TiE UK North has appointed a new President, with Tony Walker replacing the outgoing Vikas Shah MBE.
Established for almost a decade TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) UK North each year works with hundreds of businesses and some of the most influential CEOs and founders across the North of England. Tony, a TiE UK North board member since May 2019, is Deputy Director at The University of Manchester Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
He said: “I feel very proud to have become President of TiE UK North, a chapter of TiE Global, which is one of the world’s largest entrepreneurs networks.
“TiE UK North is a highly respected organisation that has a global reach and I am looking forward to continuing the fantastic work of the chapter and giving back as much as I can during my tenure.”
TiE, a nonprofit venture devoted to entrepreneurs in all industries, at all stages, from incubation throughout the entrepreneurial life cycle, was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region.
Tony, an experienced director having worked in the higher education industry for the majority of his career, said TiE’s mission of fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, funding and incubation is now more important than ever.
“Entrepreneurship is so vital in every region throughout the world,” said Tony.
“The more we can educate younger people about entrepreneurial solutions to the economic recovery, health care, medicines and more, the better. It’s also about making sure that the younger generation have opportunities when they are leaving school, college and university and people practicing that entrepreneurial mindset is a solution to this.”
He added: “What I really like is how TiE has committed itself to be part of the recovery from coronavirus. Because it’s entrepreneurial it needs more entrepreneurs so we’re going to support more entrepreneurs and help grow our way out of it.
“We need to unleash powerhouses all over the UK. I think the pandemic has shown that relying on one centre, London, is risky. We need to spread that opportunity out, which is something I’m hoping to do through TiE UK North.”
With a global reach and a local focus, the heart of TiE efforts lies in its five foundational programs – Mentoring, Networking, Education, Funding, and Incubation.
The TiE UK North chapter will soon announce its events programme for the next 12 months, with keynote speakers, roundtable discussions, mentor sessions and more.
More links are expected to be forged with other TiE chapters in the UK and Europe.
Tony added: “I will be looking to build on what other presidents have done in the past and adding my own flavour to that too of course as we continue to build on the growth of the chapter.
“With a focus of giving back to the community, our focus will firmly remain on generating and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
