Position: Chair of Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (Private Sector Representative)

Theme Lead and Sector Champion: Process & Chemicals

Paul Booth worked in the chemical industry for more than 40 years. Born on Teesside, he started his career as an apprentice with ICI and retired in 2016 as the Chairman of Sabic UK Petrochemicals as well as its European Director for Government Policy and Public Affairs.

He is a member of the CIA Council, ex-Chairman of the North East Process Industry Cluster, one of the industrialists on the new UK CGP, and a Board Member for Plastics Europe North.

He sits on the Board of Governors for Teesside University and was previously a member of Redcar and Cleveland Technical College, NSAPI (National Skills Academy) and the TTE Training School. Paul is also Honorary President for SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) in the UK.

Position: Tees Valley Mayor (Public Sector Representative)

Ben was elected the first Tees Valley Mayor in May 2017 and represents 670,000 people. Before that, he was the Conservative opposition leader on Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council where he represented the Yarm Ward.

Ben is a solicitor by profession, and was the CEO of BLK, a sport clothing company based in Stockton. He has also worked for two Teesside law firms, in commercial litigation and employment law, since graduating in law at Northumbria University.

He grew up in Ingelby Barwick and attended Conyers School, Yarm.

Position: Leader of Darlington Borough Council (Public Sector Representative)

Cllr Heather Scott has been leader of Darlington Borough Council since May 2019.

First elected as a councillor in 1976, she has been Leader of the Conservative group since 2009.

She is also Director of Education Village Academy Trust, Board Member of Abbeyfield Society, Vice President of the Friends of Bowes Museum, and has been awarded an OBE for political and community service in Queens Birthday Honours list.

Position: Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council (Public Sector Representative)

Cllr Shane Moore has been leader of Hartlepool Borough Council since May 2019.

He was first elected as a councillor in 2016 and represents the Independent Union.

Position: Mayor of Middlesbrough (Public Sector Representative)

Andy Preston was elected Mayor of Middlesbrough in May 2019 and is politically independent.

After a successful career in investment banking and fund management Andy returned to North East England and has helped new businesses to launch and prosper.

Since 2002 Andy has actively supported and promoted social inclusion via charities such as Fairbridge Teesside and The Prince’s Trust. In 2010 he founded a new charity The Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation and followed up on this by establishing national charity CEO Sleepout in 2014 and a social enterprise restaurant called The Fork In The Road in 2016.

Position: Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council (Public Sector Representative)

Mary Lanigan is a highly experienced councillor currently serving as Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council for the second time.

The former nurse became the first female Leader of the Council in 2015 and returned to the role following the 2019 elections. An Independent, she has represented the Loftus ward since 2002 and has also served as Cabinet member of Highways, Transport and Planning.

Born in Liverton Mines, East Cleveland, she still lives in the area and is committed to rejuvenating the economy of the Tees Valley.

Position: Leader of Stockton Borough Council (Public Sector Representative)

Bob Cook has been Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council since 2011 and was first elected as a councillor in 1987.

He currently represents the Norton South ward. Prior to becoming Council Leader, he was Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport.

Councillor Cook represents the Borough on a range of bodies including the Association of North East Councils, Local Government Association General Assembly, North East Purchasing Organisation and North East Regional Employers’ Organisation. He worked in the chemical industry for 31 years before taking up his current post of Agent/Office Manager for Stockton North MP, Alex Cunningham, in 2010.

Position: Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Teesside University (Higher Education Representative)

Professor Paul Croney became Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Teesside University on 1 May 2015.

He joined Teesside University from Northumbria University where he held a succession of leadership roles, from Dean of the Newcastle Business School, to Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching, and, latterly, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor with a focus on strategic planning and international development.

An academic scholar in the field of management and business education, he holds honorary and visiting professorships from universities in Russia and China.

Position: Chief Operating Officer, PD Ports (Private Sector Representative)

Theme Lead and Sector Champion: Logistics, Transport & Infrastructure

Jerry has been employed by PD Ports and its predecessors since 1976 and, over the last 25 years, has operated at Board level as a key tactical and strategic decision maker.

During his career to date he has been at the heart of the teams that have successfully steered PD Ports through a series of significant milestones including the reorganisation of the business following the repeal of the National Dock Labour Scheme in the 90’s; the development of container operations on both the Humber and latterly on Teesside; the establishment of an extensive footprint of activity in the offshore energy sector; the progression of the port-centric concept which has been a cornerstone of the successful growth of the unitised business at Teesport and the positive negotiation and closeout of the MGT Power Station Contract.

