Neil Carberry, Director for employment and skills
Neil was appointed director for employment affairs in February 2011.
Neil is responsible for setting out a framework of employment policy that supports the CBI's ambition of making the UK the best place to invest and create jobs.
His team campaigns on behalf of CBI members on labour market issues including employment law, employee relations, equality and diversity, pay, pensions, health and safety and human rights.
Before becoming director, Neil spent four years as head of employment and pensions policy and he has previously worked in the CBI's public services team as head of public procurement.
Neil joined the CBI in 2004, after completing a postgraduate degree at the LSE in Industrial Relations. Before this, he worked as an HR consultant for a number of major financial institutions.
Lena Levy (nee Tochtermann), Head of labour market policy
Lena manages the CBI’s labour market policy team and holds ultimate responsibility for CBI policy on the labour market, pay, diversity and inclusion and health and safety. Lena also leads one of the CBI’s major projects this year, Ensuring growth makes a difference to everyone.
Lena joined the CBI’s Employment and Skills Directorate as a Labour Market Economist and Senior Policy Adviser in November 2011 to lead the CBI’s work on unemployment, welfare reform and labour market policy. Prior to joining the CBI Lena worked as an Analyst at urban policy think tank Centre for Cities.
Lena is a German national and studied Economic Geography, Economics and Business Studies at Munich University, before transferring to the London School of Economics to complete a Masters in Local Economic Development.
Rob Wall, Head of employment and education policy
Rob leads the CBI’s work on employment regulation, employee relations, education and skills. He has a strong background in public policy and, prior to joining the CBI, led policy teams in the Cabinet Office and in Home Office agencies. Rob has also worked internationally, representing UK interests overseas and leading award-winning global projects.
He has a degree in politics and recently completed a MBA at Henley Business School.
Dom Frost, policy adviser
Dominic is responsible for pension policy, specifically, defined benefit, European policy and the State Pension.
Before joining the CBI, Dominic worked as an analyst for an investment consultancy and still writes economic articles for a published academic journal. Dominic obtained his undergraduate History degree with honours at Royal Holloway, University of London and achieved an MSc in Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Rachel Smith, Labour market economist
Rachel recently joined the CBI’s Employment and Skills Directorate as a Labour Market
Economist.
Prior to this, Rachel worked as a Programme Analyst at Business in the Community, a business-led charity focused on Corporate Responsibility, where, amongst other things, she led on a number of longitudinal project evaluations.
Rachel has also worked as an Analyst at Centre for Cities, an urban policy and
research institute dedicated to improving the economic performance of the UK’s
cities.
Rachel has a BSc in Economics from the University of Manchester.
Matthew Percival, senior policy adviser
Matthew’s focus for 2014/15 is the CBI’s Ensuring growth makes a difference to everyone campaign.
Since joining the CBI in February 2011 he has worked on employment law and regional growth policy. Before joining the CBI he worked at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Grace Breen, Senior policy adviser
Grace is responsible for policy work relating to education and our Ambition for All in Schools campaign.
Before joining the CBI, Grace studied at Sussex University for a degree in Economics and at King’s College London for an MA in European Public Policy.
Katie Dash, policy adviser
Katie is responsible for policy work relating to pensions, international employment (including the CBI’s work with the ILO and IOE), and business and human rights. She is also part of the project team working on the CBI’s 2014 policy priority, Ensuring growth makes a difference to everyone.
Prior to joining the CBI, Katie worked at the Institute for Government and for the Scottish Government.
Katie has a degree in Economics and Politics from the University of Edinburgh and a MSc in Political Science and Political Economy from the London School of Economics
Katy Pell, policy advisor
Katy joined the CBI in April 2014 and is responsible for our policy work on diversity and inclusion - including flexible working, childcare, shared parental leave and women on boards – as well as wellbeing, health and safety.
Prior to working at the CBI, Katy spent two years working as an account manager in marketing and advertising before spending three years contracted out to major financial institutions where she provided regulatory and compliance expertise.
Katy has a degree in History from the University of Sheffield and completed her masters in Non-proliferation and International Security at King’s College, London.
Lydia Barkwith, Directorate Co-ordinator
Lydia was the CBI’s first apprentice, she has previously worked in the leisure industry, food and drink industry as well as volunteering with local government.
Lydia is Neil Carberry's PA and provides administrative and events support to the wider ESD team.