Host Biographies

The Ambition Debate

The debate will be hosted by Clare Logie of Independent Women, along with Richard Morris and with the support of Cognito Events.

Biographies

Clare Logie, Independent Women

Currently Strategic Director at Independent Women, Clare was previously Director of Bank of Scotland Corporate's (BoS) triple award-winning Women in Business programme, in 2008-9 headed up the Bank of Scotland Corporate Sponsorship & Events function 2008-9, and was Chair of the Global Banking Alliance (GBA) for Women 2006 - 2008. Prior to this, she was Global Internal Communications Director at Allied Domecq Plc and has run a small retail business. She has a degree in English Language & Literature, MCIBS Banking qualifications and the IDM marketing diploma. She sat on the Steering Committee of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, the GBA Governing Board and the Astia UK Advisory Board, and is currently on the advisory board of Templars PR.

Click here for Clare's full biography,

Richard Morris

A journalist for two decades, Richard has written for numerous national newspapers including the Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal and the FT.

In 1999 he moved across into PR working as a consultant to Yell.com and BT and while working for Miller Shandwick advised many digital and technology companies including Microsoft and Digital Island, the first global private network.
He set up his own successful PR company which offered a premium service with rigorous strategic thought, effective implementation and a commitment to helping clients achieve their objectives and here advised many high net worth individuals and corporate clients including the Welsh Office, Hermes and Close Brothers.  

Since selling his firm, he has co-founded the multi award-winning Bright Ideas Trust with Apprentice winner Tim Campbell and was instrumental in securing the backing of then Prime Minister Gordon Brown and that of David Cameron for the project.  He also helped secure a $1million donation from the Bank of America. Recently he founded the UK’s only social venture fund which supports British Armed Forces get into business and still writes for national and international news media. 

Baroness Hilary Armstrong, Sponsor

The Event is sponsored in the House of Lords by Baroness Hilary Armstrong: a British Labour Party politician who was the MP for North West Durham from 1987 to 2010, she was created a life peer as Baroness Armstron of Hill Top, of Crook in the County of Durham in June 2010, and was introduced in the House of Lords in July 2010.