The Convention of the North with NP11

Steph McGovern

Broadcaster

For over a decade Steph McGovern has reported on business and finance from around the world; from international summits to small business success stories. She is an established part of the BBC Breakfast team, covering business developments daily, and also regularly taking to the sofa as main co-host. During the financial crash Steph was the lead producer of financial news, working with then Business Editor Robert Peston at the forefront of the award-winning coverage of the credit crunch and banking crisis. She soon began broadcasting herself, and Steph has presented on 5Live, Radio 4 and on the Chris Evans show on
Radio 2. Steph's Breakfast duties include meeting first-hand those on Britain’s business frontline. Speaking to factory workers and FTSE 100 CEOs, Steph’s mission is to uncover and explain what’s going on in the real economy. Taking business away from news coverage Steph launched her own CBBC show looking for the next generation of entrepreneurs, Pocket Money Pitch. In Made in Great Britain she joined 21st century makers exploring the skills and industries that built the nation in years gone by. She is also the co-host of the BBC One show Shop Well For Less and the consumer rights institution Watchdog. And as well as appearing as a guest, Steph has also hosted Have I Got News For You.

Off-screen Steph is also involved in BBC community projects such as BBC Outreach and BBC School Report. She is a mentor for young people in her native Teesside and regularly runs workshops for schoolchildren around the North East, as well as being active in areas around education and apprenticeships. A former
champion Irish dancer she still keeps her foot in, often attending international competitions, where she helps to coach dancers.

13 September

Our Commitment to the North

09:40 AM 09:50 AM Big Hall

13 September

Sum up of the morning and look forward to afternoon

01:10 PM 01:15 PM Big Hall

13 September

Our Manifesto for the North

03:20 PM 04:20 PM Big Hall

13 September

Event Close

04:20 PM 04:30 PM Big Hall

Dan Jarvis

Mayor Sheffield City Region

Dan Jarvis was elected the first Mayor of Sheffield City Region in May 2018.

He also serves as the MP for Barnsley Central having become the first person since World War Two to resign his military commission in order to contest a Parliamentary by-election.

Whilst serving in the Armed Forces, Dan was deployed to various operational theatres including Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Parliament he has served on the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee and the Joint Committee for the National Security Strategy as well as serving as a shadow minister for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the Ministry of Justice and in the Shadow foreign affairs team.
As Mayor of the Sheffield City Region he works with the local authority leaders and business leaders from across the Sheffield City Region to drive prosperity and growth for all. As a sitting MP Dan is also able to represent the Sheffield City Region right at the heart of Government.
Dan was awarded the MBE for his service in the British Army. He enjoys running, mountaineering and cycling and has run seven London marathons to raise money for Cancer Research UK and his local hospice. He lives in South Yorkshire with his wife and children.

13 September

Our Commitment to the North

09:40 AM 09:50 AM Big Hall

Roger Marsh

Chair, Leeds City Region LEP

Roger Marsh has been Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) since 2013 and during that time has led the LEP through a period of significant transformation, including securing the country’s largest ever Local Growth Deal with Government.
Roger chairs the NP11 which brings together the 11 Northern LEPs to work with the Northern Powerhouse Minister to support the Government’s vision for the Northern Powerhouse. He is currently also a Member of the Williams Rail Review Expert Challenge Panel and Chair of both the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund Strategic Oversight Board and European Structural & Investment Fund Local Sub Committee. Before joining the LEP, Roger was Senior Partner at PwC and boasts over 30 years’ experience in the private sector. In 2015, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list for Services to Business and the Economy.

13 September

Making that Future a Reality

10:35 AM 11:30 AM Big Hall

13 September

Event Close

04:20 PM 04:30 PM Big Hall

The Rt Hon Jake Berry MP

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth

Jake Berry MP was appointed Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth at the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 25 July 2019.
He was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from June 2019 to July 2019. This was in addition to his role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to which he was appointed on 8 January 2018.
He was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government from 14 June 2017 to January 2018.

Political career

Jake was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon. Greg Hands MP from May 2015 until 14 June 2017.
He became an MP for for Rossendale and Darwen in 2010.
Jake was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon. Grant Shapps MP in 2010.

