NED Exchange – Summer Networking Event 2026

Date: Monday 15 June 2026
Time: 18.00-21.00
Location: Stationers’ Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7DD 

Helene Usherwood is delighted to be hosting AQ’s NED Exchange Summer networking event 2026 – an informal evening bringing together Non-Executives, Chairs, Trustees, Governors, and aspiring Non-Executives from a wide range of organisations and industries around the UK.

We hope that the British weather will hold so that we are able to enjoy an evening of networking in the beautiful courtyard at Stationers’ Hall, as well as admire the stunning Grade I listed Court Room, where we will also host a short discussion exploring how the idea of Next Generation Boards translates into practice: from attracting and selecting talent across generations, to ensuring boards function effectively once those voices are in the room.

We’re delighted to be joined for the discussion by Patrick Dunne OBE and Rebecca Robins two best-selling authors who have co-written the definitive playbook for empowering intergenerational collaboration, innovation and productivity at work – “Five Generations at Work: How We Win Together, For Good.” At a time in history where we have up to five generations at work, the book unpacks six years of research, and explores how to maximise the dynamics of our generational diversity to create more collaborative and competitive organisations. It speaks directly to a challenge we’re increasingly seeing: how to build boards that are not only diverse on paper, but genuinely effective across generations, able to harness different perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking.

This event is now full, please register to join the waiting list. 

Speaker Bios

Patrick Dunne OBE

Patrick Dunne is an experienced Chair with extensive experience of working with boards in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. Currently Chair of board consultancy Boardelta and the charities the Royal Voluntary Service and ESSA- Education Sub Saharan Africa. Executive experience with Air Products and FTSE100 3i Group plc where he was Communications Director, a member of its Operating Committee and Chairman of its Operational Risk forum.

Author of the award-winning “Boards” and co-author of “Five Generations at Work”,  a member of the Higgs Review and  Visiting Professor at Cranfield University. He also has extensive experience of developing social enterprises, most notably with Leap Confronting Conflict, the EY Foundation and Warwick in Africa.

Patrick was awarded an OBE in the Kings Honours list in 2023 for services to charity and philanthropy in Africa and the UK.

Rebecca Robins

Rebecca is the founder of an interdisciplinary leadership consultancy, and is an expert in high-performance leadership and cultures. With over 20 years’ experience with global matrixed organisations across Europe, the US and Asia, Rebecca brings a wealth of expertise from her work across cultures, functions and sectors.

She works across large global matrixed organisations, business schools and family businesses, with clients including AstraZeneca, British Airways, Hugo Boss, JLR, LEGO, LVMH, Microsoft, RELX, Reuters. She leads and teaches on world-leading Executive Education programmes, including Cambridge University, Oxford University and The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, working with rising and senior leaders.

Her advisory work includes Quilt.Ai (heralded by The Economist as an AI for good pioneer), and the Chartered Management Institute. Education and social mobility are at the beating heart of her purpose and she is an experienced NED, including serving as Trustee at the EY Foundation. She has recently contributed to the Oxford University Press Handbook on Social Purpose.

Rebecca is the author of three best-selling books, including the award-nominated “Five Generations at Work: How we win together, for good” (Wiley) and “Meta-luxury: Brands and the Culture of Excellence” (Macmillan). Her passion for next generation talent development sees her called upon to contribute to future of work reports (such as Egon Zehnder, EY) and as an expert commentator for leading media including The BBC, The Financial Times and The New York Times.