David Smith
Chair of South Tees Development Corporation
He led the organisation through two decades of growth, overseeing a £14million turnover and delivering sector-defining programmes such as Open Networks and Gas Goes Green. Prior to ENA, he held senior roles in major UK trade bodies including the British Retail Consortium, where he directed national campaigns such as “Chip and Pin,” and managed crisis communications. His career began in local government on Teesside at Cleveland County Council in the 1980s.
He progressed through public relations roles with increasing responsibility, working for the London Ambulance Service, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
David brings deep policy understanding, exceptional communication skills, and a proven track record in member-focused leadership. He is the longest serving member of the South Tees Development Corporation Board.
Councillor Alec Brown
Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Deputy Chair of South Tees Development Corporation
Cllr Brown, who serves in the Kirkleatham ward in Redcar, was first elected to the Council in 2015. He served as the Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods in the Council’s administration between 2015 and 2019.
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Allan Armstrong
Commercial Director, Sir Robert McAlpine
Allan began working in the construction industry in 1987 as a trainee quantity surveyor with Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd and has subsequently worked at Laing O’Rourke Construction Ltd, Wates Construction Ltd, freelance for Turner Townsend and now at Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd.
Although his current role is in healthcare, he has gained a broad experience in most sectors including commercial, accommodation, education, industrial, nuclear.
As a member of the Commercial Directorate team he is also responsible for the commercial function which involves commercial processes and guidance; commercial reporting; staff recruitment and placement; staff learning, training and coaching; contract negotiation and dispute resolution.
John Baker
Independent Member
He joined Teesside Cast Products (Tata Steel) as HR Director in 2006, remaining in that role until 2011. He became the Director of Public Relations & Media with SSI UK until the site closure in 2015.
John is also a Board member of the South Tees Site Company Ltd, and Chair of the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation, having also previous experience as a school governor and Chair of a Multi Academy Trust.
Cllr Carolyn Curr
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councillor
Carolyn has also worked in tourism and hospitality and the financial services industry and lived in France for a number of years running a holiday lettings business.
In May 2023 she was elected to Redcar and Cleveland Council and to Guisborough Town Council. She sits on the Corporate Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee, the Adult Social Care and Public Health Scrutiny Committee, and is currently chairing a cross-party working group looking at the significant challenges the council is facing.
In March 2024 she was elected as the Deputy Chair for Membership and Fundraising for the South Tees Conservative Association. Carolyn is also a volunteer with a local environmental charity – Guisborough Town Pride – and was secretary of Whitby Civic Society.
Jason Faulkner
Executive Principal, Redcar and Cleveland College
Born in Teesside, Jason has over 20 years' experience in further education, following a career in the Army spanning 14 years in which he served around the world.
Jason started his career in education as a Prince’s Trust Team Leader working with some of the most vulnerable young people in society. Jason spent 15 years of his career at Stockton Riverside College leading the College curriculum development.
In August 2018 Jason was appointed as the Principal of Redcar and Cleveland College following the merger with Stockton Riverside College. Using his leadership skills, and with a fantastic team, Jason has transformed Redcar and Cleveland College. It is now the leading college in Tees Valley for all things energy.
Lyndsay Hogg
Managing Director, Hogg Global Logistics
Hogg Global is five years young but going strong through various start-up challenges, including Covid and Brexit. Lyndsay upskilled ahead of Brexit, completing 30 training certificates and three qualifications through lockdown in a bid to offer free advice to all traders.
Cllr Carole Morgan
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councillor
Carole trained as a secondary school teacher in Liverpool and then held a teaching career spanning 35 years, mainly in Modern Foreign Languages but also including Sport, Maths and working with SEND children. She retired in 2011 to run a small animal business and take care of young grandchildren.
Carole has campaigned to preserve local green spaces and is involved in community groups in the area, including Friends of Morton Carr Wood, knitting/craft groups and Friends of Nunthorpe Railway Station. As a Board Member of Esk Valley Railway Development Company, she is keen to see more frequent and reliable rail services across the area.
Associate Member: John Sampson
John is one of four directors supporting the Council in delivering the strategic direction of the organisation, and leads on the delivery of the Council’s transformational change programme. This has to date, achieved a combination of savings and income Growth of £90.5 million and he has orchestrated the programme to deliver a further £43.2 million of reductions through to 2023. He is the Chair of the North East Regional Director of Resources group, and is involved and engaged in the ongoing development of the Tees Valley Combined Authority.
John is a board member of a local Career Academy that supports a local sixth form college to allow students to gain early experience of work, and of ARCC, a Community Interest Company for the Durham & Tees Valley Probation Trust, where he is also the Chair of the Companies Audit Committee.
Associate Member: John Barnes
South Tees Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer