Host - Jasmine Birtles

Jasmine Birtles is a financial expert, TV presenter, author, journalist, business commentator and humourist. Her mission in life is to de-mystify money and help people to enjoy getting their affairs in order, getting out of debt and making serious money. She's a financial expert with a twist - she can make money fun...lots of fun.

On television she has presented an authored documentary on Channel 4's The Insider series on personal debt, co-presented ITV Scotland's Spend Spend Spend as well as First Time Buyers and Doctor Dosh for UKTV Style. She regularly appears as a financial expert on GMTV, The Wright Stuff, BBC Breakfast News & BBC News 24.

She has set up, and runs, moneymagpie.com, a lifestyle-based money website which has information on all aspects of personal finance, environmental and ethical living and on how to run a small business and make extra money.

Jasmine Birtles is unique in that she is able to combine her financial knowledge of business and personal finance with her comedy skills, making her an ideal choice for hosting business events.

After Dinner Speaker - Doug Richard

Doug Richard grabbed viewers’ attention on the first two series of Dragons' Den with his straightforward, no-nonsense style. Doug’s own expertise lies in discovering and measuring innovation companies as they progress through the life cycle, from initial investment to purchase, partnering or public offering. He has over 20 years' experience developing and leading technology ventures, both in the US and the UK.

At one point in his career, he sold a small dynamic enterprise called Visual Software in return for shares in the parent company. He was then forced to watch as it went into a downturn. Doug decided to launch a reverse takeover, and took charge of the entire organisation with operations in 22 countries. He turned it around, fired the management board, restructured internal communications, made sure everyone was working towards the same goal and managed to ensure the company survived even when the IT bubble burst.

In 2006 he received the Queen's Award for Enterprise for his work promoting, developing and helping entrepreneurs. He is the first American to receive the honour.

Doug is unusually well placed to see opportunities from three different perspectives: as an entrepreneur, a CEO and as an investor. As a speaker, he brings a wry humour and a checklist for anyone who thinks they have come up with the best idea since sliced bread.