
Sheetal Mehta Walsh
Specifically Sheetal is focussed on microfinance in developing and developed countries. She is a spokesperson on the topic, having presented at Cambridge, LSE, Doha Forum, Big Society, House of Lords, and other prestigious forums. Currently Sheetal is launching a social enterprise with Kings College Shantisale which will allow microfinance recipients to sell their products and services online thereby scaling their businesses and becoming bankable. Sheetal is Founder of Shanti Microfinance a social enterprise and UK Charity that provides access to technology and capital for entrepreneurs in slums and villages in India.
Sheetal is the UK Deal Maker (by appointment) for the UK Trade and Investment’s Global Entrepreneur Programme. As a liaison between Government and entrepreneurs, she is responsible for helping innovative start up technology and life sciences companies make the UK their base so that they can be successful globally through strategic partnerships.
From 2000- 2005 Sheetal was Director of VC Relations at Microsoft where she worked with the Venture Capital community in EMEA and the Silicon Valley to help their portfolio companies leverage the .NET initiative, access smart funding and go to market. Previously she worked with the Edmonton Police force working with children and women to alleviate domestic violence and assist victims drug abuse.
Sheetal has received several awards: Asian Women of Achievement: Social and Humanitarian (Prince Charles and Cherie Blair) for her efforts on taking technology to developing communities in India and Africa (2005); Management Today Magazine 35 Under 35; Success Magazine No 5 of top most powerful Asian women in the UK (2006), Award for Entrepreneur of the Year by Asian Woman Magazine and No 3 Ones To Watch’ section of the Asian Power 100 list – the most influential and highest achieving Asian women in Britain (2007). Asian Woman Magazine covered a story of Sheetal’s business in the Sept 2007 issue. Sheetal has been invited to Buckingham Palace for “Women in Business” reception hosted by Her Majesty, The Queen in November 2007, Alumni Award of Excellence from the University of Alberta in 2008 and more recently nominated for Future Leader of the Year by Lloyds TSB’s Jewel Awards.
Sheetal has a Masters in International Relations (Economics) at the London School of Economics and a BA (Honors) in International Politics at the University of Alberta, Canada. She is a yoga teacher and plays drums and dohl. She is married to entrepreneur Paul Walsh and lives in San Francisco, California.

Shamir Shah
In 2004, he left the City and established The East India Tea House with the goal of providing customers with premium quality loose leaf teas. The company has quickly grown and is currently one of the market leaders in terms of supply of leaf tea, supplying both bulk and private labelled products. The company works with a number of well-known brands, supplying to the likes of Caprice Holdings, Conran Restaurants, Soho House Group, Ren Skincare, Harvey Nichols and the Lanesborough Hotel. The company has been recognised for its innovative approach, winning awards for its signature blends as well as being the first company in the UK to develop a tea sommelier training course.
Capitalising on his experience within the food sector, in 2005, Shamir set up three coffee shops in Hertfordshire under a franchise brand known as Muffin Break. Since then he has been providing general consultancy services to a number of start up and established brands.
Identifying a gap in the market for branded impulse buy snack items, in 2006, Shamir diversified into the packaging and distribution of nuts, seeds, dried fruits and confectionary products. Icone International Ltd packs for numerous UK high street brand including operators such as Itsu, Apostrophe, Yo! Sushi and Curzon Cinemas.
Shamir has further diversified his interests and is a Director of Swiss Pack UK which is a market leader in Europe in the manufacturing of stand up resealable pouches. With a modern production facility in Gujarat, India and network offices in Asia and the US, the company is widely recognised as carrying the largest range of stock pouches in the World.
Drawing upon his experience in the packaging sector, in 2007 Shamir co-founded, Enviropack Ltd. The company specialises in the supply and distribution of environmentally friendly forms of packaging.
Recognised in the Hospitality Industry, Shamir has been featured in numerous publications and has also been awarded The Hamptons Newcomer of the Year Award 2007 at the Asian Business Awards. Shamir is looking to draw upon his varied entrepreneurial background as well as his experience specifically in dealing with companies and institutions in India to support the the goals and objectives of Shanti Microfinance.

Paul Walsh
As an entrepreneur, Paul founded MetaCert, an online family safety platform and previously Segala in 2003, a specialist in software testing and standards compliance. Paul was the first AOL employees in Europe during the mid 90′s and built his first website in 1996. As the company’s first Technical Accounts Manager and International Beta Coordinator for the UK & Sweden, Paul was responsible for the test management of all new products and technologies – including AIM, Internet Radio, Online games and 56k modem speed. From 2006-2008 Paul served as Chair of the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) – the longest established and most respected Industry association to represent the UK Digital Industry. During his time as an Advisor to the British Council between 2007 – 2009, Paul advised senior management on its Digital Pioneer programme with Hong Kong and its Creative Entrepreneur programme with India.

Sanjay Joshi

Monik Durmus

Rohana Samtani

