Keynote speaker revealed for East Midlands Leadership Awards

The chief executive of fast-expanding Upperton Pharma Solutions has been revealed as the keynote speaker at our East Midlands Leadership Awards, to be held on Thursday March 12 at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham.

Nikki Whitfield has 30 years’ technical and operational leadership experience gained in both pharmaceutical companies and contract development and manufacturing organisations. Working across a range of dosage forms with both small molecules and biologics, Nikki has successfully led drug development programmes from early phase pharmaceutical development through to late stage and pre-launch stages covering all aspects of the programmes including technical design, manufacturing, process scale-up, regulatory submission and clinical trial supply.

Upperton Pharma Solutions is a Nottingham-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) specialising in formulation development, clinical trial manufacturing and manufacturing services for a wide range of dosage forms, including oral solids, liquids, semi-solids, and inhalation products. Upperton won the King’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade in 2023 acknowledging Upperton’s outstanding contributions to international trade and its commitment to fostering global partnerships within the pharmaceutical industry.

Nikki will share her leadership story with our 250-strong audience. You can join in by booking your tickets here.

2025 East Midlands Leadership Awards shortlist:

Young Leader
Charley Clarke, Your IT Department
James Cross, Crossover Property
Sheleendra Fernando, 24Three
Harry Laveric, Pall-Ex Group
Olivia Priestley, DSP (Interiors)
Sam Sharp, Browne Jacobson

Mentor of the Year
Matt Bull, ActionCOACH Loughborough
Peter Edwards, Edwards Performance
Sukhi Ghuman, Octavian Group
Simon Pryce, Skylight Media

Emerging Entrepreneur
James Cross, Crossover Property
Sheleendra Fernando, 24Three
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Libby James, Merchant Advice Service
Kevin Kapezi, Growthack

Diversity and Inclusion Leader
Kiran Ghuman, Octavian Group
Anna Upton, Embark Federation
Alan White, Fresh Logistics

Professional Services Leader
Patrick Adie, Freeths
Pete Buller, Althaus Digital
Adam Gilbert, AG Corporate Law
Sarah Parkinson, Browne Jacobson
Laura Wilson, Connections Legal Management

Green Leader
Ann Barrasso, Roythornes Solicitors
Peter Evans, Orderly
Lance Hill, Eight Group
Richard Smith, Linwood Raker
Alan White, Fresh Logistics

HR Leader
Stephanie Durrant, Pall-Ex UK
Sarah Loates, Loates HR Consultancy
Katherine Rubin, Luxfer Gas Cylinders
Penny Strutton, Penny Strutton Ltd

Manufacturing Leader
James Arnold, Sleaford Quality Foods
Richard Smith, Linwood Raker

Education Leader
Pete Buller, Althaus Digital
Iwona Lebiedowicz, PAB Languages Centre
Sanjay Patel, Octavian Group
Penny Strutton, Penny Strutton Ltd

Sales Leader
Beth Denham-Berry, Roxy Leisure
Catherine Mitchell, True Talent
Michelle Naylor, Pall-Ex UK
Ellie Smith, SF Recruitment
Rob Twells, The Digital Maze
Greg Upton, Fortitude Nicsa Global

Marketing Leader
Emma Brown, Sort Group
Fiona Frudd, SF Recruitment
Louise Jones, Cosy Garden Rooms
Trevor Palethorpe, John Pye & Sons
Jennie Sanders, Dains Accountants
Rob White, Fortitude Nicsa Global

Technology Leader
Peter Evans, Orderly
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Sukhi Ghuman, Octavian Group
Benedict Heaver, Streets Heaver Healthcare Computing
Jignesh Patel, BatFast

Finance Leader
Bilal Ahmed, Octavian Group
Rebecca Aldridge, Balance: Wealth Planning
Mohammad Alimahomed, Syon Tax
Stefan Radymski, Evolve Business Finance
Joe Rice, HSG UK

Property Leader
Patrick Adie, Freeths
James Cross, Crossover Property
Paul Morris, St James Securities

Company Leader (up to 50 employees)
Martin Birch, Belmayne Independent Chartered Financial Planners
Holly Daulby, Honest Communications
George Oliver, 1284 Communications
Chloe Sproston, Blueprint Interiors
Amad Tababa, Autify Digital
Katy Upton, Fortitude Nicsa Global

Company Leader (51-100 employees)
Marie Cooper, CBE+
Benedict Heaver, Streets Heaver Healthcare Computing
Alan White, Fresh Logistics

Company Leader (101+ employees)
Kiran Ghuman, Octavian Group
Richard Medd, Browne Jacobson
Nicolas Pitrat, BRUSH Group
Pete Taylor, Gi Group
Stewart Vandermark, Nelsons
Christina Yardley, Rothera Bray
Tanzeel Younas, National Care Consortium

Transformational Leader
Rebecca Aldridge, Balance: Wealth Planning
Kev Brown, BFY Group
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Tom Oldershaw, Eight Group
Pete Taylor, Gi Group
Christina Yardley, Rothera Bray

Leader of the Year
To be announced on the night