Sharon Bamford is the Founding Chief Executive of the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), a government sponsored body charged with representing business needs to enhance bilateral trade and investment between the UK and India. Sharon is a dynamic and inspiring serial entrepreneur who has founded and managed five start-up businesses since 1983 ranging from drilling services to a charity. Combining her interests in academia and business, Sharon has also been a lecturer at The Centre for Entrepreneurship, The Robert Gordon University, Director of The Edinburgh Technopole, at the University of Edinburgh and immediately prior to her current role was Chief Executive at The Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE), leading a partnership of 20 Higher Education Institutes in Scotland, committed to developing enterprise and entrepreneurship amongst staff and students.
Despite her extremely busy schedule, she still finds time to mentor young entrepreneurs. A role model for young British women, Sharon was nominated for the 2008 First Women Awards in the public sector category organised by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).