We welcomed and approved the nomination of two new co-clerks at the Annual General Meeting in May. Elize Sakamoto and Roland Carn. 


Elize Sakamoto

I am honoured and delighted to be appointed your new co-clerk. I believe that I bring three things Q&B can benefit from: enthusiasm, a fresh pair of eyes, and breadth in terms of experience. Whilst my principal responsibility has been as a parent for the last several years, I have always worked in multiple – paid and unpaid – capacities alongside being a primary carer for my child.
Most recently I was the manager for the education and learning programmes at the national headquarters of a global social action charity. Previously, I was a researcher in international politics at a university, also tasked with administrative and convening duties.
Although I had been attending (Quaker Meetings) for some years, I became a member of the Religious Society of Friends around this time, about a decade ago, and have since been serving in many local and national roles. I also have experience working for commercial entities, social enterprises and public bodies, after receiving foundational professional training in change and project management at Accenture (New York and Tokyo). Quaker understanding of what is possible in the world of business is unique and valuable and I am eager to apply my skills and knowledge in moving Q&B forward in its mission.
I look forward to meeting you and working with you soon. 

Roland Carn

I’m one of the two new Q&B clerks. I was one of the ten original founder members of the Quakers and Business Group.  I went away for a while and came back a few years ago.
I was the lead author of Good Business: Ethics at Work. I trained as a teacher and taught mathematics in London, then, I read psychology at Aberdeen and Carnegie-Mellon universities. After working in software development for about 30 years, in the USA, Britain and the Middle East I ran Carn Consultants for seven years giving advice and guidance on software reliability and lifetime cost management. Then,  I drifted into my most interesting assignments in management consultancy, working with clients in difficulties with computing and other problems. Moving on, I went into furniture restoration and conservation, restoring several hundred pieces of antique and historic furniture.
For two decades, I was a warden of two Quaker meeting houses. 
For fun, I have made more than 70 short amateur videos – dramas, lectures, presentations, promotions. As well as technical and professional work, I’ve had articles published in The Friend, Quaker Monthly and Quaker Voices.I’ve been a Quaker all my life. I’m married with nine grandchildren and a great granddaughter.

Our outgoing co-clerks, Jane Eve Straughton and Wendrie Heywood, stood down in May 2021. We thank them for the hard work they put into supporting the group through the difficulties of the pandemic and they will be missed for their  good humour, friendly professionalism and dedication to the aims of Quakers and Business. 

Quakers and Business is a charitable incorporated organisation in England and Wales No. 1157008 at 21 Papillons Walk, London SE3 9SF Quakers and Business Group is a Quaker Recognised Body in Britain (BYM).
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