Description
TLC Zoom
Wednesday 4th October 2023 @ 18:00 BST
BLIND FAITH
JOHN SPENCE CBE
For some time I have wanted to have an event that considered faith. In an increasingly secular society I admire and respect leaders for whom their faith can be a very major factor in their career and their principals and ethics which then governs the way they go about their business. It was through long standing TLC member Revd Canon Dr Tim Bull, Director of Vocations, Diocese of St Albans that he suggested John Spence CBE as an ideal choice for this subject
John will tell us how his faith has supported him as he has undertaken a wide range of leadership roles across the public, private and charitable sectors, despite being registered blind in his 30s. He will celebrate disability and share the lessons of 40 years in senior management roles.
Biography
John grew up in Edinburgh and went to Trinity College Dublin before joining Lloyds Bank. His 32-year career culminated in six managing director roles. He decided to move on in 2005 and has subsequently undertaken an array of roles across the public and private sector, including non-executive directorships at HM Revenue & Customs, Capital for Enterprise Ltd and Edrington Ltd (makers of Famous Grouse and other delicious products!). He chairs the Cambridge Building Society and is Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Health & Adule Social Care.Â
Along the way, John became blind and entered the rich world of disability. He has been Chair or President of such diverse causes as Blind in Business, Action for Blind People, Enable (the Scottish equivalent of Mencap) and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (yes, he helped negotiate the pandas!)
A lifelong Christian, his numerous Church of England roles have culminated in his being a Church Commissioner 2004-13, and Finance Chair of the Archbishops’ Council 2013 to date. He has successively been awarded the MBE, OBE and CBE for services to the community, charity and business respectively.Â
He is married with three children and six grandchildren.
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