I am an international hybrid and a long-time journalist with a broad span of intellectual curiosity and a passion for ideas to help business work better, with basic human values to underpin the process.
I am an international hybrid and a long-time journalist with a broad span of intellectual curiosity and a passion for ideas to help business work better, with basic human values to underpin the process.
A timeline of testimonials 2013- 2021 . Older ones are on LinkedIn profile.
Keep scrolling. Grateful thanks to all those featured here who took the time.
Kind words from Mary Warnock, Baroness Warnock, who taught me Moral Philosophy at Oxford and changed my life. Having decided, after hearing her speak that I had done enough Economics at Wellesley, I swapped the E for another P in PPE, Philosophy. After no contact since leaving Oxford, I wrote to her in 2013 when I had relaunched my career as an independent journalist, thinking of her and wondering if she would remember me. She did, and we had a wonderful catch-up up over tea at the House of Lords. In her reply to my letter getting in touch after decades : "I seldom remember teaching anyone who so immediately took to Moral Philosophy as you apparently did. I remember keenly looking forward to our tutorials, and I always learned from you." (received June 2013 - got up the courage to ask if I could use it as on my old website in November, 2014).
Vanda Murray, (then Chair Marshalls plc) , 2013
“Over the last few years, Dina has interviewed me several times for various articles she has been writing - both for the FT and for her fantastic blog (Board Talk) - which has now got a huge following. She has always been well prepared, interested in my views and interesting to discuss issues with. In short, a brilliant interviewer and writer who gets right to the heart of issues and presents them with relevance, insight and punch !”
Anne Richards (then CIO Aberdeen Asset Management ), 2014
"Dina is a wonderful writer with a particular gift for getting under the skin of her subject. She is a pleasure to work with, and has true integrity. She is also comfortable working in a range of media, including print, blogs and social media."
Patrick Dunne, (then Chairman D30) 2014
"From the beginning I found Dina insightful, sharp witted, very widely read and incredibly knowledgeable. Her interrogative straightforward approach makes her good to work with. Dina always puts the work in to research a story properly and is prepared to adapt views in the light of evidence no matter how personally inconvenient for her. More recently I have enjoyed her blogs and Forbes features and great to see her pass 3,000 twitter followers."
Joy Frascinella, Communications, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) 2016
“The PRI has been working with Dina for the last several weeks on raising our social media profile. In that time, she has shown a real flair for promoting the organisation’s work across various social media outlets. In just a short time, we have already seen traffic on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook increasing considerably. We are delighted to be working with her.”
Karl Simpson, CEO and Founder, Liftstream 2018
(introducing me at a dinner around gender diversity hosted by the Duke of York at St James’s Palace )
"Dina says the things that people won’t say, but that need to be said - and gets away with it !”
Helen Pitcher, Chairman Advanced Boardroom Excellence May 2021
“Dina and I have worked together for many years, she is an incisive journalist and researcher and real expert in governance. She wrote Governance Watch for me at Advanced Boardroom Excellence for a number of years, creating thought provoking and highly relevant content for our followers and clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Dina.”
Turid Solvang, Founder/CEO Future Boards, Oslo May 2021
“I have known Dina for years and connected with her time and again around communicating well on the need for gender equality, diversity and inclusion and better corporate governance. At FutureBoards, we have been delighted to have her help to plan, participate in and moderate live events, both in London and Oslo on the need for boardroom leadership that has its finger on the pulse when it comes to social change - always with great engagement.
Dina was one of the first journalists to cover the rising trend on ESG awareness among investors and stakeholders, both in her writing on Forbes, and her own blog Board Talk, which we have featured. I recommend her for her breadth of knowledge, her analytical and communication skills, and original thinking - also for good conversation !”
Alison Taylor, Executive Director, Ethical Systems, New York, NY May 2021
“I’ve been delighted to collaborate with Dina on a range of writing and analysis projects on ESG and responsible business, corporate governance and inclusion. One of the sharpest and best writers I know, with a keen understanding of how to navigate today’s turbulent waters. There are so many people claiming to be experts in this space today, try Dina for someone that truly knows what they are talking about, and has been focused on these issues since far before they were fashionable !”