Black Business Association (BBA) Committee

Meet the BBA Committee members

The BBA is dedicated to lobbying and supporting the effective business activity of Black entrepreneurs and owners, demonstrating the investable credibility of Black business and significantly influencing the governments agenda on racial injustice, discrimination and economic empowerment. This committee will focus on ensuring the capital markets and Government take the opportunity to both hear and heed competent Black voices and secure the growth of the business sector.

Lord Dr Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE, Chair LCCI BBA

Lord Michael Hastings CBE is Chancellor of Regents University London & Professor of Leadership at the Huntsman Business School in the USA; a former Commissioner for Racial Equality and after a career starting as a teacher and working directly for the UK Government on post-riot...
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Phyllis Agbo

Land Manager, Crest Nicholson

After qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 2016, Phyllis specialised in large scale New Homes Consultancy at CBRE, advising many of London’s developers including Berkeley, Capco and British Land. Now client side with Crest Nicholson, she is charged with delivering key regional strategic sites...
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Abolade Abisogun

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Urbanis

Bola has successfully delivered in excess of £8bn in real estate projects across a range of sectors. He is a Fellow of the RICS and committed to nurturing aspiring Chartered Surveyors.

Segun Akinwoleola

Founder, The Gym Kitchen

Segun has over ten years’ experience in commercial and branding roles at multinational FMCG companies. His experience and passion about diversity in FMCG propelled him to launch his own brand called The Gym Kitchen, a range of healthy food products available at Asda stores.

Rodney Appiah

Chair of Cornerstone Partners

Cornerstone Partners is a leading UK angel network focused on investing in black and diverse founders. Rodney has worked in venture capital for nearly a decade, leading over 15 investments and delivering successful exits including the sale of Unruly Media to News Corp (£114m).

Demi Ariyo

Founder, Lendoe

Lendoe is a social lender and has disbursed close to £1m in loans to small and micro businesses within the UK's most urban cities. Demi is on a mission to solve the access to finance problem thousands of small business owners from underserved communities face.

Yvonne Bajela

Founding Member and Principal, Impact X Capital

Impact X Capital is an early-stage investment firm supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs across Europe. Yvonne is a highly experienced and skilled VC investor, leader and board member having previously been the youngest Senior Investment Manager at Mitsui & Co. where she managed over $200m in investments.

Riki Bleau

Founder, Since '93 Records, Sony UK

Riki is a driving force within British music. Since ‘93 label boasts a catalogue of releases from the likes of Aitch, Fredo and Loski and is testament to the key role Riki has played in shaping the current golden age of Black music in Britain.

Ayo Jenyo

Managing Director, The Cooperative Property Group

Ayo is a property entrepreneur with a keen interest in impacting investing, specifically in the UK social housing sector, working collaboratively with Local Authorities, Housing Associations and Institutional Investors to provide housing the some of the most vulnerable individuals in society.

Isaac Kikabi

Senior Trade Analyst, Lloyds Banking Group

Isaac has seven years retail and commercial bank experience and extensive knowledge of financial markets and liquidity management. He sits on Lloyds Banking Group’s Commercial Banking I&D steering committee with a passion for promoting financial inclusion and access to finance for BAME businesses and entrepreneurs.

Loraine Martins

Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Network Rail

Network Rail maintains and develops Britain’s rail infrastructure, with some 42,000 employees, it is the fastest growing railway in Europe. Loraine leads a centre of expertise which supports Network Rail’s ambition to be a more open, diverse and inclusive business.

Kojo Marfo

Founder and Director, My Runway Group

My Runway Group started seven years ago to connect and expose the BAME youth community to creative industries. Kojo has worked with over 10,000 young people worldwide highlighting youth excellence and community issues using creative initiatives including Theatre Productions, Diaspora Engagement Programmes and Employability Campaigns.

Emmanuel Ofosu-Appiah

UK PR Manager, Mercer

Emmanuel is an expert in media relations and corporate communications and supports the UK team develop and execute PR strategies to amplify Mercer’s voice in the market. Emmanuel is also a Board Trustee at South Quay College and a strong advocate for diversity in communications.

Kike Oniwinde

Founder and CEO, BYP Network

Described as 'LinkedIn for Black Professionals', BYP Network enables future leaders to network, form connections and access job opportunities. Kike is listed on Forbes 30 under 30, Maserati 100 innovators, Top 100 UK BAME Leaders in Tech and is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.

Lorraine Wright

Director, UBS

A multifaceted business woman with a decade of corporate and entrepreneurial experience, Lorraine is a university of Oxford Exec MBA Graduate and Director at UBS. Alongside her day job, Lorraine is committed to impacting and transforming lives through her multiple businesses across UK and Ghana.

Lorraine Deschamps, MBE

Vice President, EMEA Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Fiserv

Lorraine is passionate about helping individuals and companies achieve their potential irrespective of background. A keen advocate of “doing the right thing”, she is a founding director of Sporting Equals, a charity using the power of sport to build fairer, healthier and more cohesive communities.