The Middle East Association is delighted to be hosting Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham at a VIP Luncheon on Tuesday 11th May 2010.

Digby Jones has had a long and distinguished career in business. He spent 20 years working with the Birmingham-based law firm, Edge & Ellison, working his way up from Articled Clerk to Senior Partner. In 2000 he joined the CBI, spending six and a half years as Director General. He was knighted in 2005 for his services to business. After leaving the CBI, Digby Jones spent twelve months working in the private sector as an advisor to Deloitte and Barclays Capital, holding a variety of non-executive board roles whilst also working as the UK Skills Envoy.

In July 2007 he was appointed Minister of State for UK Trade & Investment and worked to promote British business across the world, travelling to over 30 countries in 45 overseas visits. Digby left this role in 2009 and since then has concentrated on his activities as an active crossbencher in the House of Lords whilst serving as Chairman of the International Business Advisory Board at HSBC, Chairman of Triumph Motorcycles Ltd and as Corporate Ambassador for Jaguar Cars and JCB. He advises in a number of other paid and unpaid roles, promoting socially inclusive wealth creation.

This event will be held strictly under the Chatham House Rule.