Department Advisory Board

Sharon Jandu OBE is the Director of the NPH Ethnic Minority Business & Policy Forum, Founder of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association, and Chair of Unity Enterprise. She sits on the board of the Unity Housing Association and is a Director for the Federation of Small Business, Board Member Association of International Accountants, Chair of the International Business Advisory Group Leeds University Business School, Advisory Board Member BREE Bradford-Renduchintala Enterprise Ecosystem University of Bradford.

She was listed in the New Year Honours list 2023 receiving an Order of the British Empire for her contributions to international trade and a Honorary Fellowship at Leeds Trinity University was awarded in 2024.

Following an undergraduate degree in Business Management and a period studying and working in Frankfurt, Fabian completed a Graduate Scheme at a renowned distributor in the packaging solutions space. His distribution experience spans four years and includes commercial management, B2B sales, sales management, operations management, and project management.

Following a decision to increase his knowledge and awareness of business in an international context, Fabian switched industries and began working in commercial sales for a Global supply chain solutions company, Advanced Supply Chain Group. As part of the drive to increase his knowledge of international business, Fabian returned to study at the University of Leeds. Following the completion of a Masters Beyond Borders Program at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, he graduated with an MSc in International Business.

On return to the UK, Fabian resumed his role as National Sales Manager for Advanced Supply Chain Group, supporting the best-known brands and retailers with their UK and Global supply chain challenges. His responsibilities within the company include new business development, existing account growth, solution design and implementation.

As a recent graduate from Leeds University Business School, Fabian has a keen interest in giving back to the University and future cohorts by sharing his experiences knowledge.

Craig has worked in the automotive industry for more than 30 years in various strategic, operational and marketing positions. He is currently Strategy and Corporate Development Director, for the UK division of the world’s largest automotive services organisation, Cox Automotive ($7 billion revenue with operations in 30 countries).

Previous responsibilities within Cox Automotive have included the provision of strategic planning and market growth support, and assessment of new market as well as investigating opportunities for expansion into new geographies. These evaluations have led to strategic partnerships and alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and new market entry. 

Craig has worked with the International Business Department at Leeds University for a number of years, supporting Fireside Chats, student visits and the use of student researchers to provide the groundwork information for market opportunity assessments.  

Having completed a BA in History and Politics at The University of Sheffield, Craig gained an MBA from Warwick Business School where he is also a mentor for MBA students.

Kevin Shakespeare has been involved in the world of trade, from a young age of just 17 working in a small business, to joining National Westminster Bank, The Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank, carrying out a variety of roles in senior positions covering the world of trade and dealing with businesses of all sizes.

In the last 10 years Kevin has worked with The Institute of Export and International Trade as an Examiner and member of their Professional Qualifications Education Board.

Kevin runs his own business, Shakespeare Business Management, and sits on several committees and boards involved in directing the world of business, trade and education.

Helen is the vision and drive behind the growth of multi award-winning, Cheshire-based Hydraulics Online Ltd - from a start-up with a blank sheet of paper to being recognised by the UK Government’s Department for International Trade as an ‘Export Champion’ - serving customers in 20 sectors and 130 countries worldwide.

She founded Hydraulics Online with her husband, Mark, in 2004. As a time-served engineer, Mark was the ‘hydraulics’ and Helen, a graduate from the University of Bristol, time-served in ‘blue chip’ financial services leading strategic change planning and implementation, was the ‘everything else’ - establishing the company’s brand, proposition, marketing and operations.

Today, Hydraulics Online is recognised as an ambitious, forward-looking, customer-centric brand that has made “innovative use of the internet to deliver a highly technical proposition worldwide”. Beyond the company’s many successes, Helen has received significant recognition in her own right including being announced as the Institute of Directors North West Family Business Director of the Year.

Helen is a strong advocate for those in business and education working together to create a two-way flow of challenge and support and a virtuous circle of inspiration and learning for all. She is actively involved in supporting education at a number of levels: as a school governor, through her Local Enterprise Partnership providing careers support to high schools and other outreach projects and through providing real business engagement and learning opportunities to university undergraduates.

