Artistes of the Month
Also featured: Doug Richard,
Kate Humble
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A
poverty-stricken childhood steeled Duncan's drive to make his fortune
from an early age. He began his entrepreneurial life by trading in cars,
but it was with an ice cream van that he changed the course of his life
- setting out to become the king of the '99'.
He then switched to nursing homes, becoming a multi-millionaire in the
process. Since then Duncan has built up a chain of health clubs called
'Bannatyne's' and also owns Bannatyne's Casino, Bar and Hotels.
Estimated to be worth more than £170m, Duncan holds an OBE and
was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) from Glasgow
Caledonian University for services to business and charity.
He was also North Region Entrepreneur of the Year 2003 and Master Entrepreneur
Of The Year 2003 for the North Region.
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Doug is founder and executive Chairman of Library House and has more than
18 years experience in the development and leadership of technology and
software ventures, both in the US and in the UK. In addition to his Library
House involvement, he is co-founder and Chairman of Hotxt, Ltd. and co-founder
and vice-chairman of Cambridge Angels. Previously, he was vice president
and later president and CEO of US publicly quoted software company Micrografx
with offices in 11 countries which he sold to Corel Corporation in 2000.
Prior to Micrografx he was the founder and CEO of Visual software which
was set up with the mission of bringing high-end 3D technology to the
PC market in the form of creativity and productivity applications. After
five years, Visual Software was sold to Micrografx in 1996. Before Visual
Software, he was the founder of ITAL Computers which provided CAD/CAM
systems integration services to the southern California aerospace industry.
ITAL Computers was sold in a private transaction in 1991 and proceeds
used to found Visual Software. Doug has a Juris Doctor from the University
of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and a BA in Psychology University
of California at Berkeley.
Doug has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, technology visionary
and senior executive of both public and private technology companies both
in the US and Europe.
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Kate
Humble was born in London. After leaving school she travelled in Africa
from the Cape to Cairo doing various jobs including working as a model,
a safari driver and on a crocodile farm.
She returned to Africa in 1984 and travelled in Madagascar, the subject
of her first article for The Daily Telegraph travel section. Kate has now
travelled extensively researching, writing and presenting programmes from
Holiday to The Abyss.
Kate started her television career as a production assistant and researcher,
on programmes such as Parallel 9 and Animal Hospital. She joined the Holiday
production team as a researcher but was soon asked to present her first
report.
Kate has presented a number of travel programmes including Holiday on
a Shoestring and Holiday - You Call the Shots which have taken her to
such far-flung places as Nepal and Australia.
She has worked on a diverse range of programmes, reporting on rural issues
for Countryfile and working with Rolf Harris on Rolf's Amazing Animals.
She was co-presenter on Animal Park, filmed at Longleat Safari Park, and
Top Gear. A stint presenting City Hospital saw her broadcasting live from
from Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals in central London.
Kate has presented a variety of science and wildlife programmes including
Tomorrow's World and The Essential Guide to Rocks. She presented four
series of Rough Science where scientists worked against the clock to complete
challenges including building an underwater light and designing a spacesuit
cooling system.
In 2002 and 2003, Kate explored the depths of the ocean in The Abyss,
a day of live broadcasts exploring life at the bottom of the sea. The
Abyss tapped into Kate's love for the sea and of diving as she was able
to explore life at the spectacular Cayman Wall from the Atlantis submersible.
During the dive, the crew used bait to attract a deep-water giant, the
six-gill shark.
Kate joined Bill Oddie and Simon King to present Wild In Your Garden
in 2003. A week of live broadcasts followed the lives of the animal residents
of two Bristol gardens. During the week she investigated subjects such
as the best way to watch mammals and how to identify bird song.
2004 programmes include two more live events Britain Goes Wild with Bill
Oddie and Test Your Pet. More recently Kate presented Springwatch with
Bill Oddie.
Her experience of working live and keeping a calm head when things don't
go entirely to plan have stood her in good stead. She says that working
as a presenter is, 'enormous fun and you get to do some great things,
but it is incredibly hard work.'
Kate enjoys travelling both for work and pleasure. She is an enthusiastic
and qualified SCUBA diver.
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Further Information
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phone one of our consultants whose expert advice will help you find the
right personality for your event.
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