Kingston Chamber AGM 2026

Yesterday’s Annual General Meeting marked an exciting moment in the Chamber’s story. Members gathered to reflect on a year of progress, celebrate achievements, and look ahead with fresh energy and new leadership.

We are delighted to announce that Mike Reed has taken up the role of Chamber President for 2026/27, with Sandra Porter FCIPD being our new Vice President. Heartfelt thanks go to outgoing President Martin Booth, whose dedication, wisdom and masterful use of language – always precise, always distinctive – have set a standard the Chamber will long aspire to.

We are also thrilled to welcome three new Directors to the Board:

Pippa Dunford, Founder & Director of The PiPP Consultancy, brings 25 years of experience unlocking the potential of individuals and teams through performance development and coaching.

Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Founder of The FD Consultant, is a seasoned Finance Director and CFO with almost two decades of experience supporting start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs.

Jude Faultless, Founder of Faultless Copywriting, is a marketing and communications strategist whose client roster spans some of the UK’s best-known brands.

Here’s what our CEO, Forbes Low said:

“At the end of the Kingston Chamber AGM yesterday afternoon, we passed the Presidential baton from Martin Booth to Mike Reed for 2026/27 and were also delighted to announce Sandra Porter (FCIPD) as our new Vice President.

I would like to thank Martin for his time as President. It has been a pleasure to work with him. He has been enormously supportive to myself and the Board. Martin has always been there for me, to listen, to feedback and to be a very needed critical friend. He has also been far too modest in his attributes but do not underestimate, Martin, what you have given us.

Mike brings together considerable knowledge and expertise with his work with the Time & Leisure magazine, their Food & Drinks Awards and his connections with neighbouring boroughs. He has been working closely with Martin and myself in the past year, and his considerations and guidance have been so appreciated. As our Media Partner at our key events, we are excited to learn from Mike and his support of the wonderful Anstee Bridge (katherine Greening) charity for the year.

It is also a pleasure to welcome Sandra of HR Dept, who will become our
new Vice President. She brings an abundance of energy, warmth and with complete respect from those who have worked with her and the HR Dept team.

I am proud of the progress the Chamber has achieved in 2025. Each year brings its different challenges but we need to be careful not to make excuses for them. Excuses mean we cannot grow or move forward. With the support of our fantastic membership, our active Board and the friends and partners around us, we will persist again and again, to make Kingston Chamber be known
as the best Chamber for businesses in south London.”

Mike Reed, Kingston Chamber President for 2026 / 2027 said:

“I am really proud to be President of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce for the coming year. Thank you Forbes Low and the board for entrusting me with the role.

I look forward to working alongside such an outstanding group of Directors and the chamber #DreamTeam of Forbes, Ilona Saliev and Robyn Shooter.
I am thrilled also that Sandra Porter (FCIPD) is Vice President, I know I will benefit greatly from your insight.

A special thank you to our past President Martin Booth – a high bar set and a standard to aim for and build upon.

Kingston is home to an incredible, supportive business community, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead to support our members, foster collaboration, and contribute to the growth and success.

I am also really pleased that Friends of Anstee Bridge (katherine Greening) is our Charity of the Year. They help so many young people across the borough with emotional, social, and mental health needs. Together, we can make a huge difference to the next generation coming through, and I aim to help raise their profile, connect them to supporters, and, as Chamber members, have some fun along the way while raising vital funds (all ideas welcome!).

My Chamber journey has taken me from guest to member, from Media Partner to Director, and now to President. Each step has been rewarding and enjoyable. There is an old saying that “you get out what you put in” — and that is definitely the case with the Chamber and I am really looking forward to this next chapter.”

We enter 2026/27 with real momentum — passionate leaders, a strong Board, and a membership community that continues to show up and inspire everything we do.