Sharon White to speak at fourth annual Helen Alexander Memorial Lecture

Sharon White, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, will take part in a fireside chat and audience Q&A with The Economist’s Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes for this year’s Helen Alexander Memorial Lecture.

The annual memorial event – now in its fourth year – will take place online on Monday 11 October 2021. The lecture is devoted to the memory of Dame Helen Alexander, a pioneering and much-loved figure in British business, and is supported by Helen’s family and by four organisations with which she was closely associated: The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), The Economist, the University of Southampton and Informa.

The overarching theme of the lecture is “Women on Business”.  Each year, a prominent woman speaks on an important aspect of business to an audience of business leaders.
Sharon is expected to talk about the experience of joining the Partnership as the pandemic started, the importance of the Partnership being an employee-owned business and her views on the future prospects for the economy.

Sharon White, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said:

"It's a great honour to take part in the fourth memorial event to remember Helen and her remarkable contribution to British business.
I'm grateful for the CBI, The Economist, the University of Southampton and Informa for organising the event and giving a platform for female business leaders to share their insights in memory of Helen."

Tony Danker, CBI Director-General, said:

“Helen’s legacy as an exceptional leader and champion of women in business is felt to this day. Her tireless efforts to improve gender equality continue to inspire change in the boardroom and beyond.

“I am delighted to welcome Dame Sharon White – one of the UK’s most exceptional business leaders – to speak in Helen’s honour as the country wrestles with some of the greatest challenges of our time.”

Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief at The Economist, said:

"The Helen Alexander Memorial Lecture has established itself as a superb forum for outstanding women leaders to give their perspective on business. This year we continue the run of distinguished speakers: Sharon White is the ideal person to shed light on the critical questions facing businesses in the post-lockdown world."