Top speakers for the first event at Sandy Park, in Exeter featured Baroness Eliza Manningham- Buller DCB who headed MI5 from 2002 to 2007 and Dr Javier Bajer a cognitive psychologist and a foremost specialist in Leadership Performance.

Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller DCB who lead MI5 though substantial change in the wake of 9/11 and the growing threat from Al-Qaeda, gave a well-received presentation on how leaders overcome challenges.

In a fascinating and thought-provoking insight Eliza provided a no nonsense presentation to tourism and hospitality businesses of how leaders overcome challenges and build trust amongst the team.

Eliza explained that in business acknowledging the contribution that staff can make to a business is key. How you do things is often as important as what you do. Eliza commented it is also essential to know who you are competing against in the market and to use any available information to be able to make informed decisions.

Dr Javier Bajer, a cognitive psychologist is one of the foremost specialists in Leadership Performance, defined leadership as the ability to create movement and deliver greater value. He also focused on what gets people to engage, collaborate and make things happen.

Wendy Samuel, Skills Director of Tourism Skills Network South West said:

“We were delighted with the success of the first in the series of Masterclass seminars and it was a major coup for the tourism industry to listen to top leadership experts, Baroness Eliza Manningham- Buller DCB and cognitive psychologist Dr Javier Bajer. There are more half day seminars to come however, and with more top speakers, we are urging tourism businesses not to miss out on this exciting opportunity.”

A Single Masterclass is priced at £75 per person. The Tourism Skills Network South West is able to offer this subsidised rate through funding from the South West of England Regional Development Agency.

The full list of Lightbulb Masterclasses is as follows:


Creating a Service Excellence Reputation on 4th November 2009 at Leigh Court, Bristol

Creating a Service Excellence Reputation, where delegates will listen to exciting viewpoints on how to remain competitive through customer focus from top speakers. Max Mckeown. A strategic advisor for some of the most admired companies in the world, and James Averdieck founder and MD of Gü Chocolate Puds.


Performance Management for Success on 20th January 2010 at Leigh Court, Bristol

Barbara Cassani will be speaking about, ‘Breaking the mould to get results’
Barbara is now Executive Chairman at Jurys Inns, and created British Airways’ no-frills Go airline with initial investment of £25m.

Adrian Gilpin will inform the audience on his view of, ‘Peak performance and inspired leadership’
Adrian is Chair of the Institute of Human Development, and an authority on peak performance coaching.


Forward Thinking on 24th February 2010 at Sandy Park, Exeter

Rohit Talwar ‘Designing your future’
Rohit is an award winning futurist speaker, entrepreneur, specialist advisor and strategic change agent and founder of the research consultancy Fast Future.

Tom Savigar will focus on ‘Tomorrow’s consumers’
Tom is Trends Director of The Future Laboratory. Tom characterises the key shift to have emerged in the recession as New Sobriety.

Tourism businesses can book these seminars by contacting Tourism Skills Network South West on 01275 370920 or emailing: admin@tsnsw.org.uk
www.tsnsw.org.uk