The Main Speaker: Nazenin Ansari

Nazenin is the Director of Kayhan (London), a weekly Persian language newspaper. The publication’s writers and contributors come from across the Iranian political spectrum. She is also a Producer for VOA, a Persian News Network which broadcasts news, information and cultural programming for seven hours each day. http://www.voanews.com/persian/

Nazenin has contributed to BBC World’s Dateline London and BBC News24 and has taken part in programmes on BBC Radio 4. She also provides news analysis in relation to Iran on CNN International, Sky and Al-Jazeera. Her commentaries have appeared in the Comment is Free—Guardian, Fabian Review, Open Democracy, Christian Science Monitor, New York Sun and the Baltimore Sun.

Nazenin is also the President of the Foreign Press Association in London and has Chaired the FPA Media Awards Committee. The FPA is the oldest independent media organisation of its kind in the world and represents almost 1000 journalists from more than 70 countries, comprising all media from news agencies to print, broadcast and internet. The FPA Media Awards is the premier event in London at which British journalism is celebrated and rewarded. http://www.foreign-press.org.uk/

In addition, Nazenin has been one of the Judges of the UK Parliamentary Press Gallery Awards since its inception in 2003. The award is presented annually to the journalist who is considered to have made the greatest contribution internationally to the 'protection, promotion and perpetuation of parliamentary democracy'.

Nazenin has worked with and been a member of a number of Iranian educational and charitable foundations including Friends of Persian at Cambridge (University), Friends of Persian Language Society, Benefactors of Kahrizak, the Iran Heritage Foundation, the Popli Khalatbari Foundation, Mihan Foundation, the Persia Educational Foundation and Magic of Persia. She is also a member of Chatham House.

The Pre-Dinner Speaker

Grant Rechnic

Professional Qualifications
Grant is an Insolvency Solicitor at Rochman Landau. He is an experienced corporate recovery and restructuring specialist.

In 2002 Mr Rechnic set up the Insolvency Department at Rochman Landau. It is now the largest legal insolvency practice in the West End.

In 2008 he acted on the administration of several well known retail chains and manufacturing companies.

Mr Rechnic lectures regularly on insolvency law and is the editor of “The Insolvency Bulletin”.