Nicola has held leading roles in successful fund management businesses. Having joined S.G. Warburg as a graduate trainee, she helped to create Mercury Asset Management, where she was appointed a director at only 28 years old.

As Managing Director of Morgan Grenfell Asset Management’s UK business, she built funds under management from £4 billion to £22 billion in the space of five years. In 1997, Nicola set up SG Asset Management for the French bank, Societe Generale, subsequently going on to create Bramdean Asset Management.

Gary founded Hotbed, the leading UK syndicator of private investors. From start-up in 2002, Hotbed grew a member base of 950 high net worth investors who invested over £220 million in almost 100 individual private equity and commercial property investments.

Previously, Gary gained 15 years experience of private equity and venture capital as an Investment Director at 3i Group plc. He is a Psychology graduate with an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and had an earlier career in sales and marketing with Boots and Eli Lilly & Co. 

Until September 2011, Matt was a senior partner at Foresight Group, a leading tax-efficient fund management business. He was a member of Foresight’s investment committee for 11 years, and held key roles in investment management and fund marketing. During this period, Foresight increased its funds under management by over £300 million.

Matt has a total of 20 years experience in private equity investing, including 9 years with 3i. He previously worked in corporate finance with Morgan Stanley and commercial banking with IKB Deutsche Industriebank.

Alan spent 12 years as an Investment Director with NatWest Equity Partners (Bridgepoint Capital), prior to investing in his own MBI turnaround of an international apparel group. As Group FD and MD of operating subsidiaries, Alan led the major operational restructuring of the group and oversaw a series of acquisitions. The group was transformed to become a profitable brand-led business.

Since exiting the MBI, Alan has advised on the implementation of business change and improvement plans. He has acted as CEO, COO and acquisition specialist for businesses in recovery and development.

Richard spent 35 years with Ernst & Young LLP, becoming Managing Partner of UK & Ireland and a member of both the EMEIA Board and Global management group.

Throughout his career with Ernst and Young LLP he worked extensively with growing businesses. Richard is a non-executive director of three AIM-listed companies – CSF Group plc, Corac Group plc and Allocate Software plc. He is also Chair of Trustees for the Willow Foundation, a charitable organisation for seriously ill children and adults.

Haozhou recently graduated with a BSc (Hons) Banking Finance and Management degree from Loughborough University. As part of his degree, he completed a 14 month industrial placement with UBS in London. 

At Rockpool, Haozhou is keen to explore the Private Equity industry which he finds fascinating, and is working to complete his Investment Management Certificate qualification. He is also planning a potential new business that is sponsored and recognised by the UK government as being based on 'world-class innovative ideas or entrepreneurial skills’.

Mark is a successful entrepreneur with over 28 years’ experience as a business owner and manager. He founded SearchFlow, transforming the way that legal practitioners access land and property data, and creating the leading property search provider with over 3000 law firms as its customers. He sold the business for £26 million in 2006 when it had a turnover of £150 million and 300 staff. Since then he has been active as an investor and mentor. He was recognised by the National Business Awards as Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003.

After many years of international experience with major chemical companies including ICI and WR Grace (USA), Graham set up Aims Group, which developed into one of the UK’s largest health and safety and compliance consultancies. Graham led the sale of the group to Alfred McAlpine in 2003.

As Managing Director of Scotia Wind from 2005 to 2008, Graham secured planning consent for a large wind farm before selling the business to a major utility company. He is currently Chairman of Burcote Wind.

Andrew has over 18 years investment experience in corporate finance, public equities and alternative assets. From 2005, he was a partner at Bramdean Asset Management LLP, where he oversaw third party VC and cleantech fund investments and developed new products for high net worth and institutional clients.

Prior to Bramdean, Andrew managed long-only and long-short equity funds at Aviva and Societe Generale. He has a degree in PPE from New College, Oxford. Andrew is a leading authority on the finances of football clubs.

Sylvia is a graduate of Law from the University of Leicester and her early career was in taxation with Grant Thornton and PwC in Dublin.

Over the past few years, Sylvia has contributed to the growth of a private investor network, where she forged relationships with many of the UK's leading entrepreneurs and investors. She is responsible for the overall development of the Rockpool Network.

Until December 2011, Mark was a Sales Manager at Foresight Group and part of a sales team responsible for the largest single VCT fundraise in the UK.

Prior to this, Mark was a member of the very successful Business Development team at Invicta Capital and was personally responsible for fundraising in excess of £100 million into film schemes.

Mark has extensive experience in the financial services arena and spent 11 years as a financial advisor and 7 years in retail banking.

For many years, Jim was a successful farmer in Wiltshire. Following a period of fund management training, he gave up farming in 1990 and joined Certa Investment Management. Subsequently, he was a director of Aberdeen Fund Managers and then joined Brewin Dolphin. 

Jim was a founding director of the UK’s leading private investor network. He was also Chairman of Perspective Financial Management Ltd. In 2006, he launched The Pension Consultancy Ltd, and since 2009 has run his own consultancy business in the financial services sector.

Adrienne is a graduate in Town Planning, with over 20 years experience originating investment opportunities comprising over £5 billion, in the infrastructure, energy and service sectors. 

Adrienne has gained diverse experience and has an enviable network resulting from working with entrepreneurs, financial institutions and global corporations, to match opportunities with investors.  She has successfully run her own business and has held senior positions in both the public and private sectors, including John Laing, Amey (part of the Ferrovial group) and Lend Lease.

Emma previously worked for a major private investor network, holding roles in both the Business Development and Client Services teams during her time there.

As well as her role at Rockpool, Emma also works in a PR capacity for OilVoice, the UK’s leading oil and gas industry website. She is always involved in various journalistic projects, including her current work as a columnist and features-writer for This Is Horror.

Emma has a degree in English Literature and Journalism and, for the latter subject, she was awarded a Sir Ray Tindle scholarship. 

Beverley has gained many years of experience in the entertainment industry, including her role as one member of UK girl band Smoke2seven, entering the top 40 UK charts and writing songs for various artists such as the Sugababes.

Beverley has also worked for Apple as a Mac specialist and has supported the launch of products such as the iPhone. Beverley is Rockpool’s Office Manager.