Heather Buchanan is founding director and chair of Athena. She sets the strategic focus of the group and has 10 years’ worth of experience successfully working in UK Parliament for positive change on behalf of small business. She regularly advises MPs, peers, Government departments, regulators, trade bodies and civil society on the commercial relationships between businesses and their lenders. Heather is a member of the UK Finance SME Advisory Group, and was on the Steering Committee of the BankingFutures project, and has also contributed to the Lending Standards Board Standards of Lending Practice for Business Customers.

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Jackie is a founder director of Athena and took up her current role, co-ordinating research and operations, in mid-2022. Prior to this she was involved mainly in an advisory capacity, providing research and support on specific projects and workstreams. She has a small business background, largely in the hospitality and accommodation sectors.

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Benjamin is Senior Research and Policy Advisor at the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Anti-Corruption & Responsible Tax, Sustainable Finance, and Fair Banking. In this role he leads high-impact research and policy work across topic, on issues including the impact of the UK financial system on nature, questioning the corrupting role of money in UK politics, and access to redress. Benjamin has a background in research, strategy and project management within sustainable finance and international development, working for INGO ActionAid in Denmark and Kenya, and building ESG and Impact datasets for global leaders in the financial sector. He holds a postgraduate degree from the University of Copenhagen.

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Alice is a Parliamentary Researcher at the APPGs on Fair Banking & Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax. She is studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath and is currently undertaking a year-long placement with the APPGs. Her work focuses on general research, event and diary management, and other administrative tasks.

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Lola is a Parliamentary Researcher at the APPG on Anti-Corruption & Responsible Tax. She is a student at the University of Bath studying Politics and International Relations and undertaking a year-long industrial work placement with the APPG. Her work ranges from general research, administrative tasks, and diary management to helping run events.

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