13 September

Delivering with the North

12:30 PM 01:10 PM Big Hall

Councillor Nick Forbes

Leader, Newcastle City Council

Nick Forbes is a Labour politician and became Leader of Newcastle City Council in 2011.

Nick chairs the Convention of the North and was instrumental in its creation, recognising the importance of establishing a powerful, coherent ‘voice for the north’, and hosting the inaugural event in 2018.
At a national level, Nick is the Leader of Labour in local government, heading up the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group as Senior Vice Chair, representing the views of more than 6000 Labour Councillors in Westminster. He is also a member of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee.

13 September

Making that Future a Reality

10:35 AM 11:30 AM Big Hall

13 September

Event Close

04:20 PM 04:30 PM Big Hall

Andy Burnham

Mayor of Greater Manchester

Andy Burnham was elected as Mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2017.

Responsible for shaping the future of Greater Manchester, Andy’s priorities include ending rough sleeping, transforming Greater Manchester into one of the greenest city regions in Europe, and making Greater Manchester a great place to live, get on, and grow old.

Before being elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy was MP for Leigh from 2001. In government, Andy has held Ministerial positions at the Home Office, Department of Health and the Treasury. In 2008 he became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, before returning to Health as Secretary of State in 2009.

In opposition, Andy has served as Shadow Education Secretary, Shadow Health Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary.

Andy lives in Leigh, Greater Manchester, with his wife and three children. He is a keen supporter of Everton FC.

13 September

Our Manifesto for the North

03:20 PM 04:20 PM Big Hall

Christine Gaskell

Chair, Cheshire and Warrington LEP

Christine has spent most of her career in the Motor industry and from 1995 until 2012 she was a Member of the Board at Bentley Motors Limited with responsibility for 4,000 employees worldwide. She was also Chair of the Rolls Royce and Bentley Pension Fund.Under Christine, Bentley invested significantly in improving the skills and capability of its workforce, winning regional and national recognition for its programmes.
Christine has been actively involved in promoting learning and skills and in 2012 she was awarded an MBE for services to training and apprenticeships.In January 2019 in the New Year’s Honours List Christine was awarded a CBE for her services to Cheshire and Warrington.
Christine was appointed as the first Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership in March 2011.She is Vice Chair of NP11 and sat on the LEP Review Committee.She also sits on the Board of Transport for the North.

Lord Richard Inglewood

Chair, Cumbria LEP

Richard Inglewood is a Cumbrian non-affiliated Member of the House of Lords. He was previously Chair of the boards of Cumbrian businesses Carr’s Milling Industries plc, CN Group Ltd and Gen2.
Lord Inglewood has also held a number of ministerial positions during his career. He was the minister for broadcasting and for tourism during his time as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of National Heritage in the late 1990s. He has also served twice as a regional MEP, first for Cumbria and Lancashire North and then for North West England.
He is President of Cumbria Tourism and has been Deputy Lieutenant for Cumbria since 1993 and Vice-Lord Lieutenant for Cumbria since 2012.
Lord Inglewood was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and the Cumbria College of Agriculture and Forestry. He was called to the Bar in 1975, is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA).

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Mike Blackburn

Chair, Greater Manchester LEP

Mike is Chair of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership which sits at the heart of Greater Manchester’s governance arrangements, and ensures that business leaders are empowered to set the strategic course, determine local economic priorities and drive growth and job creation within the city region.

Mike also has a number of non-executive roles including being a board member of Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Chair of the Institute of Directors (IOD) in the North West and a non-executive Director of Transport for the North

Mike lives in the North West and until January 2018 was Chair of BT’s NW Regional Board, a role he held from 2007, and also Head of Digital Government in the UK until 2018.

Mike was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2015 for services to the economy in the North West.

