Biography
I have recently taken semi-retirement to enable me to focus on a wider range of activities, including those related to economic development to use my career experience to try to continue to support and share good practice in this area. Moving forward my work includes support to South Yorkshire MCA, some coaching/mentoring work at executive/CEO level, and a growing range of non-executive positions including chair of a Government forestry committee and a range of board/strategic advisory positions.
In April 2017 I became Executive Director for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and acted as Local Enterprise Partnership CEO. I led overall strategy (including devolution) and most aspects of economic development such as skills/employment, business innovation & science, place making and the environment.
Prior to that I was Managing Director of New Economy (an economic development company), which I joined in 2012. I was seconded to Government (European policy) and in 2016 set up Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Previous roles include being Director of Policy and Planning at the North West Development Agency and setting up, running and growing a social enterprise for 5 years supporting long-term unemployed back into work.
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