These milestones have been delivered in conjunction with his role in directing the ongoing operation and growth of the company across a number of sectors and simultaneously supporting a sustained drive to improve the safe working sensibility, knowledge and expertise of all of the people employed at PD Ports.

In March 2017 Jerry was appointed Chief Operating Officer of PD Ports and he will simultaneously serve as PD Ports Vice Chairman.

Jerry is also a Director of the United Kingdom Major Ports Group and a Trustee of the High Tide Foundation, a charitable Trust focused on raising aspiration and career prospects for young people in the Tees Valley.

Position: Head of Consumer, EE (Private Sector Representative)

Theme Lead and Sector Champion: Business & Professional Services

Angela is Head of one of the region’s largest employers, and has worked in the telecommunications sector for over 28 years, holding a number of senior appointments during this time. The telecommunications sector has been at the forefront of technological advances in the digital surge, requiring strong leadership and change management to meet consumer needs. Angela is passionate about corporate social responsibility in the community and is a Board Member of Darlington Cares and a member of the BT Regional Board, which leads the overall strategic direction and objectives at both a local and regional level.

Position: Chief Executive Officer, J&B Recycling (Private Sector Representative) & SME Champion

Theme Lead for Sector Champion: Energy/Circular Economy

As CEO of J&B Recycling, Vikki has grown the family business to become the largest independent waste management company in the North East, employing over 200 people. The growth was achieved through the successful diversification from the solid fuels sector into recycling and waste management, and J & B Recycling Ltd is celebrating 20 years in business this year.

The company continues to grow through investment in technology and commitment to providing skills and employment to people in the Tees Valley.

Position: Principal, Middlesbrough College (Further Education Representative)

Zoe has been Principal/Chief Executive of Middlesbrough College since 2013, having previously acted as Vice and Deputy Principal. She is also current chair of FE+, a collaborative partnership between Tees Valley Further Education Colleges.

She led the £70m project that saw the college relocate to Middlehaven and the subsequent expansion projects which have focused its facilities, equipment and curriculum more closely towards the needs of local businesses. The college’s training arm, Northern Skills Group now supports over 2000 local businesses and is the largest STEM apprenticeship provider in the North East.

Zoe is a qualified accountant with a background in the public and private sector, and extensive experience of delivering major projects including Public Private Partnerships, PFI projects and major capital development schemes. She has also been named the most inspirational female leader in the country in further education by the Women’s Leadership Network.

Born in Saltburn, Zoe has spent her life studying and working in Teesside and is passionate about improving the lives of local people, believing that education and employment are two key factors in achieving this.

Position: Private Sector Representative

Theme Lead and Sector Champion: Advanced Manufacturing

Mike was raised in Darlington and worked his way up from the shop floor to former Managing Director of the thriving automotive component business Nifco UK Ltd. Under Mike’s leadership, Nifco UK Ltd went from strength to strength with the business moving to new £8.5million premises in 2012 and expanding into a second facility, representing an investment of £14million, in April 2014. Mike is very active in the Tees Valley and is passionate about apprenticeships and skills.

Mike was appointed as President of the North East England Chamber of Commerce in 2015 and after his two-year tenure as President, he continues to act as an advisor to the Chamber, shaping policy areas for the organisation.

Mike is currently growing his own consultancy business, supporting clients in manufacturing and other hi-tech sectors with their business scale-up and improving their customer experience.

Position: Director, The Strategy House

Theme Lead: Health

Siobhan is the former Chief Executive of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and was previously the Trust’s Director of Transformation.

Prior to that Siobhan worked as a Management Consultant working nationally and internationally on strategy development, performance improvement , turnaround and transformational change in partnership with large global corporate organisations, high growth SMEs and public sector organisations including the NHS

Position: Chief Executive Officer, Learning Curve Group (Private Sector Representative)

Theme Lead: Education, Employment and Skills

With more than 20 years’ experience in the education sector, Brenda has helped drive significant growth in the business, which delivers a broad range of educational services and training programmes across diverse industry sectors and a broad range of learners.

