Sara Berman, Fashion Designer

Fashion designer, supporter of UK manufacturing, savvy businesswoman, Sara Berman is, says one fashion writer ‘wildly creative’. Launched in 1999, Sara Berman clothes (which include Pasmina trousers and her own Harris tweed) race off the shelves. Profitable, debt-free and with a growing reputation, this is a brand (and a woman) going places fast.

Wersha Bharadwa, journalist, novelist and lecturer

Having gained a first in her journalism degree, Wersha became the first British Indian in-house staff writer for Cosmopolitan magazine (UK) in 2004.

She now freelances for national newspapers and top women’s magazines including The Guardian, Glamour, Eve and New Woman and also for online portal, Handbag.com. She co-hosted a slot with Adil Ray on the BBC Asian Network in 2006. Wersha is regularly asked to give comment and opinion on radio and TV and has also been interviewed by Richard and Judy and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. As well as freelancing, she is working on her first novel and is a guest lecturer at the University of Central England, Birmingham.

Emily Cummins, inventor

Emily Cummins is a 20 year old ethical inventor and entrepreneur studying Management and Sustainability at Leeds University. Her latest invention is a sustainable fridge, which runs without the need for electricity. Emily developed it during her self-funded gap year in Africa, where she hopes it will make a massive contribution to improving medical services – its primary purpose is to be used to transport and store temperature-sensitive drugs. Most recently Emily was named the Technology Woman of the Future 2006 and the British Female Innovator of the Year for 2007

Tara Kamangar, pianist

Born to Iranian parents in central California, Tara has been playing the piano and violin since the age of three. As a concert pianist her repertoire is not limited to Western music and she also specialises in performing pieces by Iranian composers that combine the musical traditions of the West and Middle East. Currently studying a postgraduate degree in piano performance at the London Royal Academy of Music, Tara also has a keen interest to compose piano music of her own, which incorporates elements of Persian music.

Dr Lisa Lilley, Shell

Lisa is one of only three technical women to work in the Formula 1 paddock. As Technology Manager for Ferrari she is responsible for the fuel and lubricant development programme for the Ferrari F1 team, accountable not only for the logistics of delivering products to 17 races in 16 countries, but also for running a track-side laboratory.

Dr Haseena Lockhat, consultant child clinical psychologist

At the age of 34, Dr Haseena Lockhat is already regarded as a leading figure in the UK and internationally on healthcare issues relating to female genital mutilation. She is one of the youngest consultant child clinical psychologists in the UK and has written a globally acclaimed book Female Genital Mutilation: Treating the Tears, which was launched by the then Home Secretary, the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP. Dr Lockhat sits on a number of high-profile boards including Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs’ race equality advisory panel and has helped to set up various charitable projects in Surat, India.

Kavita Maharaj

Kavita has spent over a decade working as a producer, reporter and anchorwoman for some of the world’s most respected television news organizations. She is now Global Media Investments Director for advertising giant HAVAS. Prior to this, Kavita consulted on media projects for some of Europe’s most influential CEOs. Before joining CNBC in 2003, Kavita worked as a reporter and anchorwoman for both ITV and Bloomberg Television and as a producer for NBC news in the US. Kavita holds a BSc. Econ (Hons.) from the London School of Economics and an MBA from Imperial College, London.

Karen Seto, Executive Director in Equities, Lehman Brothers

Karen Seto is the dynamic Executive Director in Equities for Lehman Brothers and an active champion of many female organizations including the Lehman Brothers Women’s network, the European Women’s Initiatives Leading Lehman and co-heads the €–WILL Graduate Recruitment pod to encourage more women into the financial services industry. Karen is also a member of Women in Banking and Finance (WIBF) and is on the organization’s management committee.

Carla Stent, COO, Barclays

The highly focused COO of Barclays Asset and Sales Finance is determined to reach the very summit of business. With an accountancy training behind her, she has worked around the world in a number of industries, leading M and A, strategy and operations. She is increasingly engaged in the strategic affairs at the banking giant. Described as ‘a gifted leader’ and ‘high impact’ by one Barclays CEO, she is tipped for the very top. Customers and people are her passion and she is proactively working with councils, schools and universities to increase employment opportunities and community welfare.