With a career that has involved leadership roles in both the military and banking (as well as being a polar explorer and hostage negotiator), Maria has a wealth of experience working and leading in high-pressure environments.  


Biography

Maria Witchell’s varied career has taken her to both the to some of the most intense and high pressure environments on both the planet and in business. She is a polar explorer who has completed eight polar expeditions (including reaching both the North and South poles), as well as having had a varied career that has included leadership roles in the military and banking. 

Maria joined the British Army as an Officer after completing her studies at university. She then completed the Special Forces selection process, becoming one of the few women to serve as an operative. In this role, she worked in covert operations and counter-terrorism in intense and dangerous environments. She then worked for the British Government, before going on to work as a kidnap ransom negotiator, mostly in Central and South America. Here, she negotiated the terms of release of multiple senior corporate executives and high net worth individuals who had been kidnapped, dealing with terrorist organisations and criminal gangs in the process. Her role was depicted in the film Proof of Life, with Russell Crowe playing Maria's role as the kidnap and ransom negotiator. 

Due to the nature of her work as a negotiator, Maria often had to remain secluded in the areas she was working in. To pass the time, she studied law, which led to her next career pivot. As a solicitor, she specialised in banking, and has held roles at major investment banks. She is currently Head of Corporate Loans and Derivatives, Legal for Asia-Pacific for a multinational bank.

In speeches, Maria covers the motivation and resilience required to succeed in high-pressure environments, drawing on her experience in her varied career to draw out lessons that are relevant to a range of audiences. She reflects on the lessons she has learned in her leadership roles, including the value of authentic, trust based leadership, and how to thrive in traditionally male-dominated spaces.

 

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JLA Presents

Risk Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 17/09/2024 - 09:00

Speakers Breakfast

Navigating Risk and Chaos – Strategies For Coping With An Uncertain World.

Speakers
Clive Myrie, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Rt Hon Lord Parker of Minsmere, and Robin Niblett

On Tuesday 17th September we had the pleasure of hearing from a remarkable panel of speakers, who shared their expertise on the challenges of managing Risk in a chaotic world.

The panel featured esteemed speakers, Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton KFSM (Firefigter and Neuroscience researcher), Lord Parker of Minsmere (Andrew Parker, Former Director General of MI5), and Sir Robin Niblett (Former Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House). The event was hosted superbly by Mastermind and BBC News presenter Clive Myrie.

Over the hour, our panellists explored Risk on multiple levels, from global affairs to business environments and personal everyday challenges. They provided valuable insights into how we can better manage and mitigate Risk in today’s unpredictable world.

 

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

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AI Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 30/04/2024 - 09:00:00

Speakers Breakfast

Understanding AI Now

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Priya Lakhani and Anne-Marie Imafidon

We were joined at 87 Barts Close by three brilliant speakers on a panel that delved into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence. Over the hour our panellists de-mystified AI, speaking about AI’s immense promise for enhancing our lives, alongside the apprehension it has generated regarding job security, privacy infringement, and ethical considerations.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

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