Business News
All aboard as Steve steps up to presidency
By John Lamb
Commerce (GBCC) just under a year ahead of schedule. The head of the Birmingham
S
office of law firm Mills & Reeve succeeds Saqib Bhatti, who stepped down after being elected as MP for Meriden in the General Election. Steve has served as vice-
president of the GBCC since October, 2018. He also sits on the executive committee of the Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce and is a past president of the New York- headquartered British American Business Council. An experienced commercial
dispute lawyer, he has earned a string of accolades including being named Birmingham Law Society’s International Solicitor of the Year in 2010, appearing in the Birmingham Post’s influential Power 250 list in
teve Allen has become president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of
2017 and receiving the Business Desk’s Leadership in Professional Services award in 2018. Steve, who will be supported by
vice-president Deb Leary, has vowed to continue the work of predecessors Saqib Bhatti and Paul Kehoe by making international trade the focus of his presidency. He said: “The Chamber has an important role to play in helping our members navigate the tricky waters post-Brexit.
‘Together we can make our city-region one of the best places in the world to do business’
“My term of office will focus on
international trade and the need for businesses to innovate in order to compete globally. Through our International Business Hub, I want our members to be ambitious’. The Chamber can help businesses
Ticket to ride: Steve and Deb test out the new Midland Metro line, which has now reached Centenary Square and will eventually head down the Hagley Road towards Chamber House near Five Ways
Honours for Birmingham’s inspirational
Saqib Bhatti, past president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, was awarded the MBE in the New Year honours. Saqib, who stepped down as
Chamber president in December after being elected as MP for Meriden, has been recognised for services to diversity and inclusion in business communities. The 34-year-old was the
youngest and first Muslim president in the Chamber’s 206-year history. He also spent four years as
president of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce, where he played a pivotal role in championing diversity in business. Saqib said: “I’m really thrilled to
receive this honour. “Located in one of the most
Passionate about diversity: Saqib Bhatti
diverse parts of the world, I feel honoured to have been a part of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) as president, and developed the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce’s (ABCC) diversity and leadership pledge to aid boost numbers of underrepresented groups in
6 CHAMBERLINK February 2020
business and allowed for more diverse senior management across the region.” “The GBCC are leading the way
in championing diversity in business, an issue that I am incredibly passionate about.” Paul Faulkner, chief executive of
the GBCC, said: “The team here at the Chamber are delighted by the news that Saqib, a former president of the GBCC and ABCC, has received an MBE for services to diversity and inclusion in business communities “During his time as president of
both the GBCC and previously the ABCC, Saqib led the way in highlighting and championing diversity and inclusion in business and making it a key priority for the Chamber. “His work still impacts the Chamber today, where we continue to work with a whole number of businesses across Greater Birmingham on this critical issue. “We would like to thank Saqib
for his diligent work on this issue, and congratulate him on this richly
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