Speakers

Orna NiChionna is the Senior Independent Director at Burberry plc. She is Chair of the Eden Project. She advises a private investor on his investments in UK based retailers. She is Deputy Chair of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

She was Chair of digital innovation consultancy Founders Intelligence until its sale to Accenture. She has served as Senior Independent Director of major UK companies including Saga, Royal Mail, Bupa, Northern Foods, and HMV. She chaired Eden McCallum’s Advisory Board for many years, leading teams of advisors to retailers on strategy and operations.

She has served as Deputy Chair and Interim Chair of the National Trust and as a Trustee of Sir John Soane’s Museum. She was Chair of environmental charity the Soil Association for six years.

She spent 18 years at McKinsey and Company's London office, where she was the first woman to be elected Partner; she co-led McKinsey’s European Retail Practice for many years.

She is Irish and holds degrees in Electronic Engineering from University College Dublin and University College Cork; and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.