The IPT is delighted that the Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea will be speaking at this lunchtime briefing.
During the lunch, delegates will have the opportunity to listen to the Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea address the issue of India's inward investment to the UK. With India now being the second largest foreign direct investor in London firms, should the UK be more proactive in promoting itself in the face of emerging economies like India?
Speaker Biography
Born in India, Karan Bilimoria came to the UK for his higher education at the age of 19. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst and Young, London, and graduated in Law from Cambridge University, Karan developed a premium lager under the brand Cobra Beer.
Cobra Beer is now one of the fastest growing beer brands in the UK and one of the most innovative young companies in the country. The brand has a current retail value turnover of £126 million and was awarded 20 Gold Medals at the 2007 World Selection of Quality Awards.
Lord Bilimoria is widely respected for his entrepreneurial spirit and holds many positions of responsibility in the worlds of business and education as well as community life. He is the Representative Deputy Lieutenant of the London Borough of Hounslow and serves as Chancellor of Thames Valley University, making him the youngest university chancellor in the UK. He is one of the first two Visiting Entrepreneurs ever appointed at Cambridge University and serves as National Champion of the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, Lord Bilimoria sits on the Government's National Employment Panel (NEP) and from 2001 - 2005 was Chairman of the NEP's SME Board. Additionally, Lord Bilimoria serves as UK Chairman of the Indo-British Partnership and Vice Chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Asian Business Association and sits on the UK-India Round Table and the Asia Task Force. He extensively lectures on entrepreneurship, business, education and the Indo-British relationship.
Having received numerous awards for his entrepreneurship, Lord Bilimoria was honoured in 2005 with the Award for Outstanding Achievement by the Institute of Chartered Accountants and was named Man of the Year at the 2006 Drinks Business Awards. Furthermore, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by Brunel University, Heriot Watt University and Staffordshire University.
In June 2006, he was appointed The Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea and now sits in the House of Lords as an independent crossbench peer.
Event format
The format of the event is based around a three-course lunch with the address of the keynote speaker taking place after the first course and an opportunity for full discussion at the end of the meal.
The cost of a lunchtime briefing is £65 which includes the three-course lunch.
