The A-List: 2008

Born

31st December 1950

Job

Chief executive

Company

Camelot Group

Work Telephone

+44 (0)1923 425000.

Address

Tolpits Lane, Watford, WD18 9RN

Fantasy business partner

Raymond Blanc. Yum.

How do you off-set your carbon footprint?

Camelot has reduced its footprint by 29 per cent in the last year (moving our car fleet to diesel, adopting green energy, more efficient use of resources). In addition, we are offsetting our remaining CO2 emissions by investing in the world's first gold-standard wind farm project in New Zealand. And I walk wherever possible.

Greatest influence

My parents, who gave me my work ethic.

Clubs

Wacl, Fellow of The Marketing Society, London Press Club, Companion Chartered Management Institute, Liveryman Worshipful Company of Marketors, Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, member of PCC virtually no time for anything else!

Favourite gadget

Electric toothbrush.

Desert island objects

Raymond Blanc to cook for me, a CD of Madame Butterfly and a raft building for beginners book.

Most-admired politician

Sebastian Coe, for bringing people together and the Olympic Games to the UK.

Favourite media

I read all of them. My favourite depends on the day. Love The Week. I enjoy Dragon's Den, and any murder mystery. I like Classic FM, Radio 4, LBC, BBC News.

Biggest risk taken

Launching EuroMillions, the biggest lottery game in the world spanning three currencies, six languages, two timezones, nine countries and ten lotteries.

Perfect day

Usually a Sunday with my daughter, a good meal and a nice glass of wine.

Who should play you in the film of your life?

Holly Hunter (she's only about an inch taller than me) or Dame Judi Dench.

Career highlights

Winning the second and third licences for The National Lottery, and helping to raise more than £20 billion for good causes (and counting).

Fictional hero

Kay Scarpetta.

Hidden talent

Killer Sudoku I'm a complete addict.

Best job outside advertising

Developing the women-focused wallpaper range while at ICI. I was also taught how to decorate.

Lowdown

Camelot's success in retaining its licence to run the National Lottery until 2019 is testament to her tenacity. She oversaw a bid document running to more than 18,000 pages and which cost more than £20 million to compile. Quite an achievement for somebody who describes herself as "the product of a Northern working-class family".

Most expensive purchase

Holidays with my daughter and dad.

Why are you good at what you do?

Persistence, hard work, enjoyment and belief in both Camelot and The National Lottery.