Mike is on the Trade & Investment policy workshop panel

Lord Christopher Haskins

Chair, Humber LEP

Lord Haskins brings a wealth of commercial, political and economic regeneration experience to his position of Humber LEP Chair.
He is the former Chair of Northern Foods and Express Dairies, former Board member of Yorkshire Forward Regional Development Agency (1998-2008) and is also currently a non-executive Director of JSR Farms Ltd as well as being a member of the Lords ‘Cabinet Office Equality and Reform Group Board’ and Pro-Chancellor of the Open University.
As well as chairing the LEP’s Board meetings, Lord Haskins also leads meetings with Ministers and is the LEP’s voice in Whitehall and Parliament.

Steve Fogg

Chair, Lancashire LEP

Steve Fogg has a wealth of experience from a career forged at BAE Systems, from apprentice to engineering, then moving through operations and programme management to his current role as Managing Director of Corporate Shared Services and a Member of the UK Management Board.
He also holds various executive and non-executive Board membership roles, including Blackpool Pride of Place Partnership, Chair of the Fylde Coast Responsible Business Network, Member of the Worldskills Advisory Group on Social Mobility, Diversity and Inclusion and is a Member of the National Apprentice Ambassador network.

Steve is Chair of the Innovation policy workshop panel

Asif Hamid

Chair, Liverpool City Region LEP

With expert industry knowledge gained over a 30-year career in some of the world’s leading outsourcing businesses, CEO and founder of The Contact Company, Asif Hamid MBE has redefined standards of customer experience since establishing company 13 years ago. Leading the company from just 12 team members to over 1,500 employees across multiple locations, Asif is a pioneer of new approaches to customer contact.
Demonstrating his commitment to business and community development, Asif sits on several regional boards, and is Honorary President of the Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Liverpool City Region LEP. In 2017, Asif was awarded an MBE for his services to Small and Medium Enterprises in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Asif has a strong passion for the development of people. As one of the leading entrepreneurs in his field, his expertise is highly sought by local and national commercial organisations, as well as by Members of Parliament.

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

James Muir

Chair, Sheffield City Region LEP

In 1983 James joined a manufacturer of tableware, spending his first year working full time in the factory, after which he was posted to set up the company’s sales and distribution subsidiary in the German market.
He later joined Ford Motor Company and held various sales and marketing positions, and in 2001 he moved to Mazda, establishing their own company in the UK. Later, as President and CEO of Mazda Europe he led the turnaround from loss-maker to Mazda Corporation’s most profitable business unit in the world.
In 2009 James joined Volkswagen Group as President & CEO of SEAT based in Barcelona and tasked with revitalising its ailing brand. He later moved to Wolfsburg, Germany, running the VW Group’s owned national sales companies across more than 20 countries world-wide.
In January 2019, James became LEP Chair at Sheffield City Region responsible for representing private-sector businesses and setting the strategic direction for the economic growth of the Sheffield City Region.

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Andrew Hodgson

Chair, North East LEP

Andrew has held Chief Executive positions in the energy and subsea sectors, and has been awarded three Queen’s Awards for Industry.
He joined the North East LEP board in 2011 and took over as Chair in 2016, where he works to help drive forward the vision of the North East Strategic Economic Plan to create 100,000 more jobs, and works with key stakeholders to ensure the region’s economy is strengthened.
He also Chairs the North East Employment and Skills Board, is a trustee for the International Centre for Life and the Northern Education Trust. He is a former North East Business Executive of the year and EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and has received an OBE for his work in manufacturing.
Andrew is currently Chair at Avid Technology, a high growth EV component developer and manufacturer.

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Paul Booth OBE

Chair, Tees Valley LEP

Paul Booth OBE is the Chair of the Tees Valley LEP, which is fully integrated into the Tees Valley Combined Authority.
Paul 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 Chair 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-Chair 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.

David Kerfoot MBE DL

Chair, York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP

David founded The Kerfoot Group jointly with his wife Elizabeth in 1980 using £300 capital and which grew to sales of over £80 million on a global basis exporting to over 50 countries. The group’s main markets are food manufacturing, cosmetics and aromatherapy, its head office being in Northallerton. The Group was sold to French agricultural giant Avril in 2015.
As a passionate social entrepreneur, David has a long history of community service. Currently he serves as Chair of the LEP, Chair of the Pendragon Community Trust, trustee of a food bank and founder of an initiative called Smile for Moldova which supports people in the poorest country in Europe. He is also a patron of the Samaritans and a lifelong activist in the Prison Service as well as being a trustee of Breadline. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and High Sheriff of North Yorkshire in nomination for the year 2020.
David is passionate about helping small business and developing our regions, recently giving evidence at Parliamentary Committees on these subjects.

