product launches including the Yoga Book, a product which netted 31 industry-award wins from top ranked media publications and inspired the prestigious tech industry website Tom’s Guide to proclaim Lenovo as the most innovative company of the year.  

Anjana began her career as an architect, and holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore.On a personal note, she currently lives in London with her family, her partner Milko and super active 6 year old son Max.

Head of Talent, Engagement & Diversity
Softcat
Founder & CEO
D&A Services International Ltd

Donavan Hutchinson is the Founder and CEO for D&A Services International Ltd the industries first DEI As A Service organisation. Donavan is also a Governor at Barnsley College with over 20 years in the technology industry and has a wealth of experience in leadership, sales strategy, compliance, mergers and acquisitions and international collaboration programs having worked as an executive leader for some of the world largest technology reseller organisations. Proud Father of 2 daughters, Husband to Alex Hutchinson , Co Founder of D&A Services, Human Companion to Milo, Luna, Nala and Stitch his wonderful pets!

Donavans commitment to driving change across various industries in promoting equality for all has been instrumental in the growth of several organisations he has had the opportunity to lead during his tenure. Awarded by CRN as the 2023 Industry Achievement Award Winner, CRN Diversity A lister, CRN Channel A Lister, CRN Executive Mentor of the Year finalist 2023 and CRN Mental Health Champion of the Year finalist 2023, 2024 , Donavan's focus on equality focuses on all demographics as he continues to drive education and awareness programs across the community socially but also through consultative engagements. Donavan's focus on DEI has been seen at a global level with features in Humans Of Globe and CIO Views as one of the Top 10 Global trailblazer Leaders in DEI.More recently D&A Services International were awarded as the Best New Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultancy by Global Brands alongside many other world class organisations.

Donavan is an out and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and Pride Life Global Advocate and has utilised his own experience in helping to educate others to be their most authentic version of themselves , speaking at several events on the topic of DEI and driving positive cultural change through education & awareness.

Chief Sales & Commercial Officer
Exertis

With 22 years working within the B2B, Retail and AV industry Jamie is passionate about people and have a huge desire to leave a legacy beyond her years in an industry that has given her so much that paves a more inclusive path for both today and tomorrow’s generations.

Vice President of EMEA Marketing
Insight

Jill Murray has a proven track record in global marketing, helping organisations of all sizes including Fortune 500 companies, successfully expand through differentiated branding, innovative demand generation and disruptive digital transformation strategies. She swiftly identifies the threads of opportunity that wind through an organisation and helps others extend their thinking, with the aim of driving material business advantage.

She is a motivating leader who tells stories that inspire action and is committed to delivering business growth through performance-led solutions, underpinned by metrics which prove ROI.

In her current role, she is also executive sponsor of Diversity and Inclusion, and as such, has been instrumental in leading transformative diversity initiatives which promote a supportive and welcoming workplace environment

Head of Legal
Computacenter

Maya Purkayastha is Head of Legal UK at Computacenter. She qualified as a UK solicitor in 2007 and has worked at Computacenter for 25 years. She is a senior leader in the organisation and runs a department of 16 Legal Advisers and Contract Managers. She is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encouraging young people into both IT and Legal careers, particularly females and those from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds.

In 2023, she was recognised for her extensive charity and mentoring work, winning “Diversity Champion on the Year”, and becoming a finalist in the category of “Unsung Hero” at the CRN Women & Diversity In-Channel Awards 2023. She has also been named as one of CRN Diversity Leaders of 2024 and won “Most Engaged Mentor Award” 2024 from Generating Genius one of the charities that she supports who work with students from black and disadvantaged backgrounds to develop the next generation of STEM leaders.

Lead Data Scientist
Lloyds Banking Group
Board Advisor
The Hacking Games

Samantha has been happily entrenched in the cybersecurity industry for 25 years. During this time, she has helped hundreds of organizations of all shapes, sizes, and geographies recover and learn from cyberattacks, defined strategy for pioneering security products and technologies, and is a regular speaker at security conferences around the world. In her current regeneration, Sam heads up the International Security Strategy team at Exabeam, and is on the board for The Hacking Games.

She authors articles and blogs for various security publications, has a strong passion for mentoring, and volunteers at cybersecurity community events. Sam's on the organisation teams for three UK BSides conferences (Newcastle, Leeds, and Lancashire), volunteers as a SOC Goon at DefCon, and has won various awards including CSO30 UK, TechWomen100, and Top 20 Most Inspiring Women in Cyber.

Independent

Zoe is a survivor of a high-profile domestic violence attack having been tortured and held for over 8 hours. Although she escaped with her life, she was then subjected to a justice system that she describes as broken. Using her 20+ years of professional experience working across Public Sector; Health, Law Enforcement & Local Authority advising on technology and services that support government policy, and having ran a child protection agency, she can see clearly where the system is failing, so is compelled to make a difference. A regular commentator in the media, Zoe is a campaigner for the rights of women, victims of domestic abuse and stalking.

She has made fundamental changes in both the criminal and family justice system using her own experiences to highlight failings and has changed legislation to close loopholes. Zoe is on the Trust Board of Paladin National stalking advocacy service, the first trauma informed service for high-risk victims of stalking and sits on the Victim & Witness Engagement Group at Ministry of Justice (MoJ) inputting into court reform.

Zoe has even incorporated her keen interest in property to help others and owns a property portfolio in her home city Coventry, where she works with local charities to house victims of abuse and homelessness.

Managing Director
HP

As UK&I End User Sales Director, Zoe is currently responsible for the End User business for HPI UK Inc and has overall responsibility for all customer vertical sectors- Financial Services & Insurance, Manufacturing, Retail, Public Sector, Defense & Ireland.​ Zoe has accountability for P&L, budgeting, cost control, strategic partnering and business development. Zoe is a strong believer in the power of people and is passionate about people and their development.

​ Zoe has been with HP for 9 years and has held various roles across the end user space. Most recently as the NWE Sales Enablement Director, focused on driving go to market strategies and enhancing the pan HP customer experience. Prior to this, Zoe served as the Financial Service sector manager for the UK & Ireland market.​ Zoe started her career in technology at Brother UK Ltd where she held various internal & external based assignments across the UK & Ireland over a 10-year period. ​ Zoe lives in Lichfield with her family and enjoys spending time with friends & family along with great wine and food.​