THE Press Business Awards has secured export champion Lesley Batchelor as guest speaker for its 25th anniversary event.

The black tie dinner is set to be attended by more than 450 guests, and 42 award finalists from across North Yorkshire when it is staged at York Racecourse on November 19.

Speaking at the event will be the Institute of Export's director general Lesley Batchelor, who earlier this year received an OBE for services to business.

Ms Batchelor, who lives in Acomb, is a graduate of both the Institute of Export and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She has studied as an intellectual property auditor and has additional expertise in global licensing and marketing.

Having been elected chairwoman of the Institute of Export (IoE) in 2007 Ms Batchelor was appointed Director General in 2010, going on to shape policy and decision-making at the highest levels.

A member of the Advisory Panel and active member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Trade & Investment and the All Party Manufacturing Group, Ms Batchelor gives evidence to The House of Lords Select Committees on various issues affecting international trade and government support for SMEs.

Her track record in international trade and export marketing spans more than 17 years, working with blue-chip giants including Fujitsu Europe and Coca-Cola Europe, before setting up CMC Marketing in 1992 where she helped more than 1,000 SMEs understand world trade and enter new markets.

Tickets for the Press Business Awards are still available. For more information email jennifer.brown@nne.co.uk