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Ruth Ibegbuna

The Roots Programme

After a successful teaching career in state schools in Bradford and Manchester, Ruth founded RECLAIM, a Manchester-based charity supporting working class young people into leadership positions. Ruth used her platform as RECLAIM CEO for 11 years to campaign nationally with young people and their communities for greater levels of equality and to the remove the stigma faced by many disadvantaged communities. She was named by Virgin as one of the top six women change-makers globally and is an Ashoka Fellow. She is the Founder of The Roots Programme, an initiative to bring influencers from vastly different communities together to learn from each other and increase levels of compassion in our leaders. Ruth was recently named by British Airways as one of their 100 Modern Britons.

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Amir Hussain

Yeme Architects

As founder of Bradford based Yeme Architects, Amir Hussain has been extensively involved in design-led, aspirational regeneration of challenging sites across the UK. Amir has a strong understanding of the value of local dynamics and demographics, which are then aligned within development proposals for more holistic and inclusive outcomes.

Furthermore, Amir has a keen interest in progressive trends around technology and future thinking, which are shaping the built environment and social inclusion.

Amir is a Board Member of the Leeds City Region LEP as well as being a WYCA Panel Member of the Business, Innovation and Growth Panel and the Place Panel.

In addition, Amir is also involved in Bradford’s Place Marketing Panel, aimed at creating an inclusive, visionary brand narrative that aptly reflects an exceptional post-industrial city. Having extensive contacts within Yorkshire’s ambitious BAEM/SME sector has been invaluable in presenting their views and raising engagement in this process.

Amir is a keen supporter of grass roots community involvement. Being a school Governor, Amir is energetically involved in school attainment improvement activities particularly aimed at underachieving pupils.

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Simone Roche

Northern Power Women

Simone Roche CEO and Founder of Northern Power Women launched the Northern Power Women campaign out of a passion to connect and engage with people about gender equality.
Simone started her career in roles with the Royal Navy, Aintree Racecourse, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the Arena Convention Centre Liverpool and the Olympics.
When Simone became the Director for a campaign supporting women in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry she was asked to be a champion for the Government Equalities Office – then gender equality grew to be her passion.
Simone was awarded MBE in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to gender equality in the north of England.

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Ruth Nic Aoidh

Executive Director, Commercial and Legal

McLaren Group

Ruth joined McLaren Group in January 2009 as Legal Adviser, becoming Executive Director – Commercial & Legal at McLaren Automotive in January 2014. She was appointed Company Secretary in January 2016.
Ruth’s current position at McLaren encompasses all commercial and legal facets of the business. She plays a pivotal role in strategic and commercial affairs across McLaren Automotive overseeing all external engagements as well as developing and managing some of the key relationships with suppliers, retailers, regulatory authorities and strategic partners. Furthermore, she is responsible for managing all corporate governance and legal aspects of McLaren Automotive and its subsidiaries around the world.
Ruth is a member of the Executive Board, shaping and influencing key management decisions and future strategy of McLaren Automotive. She also sits on the Board of Directors acting as Company Secretary.
Prior to McLaren, Ruth worked in the Corporate departments of Baker & McKenzie in London and Matheson in Dublin. She graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws, and holds other post-graduate and professional qualifications from De Montfort University, The Law Society of Ireland and The Law Society of England & Wales.

13 September

Making that Future a Reality

10:35 AM 11:30 AM Big Hall

Richard Leese

Leader

Manchester City Council

Richard Leese was born and brought up in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. After graduating from the University of Warwick, he worked as a teacher in Coventry and as an exchange teacher in the USA before moving to Manchester to take up a post as a youth worker. He was employed variously in youth work, community work, and education research between 1979 and 1988, and was elected to Manchester City Council in 1984. He became Leader of the Council in 1996, having previously served as Deputy Leader (1990 – 1996), Chair of the Education Committee (1986 - 1990) and Chair of the Finance Committee (1990 - 1995).

