People

Ann Alexander

Ann Alexander is a solicitor who used her communication skills through networking and in the media to develop one of the UK's best-known clinical negligence firms, Alexander Harris. Ann, who was described as a 'distinguished practitioner in the field' (Chambers 2007), merged her firm with Irwin Mitchell, the fourth largest law firm in the country, in May 2006. Now, following a tremendously successful 30 years in the law, Ann is consulting on all aspects of business development and communications across a broad range of businesses.

Alexander Harris grew in 17 years from a two-partner practice to a firm employing 170 staff with 80 fee earners. The practice never advertised but during that time Ann became a regular contributor and informed commentator on a wide range of radio and TV programmes. These included BBC Radio 4's Today programme, You and Yours, PM, World at One, Law in Action, Woman's Hour, Newsnight and many others.

Ann was one of the first lawyers to specialise in clinical negligence. She has achieved ground-breaking results on behalf of clients, leading to change in patient services. She has been involved in many high profile cases representing the families of children killed by nurse Beverly Allit and over 200 families whose relatives were murdered by Harold Shipman, the serial killer employed as a local GP. Currently Ann represents the most seriously injured victims in the 'Elephant Man' clinical trials at Northwick Park Hospital.

Ann has been a tireless campaigner for justice and has successfully challenged the Government and NHS in the courts. One of her notable successes was in overturning the Secretary of State for Health's decision to hold the Shipman Inquiry in private.

Ann Alexander is a Trustee of the Patients' Association, Children's Safety Education Foundation and Action against Medical Accidents and she continues to broadcast regularly. She has just made her first documentary for Radio 4's 'Analysis' series entitled 'Public Inquiries'. You can read more about it and hear it by clicking here or by visiting www.publicinquiries.org.uk.

Her interests include Italian cookery, trying to speak the language, playing tennis and trying to play golf!

Alistair Macdonald

Alistair Macdonald is quite unashamedly a poacher turned gamekeeper.

For 20 years he was an award-winning BBC TV reporter and producer, winning accolades on both sides of the Atlantic. Now he teaches directors, partners and senior managers how to develop their businesses by making the most of free editorial space on TV, radio, the Internet and in newspapers. He's worked with directors from more than 20 countries and from five continents.

He started on a daily newspaper, then joined BBC Radio as a reporter and producer before moving to BBC TV as a reporter, producer and later a correspondent. He has also worked for ITV and Channel 4 for whom he originated, produced or presented more than 100 programmes. His work spanned news, current affairs, documentaries and lifestyle programmes.

Alistair knows what makes the news. He's been a media consultant, TV & radio trainer and presentation skills trainer for more than 20 years. Crisis news management is a speciality. He has handled numerous high-profile cases in both the private and public sectors.

Alistair's special skill is story telling. He is an entertaining, informative and inspirational public speaker who has enthralled audiences up to 1,000 strong. He is a member of the Professional Speakers' Association.

His passion is mountaineering and exploration. He's taken tea with Tuareg tribesmen in the Sahara, tangled with Tibetan bandits in Nepal and swum in piranhas-infested lagoons up the Amazon. In 1986 he climbed to 23,000ft on Mt Everest.

Alistair is a trustee of High Peak CVS, a member of the corporate advisory group for the 5-star Scanner Appeal for Manchester Children's Hospital, a life member of the John Muir Trust which protects wild landscape and a fund-raiser for the housing charity Shelter and The David Lewis Centre for Epilepsy.