Anthony St John

Non-Executive Chairman, Director and Adviser

London, UK

Biography

Lord St John of Bletso (Anthony) has served as a Crossbench member of the House of Lords since 1979.

He trained and qualified as a lawyer in South Africa before working for almost 20 years in financial services in London in the City.

His interests span politics, business, charity work and mentoring SMEs.

His political interests are African affairs, environmental protection, disruptive technologies and human rights.

He serves on the boards of several listed and unlisted companies, including Strand Hanson, Integrated Diagnostic Holdings, Yellow Cake plc and Empati.

He also serves as a director of several investment trusts, including Abion VCT and Smithson.

He advises and mentors several SMEs in marketing, clean technologies, digital currencies, disruptive technologies and corporate restructuring.

Anthony has a long-term interest in the charitable sector and serves as a trustee to several charities focused on wildlife conservation, poverty reduction, education and healthcare.

After completing his law degrees and practicing law in South Africa, he graduated with his Masters in Law at London University in Chinese law and maritime law.

Anthony St John’s Newsfeed

Geobear appoints new chair to advisory board

Geobear has announced the appointment of Lord (Anthony) St John of Bletso as chairman of the advisory board. Geobear, which was formally known as URETEK, helps infrastructure and general construction asset owners, contractors and design consulting firms with cracks on the structures, reduced bearing capacity of foundation soil, water ingress, wear and tear caused by dynamic loading and many other common challenges.

Top Trends from London FinTech Week

Now in its sixth year, London FinTech Week once again brought together some of the leading figures in the financial sector to discuss the latest global FinTech trends. As expected, this year’s event provided plenty of food for thought with Lord Anthony St John sharing his prediction that in 20 years’ time, FinTech will account for all financial services.

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Anthony St John’s Background

Non-Executive Chairman, Director and Adviser

London, UK

Geobear

Chairman of the Advisory Board

Feb 2020 - Present

London, UK

Founded in the 1970s, Geobear is a ground engineering contractor, that aims to save taxpayer money and avoiding closure of main roads. The original founder of Uretek solutions operates in the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, Finland, Sweden and Poland.

Falcon Group

Non-Executive Director

2016 - Present

Dubai, AE

A global specialist finance company who provide tailored and flexible financing options that enable mid-cap companies to grow quickly and efficiently as well as assisting large corporations to enhance growth.

Integrated Diagnostics Holdings

Non-Executive Chairman

May 2015 - Present

London, UK

Integrated Diagnostics Holdings is the largest medical diagnostics business in the Middle East and South Asia. IDH provides focused superior medical diagnostics services to more than 5 million patients annually.

Strand Hanson

Non-Executive Chairman

2015 - Present

London, UK

Strand Hanson is a management owned, independent, advisory led, modern merchant bank, providing financial and strategic advice to public and private companies, private equity and activist investors.

Albion Ventures LLP

Non-Executive Director

2007 - Present

London, UK

Albion Capital is a leading independent investment manager with a long-term record of backing change and growth.

House of Lords

Crossbencher (Independent)

Dec 1978 - Present

London, UK

Vice Chairman of All Party Parliamentary South Africa Group; Member of House of Lords Select Committee on AI; Vice Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Africa Group; Vice Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Endangered Species Group; Council Member of Parliamentary Information Technology Committee

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Current Non-Executive Positions

Empati UK Ltd

Non-Executive Chairman

2019 - Present

Empati UK Lt is an utility smart meter aggregator.

Choice International Mauritius Limited

Non-Executive Director

2019 - Present

Choice International Mauritius Limited is a foreign exchange and payment intermediary service with expertise in cost-effective and rapid international trade payments available to businesses in Africa and Southern Asia.

Smithson Investment Trust plc

Non-Executive Director

2018 - Present

London, UK

Smithson Investment Trust is an investment trust that raised a record £822m in 2018, the year it was established.

Yellow Cake plc

Non-Executive Chairman

2018 - Present

Saint Helier, JE

Yellow Cake is a specialist company focused on the ability to purchase and store Uranium Oxide.

Bell Microsystems Ltd

Advisory Board Member

2017 - Present

Portsmouth, UK

Bell Integration has provided data centre solutions since 1996. With an experienced team of over 450 employees, Bell Integration is able to offer multiple services to optimise IT within companies.

17ARM

Advisory Board Member

2017 - Present

Dubai, AE

Based in Dubai and Jersey, 17ARM is a provider of global asset tracing and corporate intelligence.