Richard’s political interests include devolution, place-based budgets and the links between economic development and social policy, developing open democracy and the community leadership role of local authorities; and the role of cities in creating a sustainable future. He has a number of additional responsibilities including Director of Manchester Airport Holdings Ltd, Deputy Mayor and Vice Chair of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Chair of the LGA City Regions Board.

His interests outside politics include walking, cinema, music, and sport (as a spectator, principally Manchester City football and cricket). He is a regular runner and cycles to the Town Hall most days.

Richard is Chair of the Trade & Investment policy workshop panel

Grant Peggie

Chair

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund

A Director in the Venture Capital Team at the British Business Bank, Grant has led the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund , the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and the new Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund. Previously he led the Bank’s work on regional finance including Finance Yorkshire and North East Finance. Before joining the Bank he was Head of Strategic Partnerships at Innovate UK where he was responsible for better connecting innovation and business support for innovative, high growth companies.

Grant is on the Trade & Investment policy workshop panel

Jennifer Hartley

Director

Invest Newcastle

Jennifer drives Newcastle’s ambition to attract new business, investment and jobs. As well as heading a team of highly experienced managers, she is responsible for developing and delivering ambitious plans to support indigenous businesses to grow and ultimately to help deliver private-sector-led growth.

Jennifer has more than 12 years’ trade and investment experience within both the public and private sector. These include leading on Newcastle's tech and digital strategy and working as Deputy Head and Trade Investment Director at Tech North. She has worked on several technology-driven projects that have brought significant investment into the North East of England. She has been a mentor on Europe’s most successful accelerator programme, ignite 100 and is a board member of North East IT cluster organisation, Dynamo.

Jennifer is on the Trade & Investment policy workshop panel

Steve Coffey

Group Chief Executive

Torus

A passionate advocate for high-quality affordable housing in the North West, Steve is responsible for Torus’ overall strategic direction, performance and development.

Before joining Torus, he led LMH from the 2008 stock transfer and spearheaded the creation of a strong, diversified and award-winning housing group with a distinct social purpose during his 10 years as LMH Group Chief Executive. Steve has held a number of senior executive positions within the North West Social Housing sector in a career spanning over 20 years.

Steve is on the Housing policy workshop panel

James Stevens

Director for Cities

Home Builders Federation

James Stevens is the Home Builders Federation’s Director for Cities. James is responsible within the Federation for all matters relating to devolution and the combined authorities in England where this relates to housebuilding. This includes skills, spatial plans, questions of housing quality, design and construction standards. James is a town planner by profession and over the last year he has been involved in commenting on the published or emerging spatial development strategies for Greater London, Greater Manchester, the West of England, Liverpool City Region and Oxfordshire. He has also participated in the work associated with the proposals for a Plan for the North, as well as Transport for the North’s strategic investment plan, and the work of the Affordable Housing Commission.

James is on the Housing policy workshop panel

Carol Matthews

Chair

Homes for the North

Carol Matthews has been Group Chief Executive of The Riverside Group since 2012. The Riverside Group is national with homes in 165 local authorities and a Scottish subsidiary called Irvine. In August 2018 Impact Housing based in Cumbria joined the Group.

Riverside have a strong track record in regeneration, neighbourhood management and Care and Support. The 2017-20 Corporate Plan is a step change in the level of development being committed and planned with nearly five thousand new homes over a three year period, a focus on improving neighbourhoods and service.

Carol has been in housing and customer service since 1984 starting as a housing officer with door to door rent collection as part of the role. Ten years of experience was with three local authorities: Sheffield, Burnley and Bristol before joining Northern Counties which became part of the Guinness Partnership in 2007.

Carol is Chair to H4N – ‘Homes for the North’ – a group of seventeen HAs with northern stock who want to campaign and influence development and regeneration in the north.