Brenda joined Learning Curve Group in 2008, progressing to her current role as Chief Executive. Brenda has helped the business grow from 40 full-time employees to more than 450 and Learning Curve is now one of the UK’s largest training providers.

Brenda is an active member of a series of strategic boards and network steering groups including AELP and the North East Chamber of Commerce. She has also led on strategy to respond to local and national priorities to support NEET’s, apprenticeship provision, delivery to the unemployed, work based training, flexible learning provision and English and Mathematics.

Position: Special Advisor and Director, Centre for Process Innovation (Private Sector Representative)

Theme Lead: Research, Development, Innovation & Clean Growth

Nigel, a Chartered Engineer with 35 years of experience in the global Process Industry, was appointed CEO of the Centre for Process Innovation in 2003 and took the company from start-up to become an internationally recognised, world-class resource supporting the Process Industry and employing over 260 high calibre scientists and engineers. The company is widely viewed as an exemplar of the public and private sectors working together to establish innovation supply chains in new technologies and is part of the Government’s first elite High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Nigel retired as CPI Chief Executive in 2020 but remains a Special Advisor and Director

Nigel is a Fellow and past Technical Vice President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Visiting Professor at Newcastle University. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2010 and currently chairs the Academy’s Awards Committee and a member of the Dowling Review Committee.

Position: Senior Partner, Recognition PR (Private Sector Representative) & SME Champion

Graham is a well-known and established business figure in the North-East, he is vice-chair of the Entrepreneurs' Forum, a board member of the South Tees Development Corporation and served a three year term as North East Chairman of the Institute of Directors. Graham has run the respected communications firm, Recognition PR, for more than 30 years. It has clients throughout the UK in many different business sectors. The firm also runs a number of influential groups in the Northern Region including the two Shadow MPCs in Yorkshire and the North East and the large and dynamic web-based North East Business Group – with nearly 10,000 members.

Graham also frequently features in the media, with contributions on radio and TV and regular columns and opinion pieces in newspapers.

Position: Deputy Chair of Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (Private Sector Representative) & SME Champion

Theme Lead: Business Growth

Born and residing in Darlington, David trained as a Chartered Management Accountant and joined Whessoe during the commencement of the UK offshore oil and gas development, before joining Press Offshore Group as Financial Controller and becoming Group Chief Executive.
David subsequently formed Davy Offshore in Teesside before moving into the hospitality business in 1998, buying Castle Eden Brewery and then Cameron’s Brewery in Hartlepool - which - in addition to brewing, kegging and bottling at its historic Lion Brewery site, has a growing portfolio of pubs across the UK.

David has maintained his interest in the offshore industry and was previously Chairman of The Wilton Group overseeing major expansion, and is a consultant to a number of local companies. He recently formed a diamond wire cutting business for the offshore de-commissioning industry and is involved in property development.

As a member of the LEP, David chairs a number of committees and represents the partnership in its Northern Powerhouse relationship.

Position: Chief Operating Officer, Double Eleven Ltd. (Private Sector Representative) & SME Champion

Theme Lead and Sector Champion: Digital

Mark has extensive professional experiences in games and the digital industries, having co-founded a studio, worked for a large PLC and in the public sector designing and directing programmes to support digital businesses. He also successfully completed an MBA at Durham University.

Since 2011, Mark has primarily been involved with steering Double Eleven’s position as one of the leading technical developers in the world, which has led to the secure and release of a number of successful computer games. Double Eleven were also recently tipped as being one of only four potential unicorns (a business valued at over £1bn) in the region.

Position: Chief Executive & Artistic Director, ARC (Private Sector Representative)

Theme Lead: Culture

A nationally and internationally respected cultural sector leader, Annabel has transformed the profile and impact of the ARC Stockton Arts Centre over the last 10 years and it is now one of the North East's largest arts venues.

As a board member of Sunderland Culture Company and the North East Culture Partnership, Annabel has helped develop the region’s Case for Culture strategy, and she co-chairs Future Arts Centres, a national network of more than 100 arts centres, committed to championing the role of arts centres within the wider cultural and community sector.

Annabel launched and chairs Venues North, a group of 35+ venues from across the greater North committed to helping performing artists get their work seen more widely, and also chairs the North East Artist Development Network.

As a freelance consultant, Annabel has undertaken work around organisational development for a range of clients, including companies, venues and local authorities, as well as mentoring and facilitation at both executive and board level.