The chair of East Midlands Chamber’s network for young professionals will remain in the role for 2024. Daniel Nikolla, marketing manager at Hardy Signs, will continue to lead Generation Next, which supports professionals aged between 18 and 35 to build their soft skills and connections among the East Midlands business community.
Scarlett Canavan, business and marketing manager at ER Recruitment, was promoted to vice-chair and is set to take over Daniel’s duties in 2025.
They sit on the Generation Next board, which features a group of “champions” who take an active role in developing activities and profile for the network.
Daniel, a chartered marketer recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, said: “I have loved being part of the Generation Next team ever since the early days of the network and believe we have done a brilliant job together in shaping our offer for the fantastic young talent that exists in our region’s businesses.
“It has been a great honour to be chair over the past 12 months and I am delighted to have the opportunity to remain in the role for another year, during which time we have some very exciting plans – beginning with the inaugural Generation Next Conference on 12 January.”
Members from the network’s ambassador programme, which support the champions’ ambitions, will also transition to the board in the new year. They include:
· Ella Sheppard, senior associate at Freeths
· Benjamin Wileman, leasing consultant at Select Car Leasing Burton-on-Trent
· Joshua Leach-Aslam, general manager at Ocean King
· Nicole Perkins, procurement officer at Futures Housing Group
· Preethi Kang, commercial manager at Qinesis
· Ruby Birks, project manager at Purpose Media.
Returning to the board are:
· Amber Siddall, student and graduate engagement manager at the University of Derby
· Byron Burghart, investment manager and assistant director at Brewin Dolphin
· Beth Bearder, legal director at Halborns
· Harsh Shah, data analytics manager at East Midlands Chamber
· Rikan Patel, director at Business 2 Business.
East Midlands Chamber’s director of resources and Generation Next lead Lucy Robinson said: “We are delighted to have Daniel and Scarlett leading the Generation Next board into the new year.
“Daniel has been a wonderful support to our members and ambassadors over the past year, helping to raise their profile among the business community and building Generation Next’s presence throughout the East Midlands.
“Scarlett has also been with us from the very beginning, and is a fantastic supporter of the network, so I am delighted to be working with both of them, as well as the rest of the board closely next year to further develop Generation Next.”
