Conference Speakers

Andy on LinkedIn

Andy Reid MBE
Executive Chairman

Corporal Andy Reid was an infantry-section commander with Burma Company, 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment.

In October 2009, Corporal Reid was seriously injured by a Taliban improvised explosive device while on patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Injured so badly that it was thought he would not survive, he defied the odds to the extent that, within a month, he was able to meet up with members of his patrol again.

Now, Andy Reid MBE is a triple-amputee skydiver, cyclist, charity fundraiser, husband and father.

Geoff on LinkedIn

Geoff Prudence
C.Eng FCIBSE FRICS FIWFM MIoD

Geoff is an instantly recognisable Leader and Director in the FM industry and particularly known for actively championing the need for effective maintenance strategies, workable designs and driving improved standards of delivery in the built environment. He has led numerous industry activities, panels, boards, improvement initiatives and is long standing Chair of Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers - Facilities Management Group.

He has over 40 years experience in private and public industry, including the banking sector, critical environments, large property portfolios, Transport/Rail Infrastructure, Local Authorities, District /Regional Government and the Education sector, with particular emphasis in recent years with leading change and business transformation. He is well known for developing people, organisations and industry.

Brian on LinkedIn

Brian Rogers
Co-owner

Brian was fortunate to enjoy a very rewarding and varied military career spanning 23 years, completing his service in May 2000, having reached the rank of Warrant Officer.

Brian has never forgotten his service in the Army, nor any of the men and women he was fortunate to serve with, however, once the decision was made to leave after 23 years he had to adjust his mindset to his new career, bringing all of the experience and skills the Army had taught him.

Ex Service personnel bring so much to the business world and there is definitely a place for them in the property & facilities arena, which allows them to flourish and learn new skills to compliment those they already have.

Louisa on LinkedIn

Louisa Clarke
Managing Director

Having joined the Royal Air Force in 1996, Louisa spent a decade serving on the Air Movements Squadron as a Movements Controller and was awarded the Commander in Chief’s Commendation in 2004, for outstanding professionalism, sterling effort and devotion to duty.

After a couple of different FM roles Louisa joined Churchill Group in March 2011 and has been promoted numerous times and is currently Managing Director – Operations.

Alongside the day job, she is an active volunteer on the IWFM Women in Facilities Management committee, acting as an advocate for women in leadership, flying the flag for the armed forces community and supporting mental health awareness. 
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Jonathan on LinkedIn

Jonathan Clarke
Senior Project Manager

Jonathan joined the Royal Air Force at 18 as an Airframe mechanic. He left after 23 years as a Chief Technician on Hercules as Rectification Controller which involved managing the fleet and its highly skilled personnel.

Jonathan used his resettlement for a Level 7 in Strategic Management and Leadership, gaining immediate employment after leaving the service but left the company after a year. He then signed a six-month temporary contract with Churchill Group.

Jonathan is now Senior Project Manager for Scotland, North of England, Midlands, South West and East Anglian regions, managing all large scale, multi-site, high value soft service mobilisations and ad hoc projects.
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Gareth on LinkedIn

Gareth Brook
Mentor / Managing Director

Gareth served with the Royal Corp of Signals as a communications operator & detachment commander, with 216 Sig Sqn (16 Air Assault Bde) from 1996 to 2002.

After leaving the forces his early career was working in the major Insurance, Energy, Recruitment and IT & Telecoms sectors. The next 10 years was spent advising executive teams, developing early stage smb's and scaling sme’s.

After some time out he decided it was time to follow a passion and create something bigger and far greater - a no nonsense challenger brand to the technical services ecosystem and fill it with veterans.

Awaking Giants was born.

Garrath on LinkedIn

Garrath Williams
Director of Veteran Engagement & Development

Garrath is a veteran who served for 17 years in the British and Australian Army - a diverse and often challenging career that fortunately allowed him to develop and lead teams around the world in a multitude of roles including peace keeping, disaster relief, civil support and combat operations.

Since leaving the Army Garrath has utilised the skills learnt in the military to gain commercial experience working with a high-performance training company, in an experiential leadership development consultancy and in one of the oldest and most well respected public schools in the UK.

More recently he has worked in the service charity sector working with veterans and the wider military community to provide support to them finding purposeful employment after their service commitment has concluded.