Business Women in Surrey
Our BWIS Committee
Sarah Butcher – Chair of BWiS – Head of Membership at Surrey Chambers of Commerce
Sarah joined Surrey Chambers of Commerce in April 2014 after a 12-year career at the University of Surrey. Starting out as the Export Surrey project Lead, she spent the first two years supporting Surrey businesses with their export endeavours and building connections internationally within the global Chamber network. As Head of Membership, she is passionate about helping local businesses grow and prosper whether they are a sole trader or a corporate company. Actively involved in many Chamber initiatives including Business Women in Surrey (BWiS) Sarah is a keen supporter of promoting women in the areas of STEM and STEAM and an advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion not only in the workplace but in society as a whole.
Alex Harper – Co-Chair – Herrington Carmichael
Alex is a Senior Solicitor in the Employment Law team at Herrington Carmichael with experience of acting in contentious and non-contentious matters for clients from a wide range of sectors including financial services, construction, leisure and hospitality, healthcare, charities and others. Alex’s specialist focus is on Employment Law issues relating to discrimination and equal pay. Alex advises on a wide-range of employment law issues, specialising in particular on complex Employment Tribunal litigation with a focus on employment status, whistleblowing and discrimination. Alex also works with clients on all aspects of employment law including redundancies, HR policies, settlement negotiations and agreements, corporate transactions and ER investigations. Alex joined Herrington Carmichael in 2021 following qualifying as an employment solicitor in 2019 and moving to Surrey in 2020. Alex previously worked as a commercial paralegal, trainee solicitor and newly qualified solicitor in London in international and national firms. Alex studied French and German at Kings College London prior to completing a Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice course at the University of Law.
Betty Jensen – University of Surrey
Betty is a Business Engagement Officer with Surrey Business School. With a background in international hospitality management as well as education administration, she has a passion for promoting education and life choices for students and adults. Originally from the French Alps Betty has been settled in the Guildford area for a number of years and combines her role at the University with studying for her MBA as well as being a mum! She joined the BWiS committee in 2023 and has a particular focus on driving forward initiatives to promote opportunities for women in Higher Education and for workplace and lifelong learning.
Jenni Riley – Chief People Officer & Co-Founder at ITARMI Ltd.
ITARMI is an on-demand IT service provider that connects businesses across the world with top-class technical talent through our mobile platform.We developed a technology platform that disrupts and revolutionises the way IT services are delivered and has fast become a movement that transcends the globe in a digital age transforming people’s lives. We are passionate about creating a sustainable eco-system that values and delivers transparency, flexibility, freedom of choice, fairness, and equality in the workforce. We are currently delivering our services into 167 countries globally with our network of 2500 highly skilled engineers.
Kate Doody – Solicitor/Director at GBH Law
Kate Doody is a corporate and commercial lawyer at GBH Law, a niche, commercial law firm based in Godalming. She is also a director and shareholder of GBH Law which gives her a unique insight into the challenges and realities of running a small business. She has two young children, who constantly keep her on her toes, and lives in East Surrey. Kate joined the BWiS committee in 2020 and is passionate about encouraging women in the legal profession and growing a community of like-minded business women who can support and celebrate each other.
Lesley Alcock – Platinum Media Group
As an experienced and commercially focused sales and business development professional, I am delighted to be part of Platinum Media Group at such a time of growth and expansion. My varied career has provided me with a broad range of skill sets working at The London Evening Standard, The Observer Newspaper and as a Business Development Director at a London based advertising agency, and running the creative partnerships team at Capital Radio/Media Sales and Marketing, London. Our magazines, Surrey Business Magazine, Platinum Business Magazine and Dynamic Business Magazine for Women are essential reading for business leaders to know what is going on within their region. Having developed Platinum to become the largest circulation business magazine in the UK, reaching over 720,000 business leaders each month, we are proud to say that Platinum has become the business bible across the South East. Our readers look to Platinum for all the news, views and opinion from the area and our blue-chip partners utilise the publication to get their news out across the region. We also run the exclusive Platinum Club, a monthly networking meeting with a difference. Finally, we are able to recognise and celebrate the hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship that exists in the South through our business awards – the Dynamic Business Awards for Women, Sussex Business Awards, Surrey Business Awards, Central South Business Awards, and the Brighton & Hove Business Awards.
Tinka Denisheva – Founder of Bulgarian Women in Business
Tinka Denisheva, the Founder of Bulgarian Women in Business, brings a wealth of leadership experience in organizing and driving impactful events, through diverse networking formats. Her strategic networking proficiency has fostered valuable connections and collaborations among female entrepreneurs, while her innovative vision continually enhances and adapts to the evolving needs of women in business. With a commitment to empowering professionals and fostering inclusive environments, Tinka’s collaborative endeavors aim to amplify networking opportunities and global perspectives within the Surrey Chamber of Commerce and beyond.
Sarah Titcomb – Senior Relationship Manager – Natwest, Guildford
Sarah works for Natwest as a Senior Relationship Manager based in Guildford looking after a mixed portfolio of SME clients with a specialist accreditation in the Not for Profit & Education Sector and also Professional services.
Sarah has been in banking for 35+ years with Nat West and loves nothing more than being with her customers, adding value and helping them grow their businesses. The role is challenging and rewarding and evolves constantly. She enjoys working as part of a wider team. In her spare time she is a mum to a profoundly dyslexic son which has meant learning more about the world of neurodiversity. She loves hosting and entertaining with a passion for cooking.
