The Directors BNI Central London - BNI the business referral organisation

Laura Hurren executive director

“You only live once” says Laura Hurren, “get it right and once is enough”

This specialist in putting people together to form powerful business and personal relationships has made the most of every opportunity in life. Drawing on extensive knowledge, techniques and experience gained from a myriad of industries, she has established herself as a leading business networker, presenting on the subject in the UK, USA, Scandinavia, Italy, Poland, Australia and New Zealand.

She is passionate about people making the most of life!

Laura was a founding Director with BNI in the UK and is now the Executive Director for London and Birmingham and Co-National Director in Italy.

laura@bnidirector.com

Darryl Buchanan

A Kiwi through and through Darryl brings good humour, focus and sense of commitment to his role as a BNI Director. He has achieved tremendous success within BNI opening 24 chapters in New Zealand and the UK. This brought recognition at the BNI International conference for launching one of the largest chapters in 2003 and he was awarded an outstanding performance award at the 2006 European Conference for his work in the UK.

As well as BNI Darryl is in the process of introducing a new Eco business venture to the European Market. Ecocover is a ‘world first’ in providing a cost-effective substitute for plastic and other mulch systems used in the horticultural, agricultural and land management industries.

Darryl believes if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well, first time, every time!

Sally Nealon - BodyKnowsBest

With a background in teaching Sally serves on the faculty of the University of Westminster teaching Craniosacral therapy at degree level, she is also a Senior Tutor with the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust in Islington.

Sally’s health business also offers Kinesiology and a range of Japanese ‘wellness’ products to provide an all-round service to clients who range from tiny babies, to baby boomers and beyond.

Sally’s goal is to bring the “Wellness Home” to as many people as possible.

Sally joined BNI 1998 as a craniosacral therapist to develop her health business. Later she trained to become a BNI Assistant Director and now successfully supports 4 Chapters in London.

sally@bnidirector.com

Ian Cooper MSc DMS

Ian has extensive leadership experience gained, initially, from a long and varied career in the financial services industry. Operating, since 2000, as an independent consultant and interim manager; Ian applies his expertise to both the public and private sector, including ‘not for profit’ organisations.

Ian’s style is simple and straightforward; he offers practical and realistic training and operational solutions blended with a real understanding and application of management theory. As a seminar presenter, trainer, mentor and observer of business he is able to find the simplicity in even the most apparently complex subjects, making them accessible and understood at all levels.

Applying the same principles and techniques to his work as a BNI Assistant Director, Ian seeks to enable individuals to get the best out of themselves and their membership.

ALYSON ROACH

For the past 10 years, Alyson has owned and run a cleaning company with a turnover of £850,000 and 48 employees. 2 years ago, she successfully sold the company to another BNI member.

Since then she has diversified and is now running a publishing company which publishes a free weekly magazine called The Snippet. It is a five minute read with something for everyone, Horoscopes, recipes, what’s on and other Snippets of information. Currently it operates in 6 areas in West and South West London and the plan is to roll it out as a franchise operation with the potential to have approximately 350 franchises in the UK alone. It is a product that appeals to many and can easily be adapted to the non-UK market.

Alyson been involved with BNI for 6 years first as a member and now as an Assistant Director. She currently looks after 5 Chapters in West and SW London.

Jon Marks

Jon has been working in the training arena for nearly 30 years, initially in the computer and business marketplace but more recently in general business training in presentation and leadership skills and career advice.

Jon is a fully trained and qualified business and executive coach and a member of the International Coach Federation. In his coaching career he works with a wide range of clients ranging from the CEO of a blue-chip international corporation through to personal clients, with a particular emphasis on mentoring for career development.

Jon has been working as a BNI Assistant Director for several years. He has an absolute belief in networking as a business tool and in BNI as the most effective way of applying networking skills to improve your business.

Nigel Troup

Starting his career in banking, Nigel has also worked as an estate agent and financial advisor before moving into financial publishing.

Using his financial skills, he now works as a specialist foreign currency broker for Interchange who offers a wide range of foreign currency services to private and corporate clients. His ideal referral would be a company trading internationally that makes and receives overseas payments.

Nigel is the most recent addition to the BNI team in London, he successfully launched the Triumph chapter and plans to open many more. He has a unique talent for remembering names which can only be good news for a BNI Director.

STEPHEN BENJAMIN – BNI Ambassador

Stephen has worked in the property industry since 1971. His present company offers a niche professional service in property troubleshooting and management overviews: his current wide range of work includes assisting on the development of a newly proposed 5* hotel and serviced apartment block in Glasgow and the project management and assembly of a town centre redevelopment in a central Surrey town.

Stephen has been a member of BNI St James Chapter since 2002 and is totally committed to the effective use of networking, with the majority of his current business emanating from the use of his own network contacts and those gained from BNI. With his wealth of networking experience he is a great support to chapters throughout London

Maggie Spring

Maggie joined BNI a year ago taking on the business & member support role for the London Region. She also works independently providing secretarial support for a variety of clients including surveyors, authors and accountants. Maggie is a good listener and is a qualified practising counsellor for Relate.

She is married to Alex with one daughter, Grace, and Dave the dog. In her spare time, she enjoys the theatre, comedy and socialising with friends.

maggie@bnidirector.com