Joel Blake
Founder and CEO of GFA Exchange
Joel is a multi-award-winning businessman, international public speaker, and corporate advisor with over 20 years’ experience in helping organizations innovate their business growth strategies, through entrepreneurship, inclusion and technology.
Known as the ‘Rebel in a Suit’, he is the Founder & CEO of www.gfaexchange.com an award-winning B2B fintech that helps banks and other financial services firms reduce risk, whilst improving financial inclusion for underserved SMEs.
Previously, he co-founded a financial lending start-up that provided funding to launch over 600 new UK businesses in under 3 years. He was also the former Executive Lead for Growing Business and Access to Finance for a UK LEP, supporting the growth needs of over 6,500 SMEs.
Joel has guest lectured at several globally recognised business schools, facilitated many conferences and events, and has also advised No 10 Downing Street business policy leads on UK inclusive business growth strategies.
Outside of his business, Joel is the current President of the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, Chair of Employability UK and a Non-Executive Director of two not-for-profit organisations.
He was awarded an OBE for Services to Business Support and Enterprise in 2016.
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