The first to admit that she is naturally restless, Helen loves making things happen and making every day count. She thrives on collaboration and juggles the whole work-life balance with being mum to six. Yes, six!

Mohammed Kola is the Finance and Commercial Director at Adams Foodservice Trading Ltd and brings over two decades of experience in finance, banking, and investment to his advisory role. Renowned for his analytical acumen and strategic foresight, Mohammed has built a distinguished career spanning financial analysis, risk management, corporate finance, and investment strategy.

Throughout his professional journey, Mohammed has held senior positions within leading financial institutions, consistently driving performance and delivering measurable results. His broad expertise, ranging from portfolio management to financial leadership, provides him with a comprehensive understanding of complex financial landscapes and the operational dynamics of modern business.

Mohammed holds a joint degree in Law and Accountancy and has undertaken various professional qualifications, underlining his commitment to continuous learning and professional excellence. In addition to his corporate role, he regularly engages with students and academic communities, sharing real-world insights and promoting ethical, sustainable business practices.

His collaborative approach, passion for mentoring, and dedication to business innovation make him a valuable contributor to university programmes and student development initiatives.

Mashood Akmal is a specialised expert in the Aerospace & Defence market(s) with over 17 years track record of successful collaboration with major aviation corporations such as ExxonMobil & Honeywell.

Renowned for identifying and capitalising on business opportunities and forging key relationships with the senior leadership of major flag carrier airlines and defence forces globally.

In his role as Aeroservices' Chief Strategy Officer, Mashood guides corporate strategic direction, focusing on expansion into key Commercial Aviation & Defence markets and advancing new product developments for commercial and defence aviation applications.

He is at the forefront of digital transformation of Aeroservices , leveraging AI, ML, and IoT, and Big Data, venturing into new aviation verticals such as major asset acquisitions, repair & lease,  for example Engines, APUs, Landing Gears.

Philip Turnbull is the Chief Executive of the Association of International Accountants (AIA), an organisation established in 1928 that offers a recognised professional qualification in accountancy and auditing. With extensive experience in the development and management of professional qualifications, Philip has played a pivotal role in advancing accounting education and promoting sustainability, equality, diversity, and inclusion within the profession.

Philip’s expertise spans strategic planning, financial sustainability, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. He has been instrumental in developing internationally recognised syllabi, assessments, and qualifications. He also has additional experience in internal auditing roles at publicly listed companies, where he developed expertise in audit planning, risk assessment, internal control evaluation, and financial reporting across diverse industries and international jurisdictions.

Beyond his role at AIA, Philip serves as Treasurer of the Commonwealth Fashion Council, a board member of the NPH Ethnic Minority Business & Policy Forum, and a contributor to Northumbria University’s Accounting and Finance Advisory Panel. 

Philip is an alumnus of the University of Northumbria and is a fellow member of multiple prestigious accounting bodies, including the Association of International Accountants (AIA), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA).

Sanjeet Bajwa is a Director in the Risk Consulting Team at EY. Sanjeet has been working with EY for almost 20 years, helping clients manage their IT risks. Sanjeet has experience of supporting a diverse portfolio of multinational clients across a number of sectors including retail, financial services and Government. Sanjeet specialises in overseeing and leading IT transformation, programme assurance and IT internal audit engagements. Sanjeet joined EY after completing her MSc in Management at Leeds University Business School. Before this she graduated with a first class joint honours degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Leeds.

One of the leading movers and shakers in the region, over many years Steve has developed a detailed understanding of the economic landscape in terms of structure and change dynamic. He leverages this to provide insights and opportunities for clients and contacts.

Stephen has over 30 years' experience working for seven different professional services partnerships; 11 of which have been in a Big 4 environment. He enjoys and has expertise in all aspects of strategy, business development, marketing and communications; often leveraging this expertise where possible to support client growth strategies.