Carol is on the Housing policy workshop panel

Barry White

Chief Executive

Transport for the North

Barry White has a wealth of experience in delivering major investment programmes. He is leading Transport for the North as England’s first Sub-national Transport Body, giving the North a strong, unified and determined voice on the transport investment needed to benefit the region.

Prior to his appointment at Transport for the North, he served in the Army, led major projects for construction companies and was Chief Executive at Scottish Futures Trust.

Barry is on the Transport policy workshop panel

Joe Anderson

Mayor

Liverpool

Joe was born in 1958, one of six children,in a Liverpool city centre tenement block. He left school at 16, spending 12 years at sea, becoming the National Union of Seamen’s youngest ever convenor.

His subsequent career brought Joe back to Liverpool, where he studied for a degree in social work at Liverpool John Moores University, and went on to become a social worker for Sefton Council in 1992.

Joe was elected to Liverpool City Council in 1998 and following the 2010 election, Leader of the Council. In May 2012, Joe became the first ever directly-elected Mayor of Liverpool winning almost 60 per cent of all votes cast.

In 2016, Joe was re-elected as Mayor of Liverpool for a further four years, again receiving more than half of all votes cast.

Mayor Anderson has navigated a course for the council through an increasingly difficult time for Liverpool, with the city losing 63% of its central government funding. However, under his leadership Liverpool has built 17 new schools, built or refurbished 8,000 homes, created over 20,000 jobs, more than 67 acres of new and improved green space, planted over 2,000 new trees and oversaw the creation of the International Festival for Business.

Joe successfully negotiated a devolution City Deal with central Government, which created the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the new Metro Mayor, elected in 2017.

Joe is married to Marg and has four children and five grandchildren and was awarded the OBE in the Queen's birthday Honours list in 2012.

Joe is hugely ambitious for Liverpool, passionate about the future and devoted to the city’s prospects as a thriving, growing and prosperous city.

He ardently believes Liverpool’s best days lie ahead as a leading world-class city.

Joe is Chair of the Transport policy workshop panel

Nigel Watson

Group IS Director

Northumbrian Water

Nigel started his career in 1981 on a government YOP scheme at the Eastern Electricity Board. Since then he’s worked his way around the world in such places as San Francisco, Guadalajara, Toronto, Sydney and Istanbul. During his career he has worked for some of the most prestigious organisations in the world, including GE Capital, Microsoft, Vodafone and Travelport. Nigel joined Northumbrian Water Group in 2015. His appointment as CIO sees him lead on Digital Transformation and Innovation. Nigel is the founder of the Group’s very successful Innovation Festival, which has been running for three years now, generating 132 new ideas, some of which have delivered significant improvements in service delivery for the organisation.

Nigel is on the Innovation policy workshop panel

Sir Chris Husbands

Vice Chancellor

Sheffield Hallam Unversity

Professor Sir Chris Husbands is a university leader, academic, educationist and public servant. He has served as Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University since January 2016.

Prior to joining Sheffield Hallam, Chris was Director of the Institute of Education (2007-2015) and Vice-Provost at University College London (2014-2015).

His academic expertise lies in education policy and practice; his work has been developed in fifteen books and over four hundred papers and presentations. He has advised local and national governments in the UK and internationally, across four continents.

In 2016, Sir Chris was appointed by the Government as the inaugural Chair of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) and was subsequently re-appointed as Chair until August 2021. The TEF was introduced to ensure excellent teaching and student job prospects are at the heart of Higher Education.

Sir Chris is also Chair of the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Board, Chair of Yorkshire Universities Board, and Chair of the Doncaster Opportunity Area Partnership Board.

Sir Chris was recently elected to the Board of Universities UK (UUK) and began his term of office in August 2019.

Sir Chris is an Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Sir Chris was knighted for services to Higher Education in 2018.

