Rising stars of the Dorset business world have taken the helm of the county’s Future Leaders’ Forum.
Dorset Chamber has launched the new group for young professionals aged up to 30 for networking, peer support, and personal and career development.
Now it has appointed Toni Taylor as chair, and Jack Ormesher and David Massieu-King as joint vice-chairs of the forum.
Toni, who is managing director of Tru Talent, will also sit on the Dorset Chamber board to represent the forum and share issues raised by young professionals.
She said: “I can honestly say that I feel very proud and incredibly excited to have been appointed by Dorset Chamber as the chair of the Future Leader Forum.
“Having attended some of the Future Leader events and seeing how many incredible individuals came along, it really highlighted the scope we have to impact our community as well as educate businesses on the changing desires and needs from our future leaders.
“To have an open forum for the younger generations, where we can continue to learn and develop from each other as well as the speakers at our events is an opportunity, I do not feel we have ever had locally before, and I am excited to see what as a group we can achieve.”
The forum was launched in January of this year. It is an informal yet professional environment where peers can meet and discuss current issues facing them in the workplace.
Joint vice-chair Jack Ormesher, who is a trainee solicitor at Trethowans, said: “I am ready to provide support and assistance to our members, who are the heart and soul of the forum.
“My personal focus will be to drive initiatives within the forum, and ultimately the local area, to help combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
“It is my hope that I can shed light on the many advantages, whether monetary, social, or otherwise, of operating a business sustainably.”
Fellow joint vice-chair David Massieu-King, who is business development manager at Bournemouth and Poole College, said: “I think this will be really valuable for young people in Dorset.
“We’ve already had a few great sessions, and there’s more exciting topics that are set to be discussed.
“I’ve currently spent seven years working at Bournemouth & Poole College, so I know the triumphs and struggles of people advancing in their careers. I can’t wait to see the successes from members of this forum in the future.”
The Future Leaders Forum has a quarterly-event programme exploring issues facing young professionals in the workplace. They include topics such as financial wellbeing, mental health in the workplace, and workplace sustainability.
Chamber president Caron Khan said: “Congratulations to Toni, Jack and David.
“The forum has got off to an excellent start, with its impressive young professionals already bringing forward some exciting ideas and fresh perspectives on business. The future is in safe hands.”
Visit https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/business-support-2/future-leaders-forum/ to find out more about the Future Leaders Forum or email Kat Tegg on events@dorsetchamber.co.uk about becoming a member.