Immersive Labs

Advisory Board Member

2018 - Present

London, UK

Immersive Labs is the world’s first platform specialising in cybersecurity training through interactive, on-demand and gamified systems.

Shyft

Advisory Board Member

Jun 2018 - Present

London, UK

Shyft is a leading blockchain-based solution that is building a trusted ecosystem to enable secure & private data transfer.

FarmaTrust

Advisory Board Member

2017 - Present

Farmatrust has created a platform which eliminates counterfeit drugs, creates efficiencies in the pharmaceutical industry, and allows the purchase of genuine drugs anywhere and on-line.

Roc Technologies

Advisory Board Member

2017 - Present

Newbury, UK

Roc is a multi-award winning business and technology services provider, Roc helps senior business leaders change, challenge their assumptions and continuously improve.

QEY / Neuromodulation technology

Advisory Board Member

2017 - Present

ECO Capacity Exchange

Advisory Board Member

2017 - Present

London, UK

The Enterprise Backed Credit Obligation is an efficient and interest free alternative to money. The ECO stimulates new borderless, socially inclusive wealth creation in new and emerging economies.

Pall Mall Family Office

Founding Shareholder

2016 - Present

London, UK

Pall Mall Family Office has three priorities: transparency, uncompromising service and the interests of the families it serves.

WET Holdings

Advisory Board Chairman

2016 - Present

London, UK

WET Holdings (Global) - water enhanced technology.

BetWay

Advisory Board Member

2015 - Present

London, UK

BetWay is a a global online sports betting and gaming company providing entertainment across a number of brands.

Impala Energy

Strategic Advisor

2015 - Present

London, UK

Impala Energy is a power development company focused on small-to-medium-sized, clean and renewable power projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

Choice Forex Ltd and Choice International Ltd

Senior Advisor

2014 - Present

London, UK

Choice Forex Ltd delivers a powerful suite of solutions which has proven to be the defining factor in our client's success.

Contec Global

Strategic Advisor

Jul 2013 - Present

London, UK

Focused on eGovernment and technology solutions in developing countries.

Nieuw World Capital Management

Strategic Advisor

Mar 2013 - Present

New York, US

A value recovery solution provider for distressed US commercial real estate.

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Previous Non-Executive Positions

Global Resources Investment Trust

Non-Executive Chairman

Jan 2014 - 2017

London, UK

A value added fund focused on restructuring and recapitalising undervalued international resource companies.

Philanthropy

Citizens Online

Patron

Founded in 2000, Citizens Online is a charity with an aim to explore and assist the impact of the internet on today’s society, without the exclusion of anyone.

Christel House Europe

Director

Apr 2010 - Present

Indianapolis, US

Helping children around the world break the cycle of poverty and become self sufficient, contributing members of their society.

Television Trust for the Environment (TVE)

Trustee Emeritus

Mar 2010 - Present

London, UK

Television Trust for the Environment (TVE) works with filmmakers and partners worldwide to make and distribute films that put the environment and sustainability on the global agenda.

TREE

Trustee

Feb 2010 - Present

Durban, ZA

Assists adults from disadvantaged communities in South Africa to provide their children with access to quality early childhood development programmes.

Alexandra Rose Charity

Vice President

Jan 2010 - Present

Surrey, UK

Works with small charities and community organisations throughout the UK helping them raise funds.

The Helen Feather Memorial Trust

Trustee

Mar 2002 - Present

London, UK

The aims of the Trust are to support people with cancer and raise money for carefully selected Cancer Research Projects.

Tusk Trust

Member of Global Advisory Board

Apr 2000 - Present

Dorset, UK

TUSK Trust initiates and funds conservation and community developments across Africa.

Harpenden Spotlight in Africa

Trustee

London, UK

Harpenden Spotlight in Africa is a charitable organisation that is focused on the health, development and education of children and communities in Eastern Uganda.

The Life Neurological Research Trust

Trustee

London, UK

The Life Neurological Research Trust's mission is to raise awareness for neurological diseases and to fund research and targeted projects.

Afrika Tikkun UK

Former Trustee

Established in 1994, Afrika Tikkun (previously known as MaAfrika Tikkun) is a charitable organisation with an aim to enable the development and transformation of disadvantaged communities in South Africa.

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Anthony St John’s Education

London School of Economics

LLM (Master of Law)

1982 - 1984

University of Cape Town

Bachelor of Arts (B. A.), Law

1975 - 1979

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