The Entrepreneurs' Forum is a membership organisation for entrepreneurs, run by entrepreneurs. Our Board of Directors meet quarterly to steer the strategy and ensure we drive forward our ambition to make the North East an exceptional place to be an entrepreneur. The Board is led by Brendon Hayward who was appointed in January 2024.
Our previous chairman include James Robson MBE, Nigel Mills CBE, Paul Walker, Tom Maxfield and Sir Peter Vardy.
Chairman
Co-founder and Joint Managing Director of Osbit
Brendon Hayward is the co-founder and joint managing director of Northumberland-based engineering firm Osbit. He joined the Entrepreneurs' Forum board as a director in 2015 and became Chairman in 2024. On joining the board, Brendon commented, "The Entrepreneurs’ Forum is important for business owners because you get to meet like-minded individuals and highly-successful people who you can learn from, share stories and share experiences."
Board Member
Founder of Tharsus and Director of Universal Wolf
Brian Palmer is the founder of Northumberland-based robotics company Tharsus and director of Universal Wolf. On joining the board as a director in 2020, he said, "The Entrepreneurs’ Forum helped me on my entrepreneurial journey, providing inspiration, insight and camaraderie, so I feel that it is only right to accept the invitation to join the Forum’s Board."
Board Member
Director of Exwold and Founder of Alexander Jewitt & Co.
James Robson MBE is the founder of contract chemical processing company Exwold and consultancy firm Alexander Jewitt & Co. He was Chairman of the Entrepreneurs' Forum from 2018 to 2023. On joining the board, James said, "The access the Entrepreneurs’ Forum gives business owners to a strong and diverse network is vital to the success of so many North East firms. Being an entrepreneur should never be a lonely existence and the opportunity to engage with fellow business owners who have experience and expertise to share is without doubt one of the most valuable resources available to our members."
Board Member
Founder and CCO of O.agency
Kari Owers is the founder and CCO of Newcastle communications business O.agency. A Forum member from day one, Kari joined the Forum board as a director in 2021. She said, “Joining the Forum was the first thing I did when I started my business and over the last 15 years I have benefited from advice and mentoring from many of its members, whilst learning from top entrepreneurs tell their stories and building new relationships at their events. I have gained invaluable knowledge and made new friendships that have lasted over the years, so now I’m happy to give back.”
Board Member
Co-founder of Opencast
Mike O'Brien is the co-founder of Tyneside tech consultancy business Opencast. He joined the Entrepreneurs' Forum board in 2023, commenting, "I'm delighted to have been asked to join the board of the Forum. I've been a member since we started Opencast and I've always been impressed with how inclusive the group feels irrespective of the scale of your business or stage of the journey. I've certainly benefited from the excellent mentoring members have generously provided and the fantastic business insight trips the Forum organised to the likes of Google and Facebook! I'm looking forward to helping the Forum develop to encourage and support the new generations of business founders in the region."
Board Member
Founder of Entreprenising and Former Managing Director of Ebac
Pamela Petty is the former managing director of manufacturing company Ebac, based in Newton Aycliffe, and founder of consultancy business Entreprenising. She joined the Entrepreneurs' Forum board in 2014. She commented, "The North East doesn’t shout about what it does. If we lift our heads up for a short while, we can make a stronger economy."
Board Member
Executive Chairman of The NBT Group
Toby Bridges is the executive chairman of smart procurement service business The NBT Group. On joining the board, in 2022, he said, "To be joining the EF’s Board at the start of their third decade, having received the benefits of membership almost since its inception, and to tread in the footsteps of some of our region’s greatest entrepreneurs is a true honour. I’m looking forward to supporting the exec team, the members, and the partners, as we all endeavour to refresh, realign, and reimagine what great entrepreneurial support is, that will see our region’s economy thrive across our next decade."
Board Member
Co-founder of BeaconHouse Events
Sarah Thackray is the co-founder of event management company BeaconHouse Events. On joining the board in 2024, Sarah said, "I am excited at the prospect of representing the smaller SME businesses in the membership as I have found the Forum to be so important in my own entrepreneurial journey. Also, coming from an events background, I am passionate about delivering sustainable, impactful events and I look forward to seeing how the Forum events programme develops."
Board Member
Co-founder of durhamlane
Richard Lane is the co-founder and CCO of durhamlane, a leading sales outsourcing company. On joining the board in 2025, Richard said, “As someone who views themselves as an ‘accidental entrepreneur’, I am delighted to have been asked to join the Forum’s Board. Starting, running and building a business is demanding but also hugely rewarding. The Forum offers North-East business owners a unique blend of learning, inspiration, mentoring and networking that has certainly benefited me over the years. I am looking forward to supporting the team achieve their ambitions that will ensure our region remains an entrepreneurial place to live and work."
Board Member
CFO and Commercial Director of Double Eleven
Kimberley Turner is the CFO and Commercial Director of Middlesbrough-based Independent Gaming Studio, Double Eleven. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Kimberley was invited to join the Board of the Entrepreneurs Forum in 2025. As a passionate advocate of the North East and entrepreneurship, Kimberley welcomes her appointment as an opportunity to enhance the strong leadership and shared sense of purpose across the Forum, commenting: “I am delighted to join the Board and very much look forward to representing Double Eleven and SMEs which make up around 80% of businesses across our great region."