Chris is on the Innovation policy workshop panel

Richard Jones

Professor

Sheffield University

Richard Jones is Professor of Physics at the University of Sheffield; he is an experimental soft matter physicist. In 2006 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his work in the field of polymers and biopolymers at surfaces and interfaces, and in 2009 he won the Tabor Medal of the UK’s Institute of Physics for his contributions to nanoscience. He was PVC for Research and Innovation at Sheffield from 2009 to 2016, and was a Council member of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council from 2013 - 2018. He chairs Research England’s Technical Advisory Group for the Knowledge Exchange Framework. He has written extensively about science and innovation policy, and was a member of the Sheffield/Manchester Industrial Strategy Commission, which reported in 2017. He was the co-author, with James Wilsdon, of the 2018 NESTA report: “The biomedical bubble: Why UK research and innovation needs a greater diversity of priorities, politics, places and people.”

Richard is on the Innovation policy workshop panel

Susan Hinchcliffe

Leader

Bradford Council

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe was elected Leader of Bradford Council in May 2016 and Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority in August 2017. Susan is dedicated to driving forward an enterprising and socially inclusive district and region to provide growing opportunities for people and businesses at the heart of the northern economic powerhouse.

Susan is Bradford born and bred and has served as councillor for Windhill & Wrose since 2011. She became the council’s portfolio holder for Employment, Skills and Culture in 2012, overseeing the biggest local authority jobs programme in the country - Get Bradford Working - and in 2015 she also assumed political responsibility for the delivery of Bradford’s education improvement drive. Susan’s varied career has included running her own business, a management position at a major newspaper and a senior role with a national charity promoting responsible business practice.

Susan is Chair of the Education, Skills and Work policy workshop panel

Jay McKenna

Acting Regional Secretary

North East TUC

Jay McKenna is the Acting Regional Secretary for the TUC in the North West. With approximately 800,000 trade union members in the region, and almost one million more across the North, the TUC is the voice of workers, wanting to change the world of work for good.
Jay is involved in the work being done across the work on improving employment standards and is keen on what we must do to improve the quality of work.

Jay is on the Education, Skills and Work policy workshop panel

Angela Foulkes

Chief Executive & Principal

Sheffield College

Angela has been the Chief Executive and Principal of The Sheffield College since May 2018.

Angela has worked in Further Education Colleges for 25 years; she worked in a variety of Colleges in London for the first 15 years of her career.

Angela moved to South Yorkshire in 2008 to take up a Vice Principal post at Barnsley College where she was very proud to be part of the leadership team that delivered an outstanding Ofsted outcome. Angela also held a Vice Principal post at The Manchester College.

Angela holds a number of trustee roles including at the Sheffield UTC, with Sheffield Futures and also the Skills and Education Group. She is also a Patron of the National Centre for Diversity and a Governor for The Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Angela is on the Education, Skills and Work policy workshop panel

Jess Chitteden

Youth representative

Sheffield

“I first found myself involved in Sheffield Futures 10 years ago when a teacher from my school thought I’d be a good candidate to be a Sheffield youth councillor as I was very quiet and shy but had the potential to make a change. Upon being elected I then served two years with SYC before eventually applying to be a Young Advisor at the age of 15. When I was at school I knew I always wanted to pursue a career in the travel and tourism industry mainly the aviation sector. I gained the GCSE’s I needed and started studying Air Cabin Crew at Sheffield city college. I loved the course and found a true passion to become cabin crew. Upon completion of my first year at college I went on further to study aviation in which I found myself struggling with the work load, and also the lack of resource and facilities the department had were also a major factor into my struggles. I ended up deciding it was best for me to leave college and gain new skills in a different career as I felt this would open more doors for me in the future. Age 17 I left college and managed to get myself an apprenticeship working in business and admin at the NHS Sheffield Walk in center. This opened my eyes massively and gave me a greater understanding of the public sector and what I may possibly want to do in the future. Upon completion of my apprenticeship I was offered a full time position which I immediately accepted. When the time was right I decided to further myself even more by going from receptionist, to then working at Sheffield teaching hospitals as a clerical officer, then on to becoming a ward clerk before becoming a clinical support worker. After spending 4 years with the NHS I decided I wanted to move back to my travel and tourism routes and applied to work as a first class host for East Midlands trains, and fortunately I got the job. I have now been in this role for 2 years and have just recently completed exams and assessments to become a Train Manager. This was all possible due to the experience I gained through my apprenticeship and sheffield Futures.”

