Talent & Leadership Club Panel

Ben Chambers, Founder, Talent & Leadership Club

Ben Chambers leads partner development at Grant Thornton UK and founded the Talent and Leadership Club. He has diverse experience across sectors, advises learning providers, supports learning tech startups, and enjoys family life and coaching football.

Abbi Anand, Head of Leadership Development, Deloitte UK

Experienced Learning & Leadership Development Leader with a passion for building future-ready leaders, driving talent strategy, and embedding coaching cultures. With 20+ years in HR and leadership development, I specialise in creating high-impact, scalable learning experiences that enhance performance and engagement. I have led award-nominated leadership programmes, global talent initiatives, and large-scale learning transformations, leveraging AI-driven tools, data analytics, and digital learning solutions to drive measurable impact. I am passionate about empowering people through coaching, mentoring, and innovation, I collaborate with senior stakeholders to align learning strategies with business objectives, whilst making learning engaging and impactful.

Gregor Thain, Founder, Thain Consulting

Gregor has extensive strategic leadership experience in L&D, Talent Management, Organisation Effectiveness, Culture Change and Performance Mgt from his roles over the last 15 years.

Roles he has previously held are:

• Global Talent and OE Director – Spirax Group
• Global Learning Director – BAE Systems
• Talent and Learning Director – Coca Cola European Partners
• VP Leadership, Learning and Talent – Intercontinental Hotel Group
• Global Leadership Development – GlaxoSmithKline

Prior to Gregor’s move into a HR career he qualified and worked for many years as a Mechanical Engineer, for companies such as ICI, Marconi and Mars. He also spent several as a sales manager. Both of these experiences has helped Gregor to make sure his work in Talent and Leadership is grounded in operational and commercial reality. Gregor lives in Hampshire with his wife Amanda, three children, a dog a cat and two rabbits.

Laura O’Hora, VP Talent Development, Brown Brothers

I am an experienced Talent Development Specialist with a strong focus on leadership development, coaching, and leading high-performing talent development teams. Over the years, I have successfully designed and implemented strategies that empower leaders to unlock their potential, drive team performance, and create a culture of engagement across organisations. As a qualified business coach, certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF), I bring a coaching mindset to my work, helping individuals and teams to thrive. I specialize in cultivating leadership capabilities that lead to sustainable success, and I am passionate about guiding leaders through transformative journeys to enhance both personal and organisational growth. I have worked across a range of industries, supporting organisations in creating robust talent pipelines and fostering environments where employees can flourish. My expertise lies in developing tailored leadership programs that equip leaders with the tools they need to navigate today’s dynamic business landscape. My mission is to continue empowering businesses to build strong, capable leaders who inspire and drive meaningful change within their teams and organisations.