Alison Cooper

“"If you work for me it doesn’t mean I don’t drive quite hard for things, but there are times in business when you just have to sit back and let things take their course — maybe let the decision brew a bit before you jump in.””

“" ‘Haraka, haraka haina Baraka’ which means in Swahili ‘Hurry, hurry brings no blessing’."”

“All I have ever done with my career is just try and maximise the opportunity and challenge for whatever role I have been in, and that has led to me to this seat.””

“"There are plenty of adults who still choose to smoke despite decades of reasons not to. That needs to be respected at some point.””

““The only thing we have ever seen make a difference is bans on smoking in public places, because they reduce the occasions to smoke."”

““I do carry quite a lot of data in my head, but a lot of it is song lyrics.””

“"There should be more freedom of choice. People should be free to decide whether to go to a smoking establishment or a non-smoking environment."”

“"People talk about glass ceilings but it is not something I have particularly experienced – but that is only my experience."”

“"Trying to force a percentage of woman on boards – I'm completely against all that."”