AQ NED Exchange – The Lost Art of Networking

• Date: Tuesday 17 November
• Time: 17.00-20.00
• Location: Painters’ Hall, 9 Little Trinity Lane, London EC4V 2AD

Please scroll to the bottom of this page and complete the form to register your interest in attendance – note there are limited spaces so you may enter a waiting list.

We are pleased to be hosting our next AQ NED Exchange, bringing together non-executive directors and senior leaders for an afternoon focused on one of the most important, and often misunderstood or overlooked, aspects of professional life: networking.

Today, networking is often reduced to attending events, exchanging business cards or having a drink with people you may never speak to again. But effective networking is something much more valuable – building genuine, mutually beneficial relationships over time that create opportunities and impact.

We will be bringing together two perspectives on networking: the art of building genuine relationships and the value of being part of a professional network. Bringing these two sides together, the session will explore how NEDs and senior leaders can approach networking more intentionally.

Our first speakers, Lara Sonola (portfolio NED and interim transformation leader) and Helene Usherwood (AQ Partner), will explore what networking really means, whether we have lost sight of the relationship-building that sits at its heart, and the importance of networking particularly for NED roles. Moving beyond the traditional view of networking as attending events and exchanging contacts, they will share practical advice on how to build meaningful connections, network with purpose and make an impact when opportunities arise.

We will also hear from two professional networks with very different approaches and audiences – Board Racial Diversity UK, a charity network focused on achieving proportionate representation of individuals from Black and Asian backgrounds on not-for-profit boards across the UK, and Winmark, an international C-suite network that creates exceptional value for everyone involved and the societies they serve. They will discuss the benefits of being part of a professional network, what members can gain from their involvement and, importantly, how to get the most from your membership.

Whether you are an experienced NED with an established network or are looking to broaden your connections and develop new relationships, this session will offer practical ideas, honest perspectives and plenty of opportunity to connect with fellow NEDs and senior leaders.

Speaker & Panel Bios:

Lara Sonola | Portfolio NED and Interim Transformation Leader | LinkedIn  

Lara has built her career around bringing people, organisations and ideas together. A former NHS Programme Director and Chief of Staff, she now works with charities and public bodies on strategy, transformation and collaborative partnerships. She is Chair of King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity and holds board and trustee roles across health, housing, transport and the environment, including London TravelWatch, South Downs National Park Authority, Helpforce and Age UK Wandsworth. She mentors people developing their own trustee and board careers as board fellows and associate trustees as well as developing programmes with organisations to utilise board roles as a strategic personal development opportunity.

Known for her values-led approach, she builds trust quickly and is comfortable working across boundaries, bringing different perspectives into the room and creating the conditions for productive relationships. She believes that networking is less about collecting contacts and more about being curious, keeping in touch and building a support network over your entire career.

Helene Usherwood | Senior Partner at Anderson Quigley | LinkedIn

With over 20 years’ headhunting experience Helene has appointed to senior roles within the arts, health, and education fields as well as central and local government. Helene has established Anderson Quigley’s Board Practice, working across all sectors to appoint Chairs and Non-Executive Directors. She has developed excellent networks across the public and private sectors to encourage greater levels of diversity around the Boardroom table. As well as providing bespoke services, advice and guidance to her clients and candidates, she is highly motivated to provide careers advice and guidance to individuals, especially to those who have not previously considered a non-executive opportunity before but whom have unique insights and skills to offer.

Yeme Onoabhagbe  | CEO at Board Racial Diversity UK | LinkedIn

Yeme (she/they) is a values driven leader with a strong record advancing equity, wellbeing and organisational change across the education and charity sector. They have worked with organisations such as Stonewall and King’s College to address social and health inequalities and have served as CEO and trustee of multiple charities. Yeme brings expertise in mental health, anti-racism, social justice, change management, and inclusive supporter growth. They now work as a governance and EDI consultant supporting organisations across the UK to embed inclusive practice into strategy and culture, and to develop effective supporter growth strategies, alongside their role at Board Racial Diversity UK.

Joshua Brown | Director, C-Suite Networks at Winmark | LinkedIn

Joshua helps curate an ecosystem of peer communities connecting NEDs and C-level executives with the people, ideas and solutions to boost their leadership and business impact. Having previously led teams in EMEA and North America across roles at World 50 and Gartner, Joshua has significant experience supporting global clients in the executive peer networking and advisory space. He is a co-author of Leading with Humanity in an AI World (2026) and an advocate and coach with Tackle, a pioneering charity delivering sexual health and rights education across many countries in Africa.