Jess is on the Education, Skills and Work policy workshop panel

Jessica Bowles

Bruntwood

Director of Strategy

Jessica joined Bruntwood in 2016 helping to support the company’s ambitions for long term growth, in particular in creating new Innovation Districts and strengthening connections to our cities and communities. She is a member of the Bruntwood Group board and her team is responsible for strategy, brand, customer experience, product development, community and communications across the business.

Previously Jessica spent 15 years in Whitehall before moving to Manchester City Council as head of City Policy supporting work on devolution, the Northern Powerhouse and leading the development of the 10 year ‘Our Manchester’ Strategy, which was developed with partners from across Manchester.

Jessica is Chair of Governors at East Manchester Academy, a challenging school going through a period of significant transformation, and is committed to improving the connections between business and young people in our cities.

Jessica is on the Education, Skills and Work policy workshop panel

Nigel Perry

Centre for Process Innovation

Chief Executive Officer

Nigel is a Chartered Engineer with 40 years of experience in the global Process Industry. He spent over 20 years with ICI in an international career in senior technology and business leadership roles. From ICI he joined PwC Consulting before being appointed as the CEO of CPI in 2003. He has taken the company from start-up, to today where it employs over 450 high calibre scientists and engineers is recognised internationally as a leading world-class resource supporting the Process Industry, and is a key founding partner of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult as well as a leading architect of the Catapult model.
Nigel is a Fellow and past Technical Vice President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He has an MA in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford, and is an alumnus of the Accelerated Development Programme at London Business School and the Entrepreneurship Development Program at MIT.

He is the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of the National Physical Laboratory, and also a Trustee and Lay Member of the Durham University Council where he also chairs the University Ethics Advisory Committee. He is a member of the Leadership Board of the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership.

He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2010 and currently sits on the Academy’s Engineering Policy Centre Committee, having previously chaired the Academy Awards Committee, and served as a member of the Dowling Review Committee.
Nigel was awarded an MBE in Queen’s 90th Birthday honours list in 2016.

Nigel is Chair of the Clean Growth policy workshop panel

Liam Scholes

youth representative

Manchester

Hi, my name is Liam Scholes and I have just started studying my A-levels at college. In my spare time I am a fire cadet, in which I have the role of watch manager, overseeing my own crew and training them both physically and mentally. Through the cadets I got involved with the GMYCA where I have been a member since its formation. I also coach a disabled football team for young children that have cerebral palsy, using the football as a form of physio and support for their mental state and mobility. Like most others I have a part time job so that I can start to gain financial independence. I am fortunate enough through hard work that I am able to gain paid work as an actor.

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Simon Pringle

Chair

LEP Green economies panel

Professor Simon Pringle has 20 years experience in commercial strategy, innovation and risk management and a proven track record of delivering: business growth, improved performance and entrepreneurial success across multiple sectors and geographies.

Simon started his career with an Anglo-American consulting practice. He then served on the UK and Global PLC boards of WSP Energy & Environment and was part of the in-house acquisition and integration team. Latterly Simon was a Partner at PIPC, an international change management firm and was then retained by BDO LLP, the world’s 5th largest accountancy firm, as Head of Sustainability and Innovation.
He is author of the IMechEguide to commercialisingclean technology and designed the CBI innovation model for medium sized businesses. Alongside his role on the Leeds City Region Green Economy Panel and LEP Investment Board, he was retained by BAFTA to provide industry wide assurance of the carbon footprint tool for the UK television industry. Simon is on the advisory panel for a large clean tech investment fund and has served on a number of working groups; most recently the International Integrated Reporting Council and the UK Food Economy Task Force.

Educated at the University of Durham and Imperial College, London, he is a Fellow of the RSA and is a visiting Professor at University of Chester. Simon is Chair of Solutions for the Planet, the award winning social enterprise focusing on innovation and STEM skills with Key Stage 3 children.

Simon is on the Clean Growth policy workshop panel

Brandon Green

Chair

Yorkshire and the Humber Youth Voice

“I’m Brandon and I was Barnsley’s Member of Youth Parliament for two years before going on to be elected as Yorkshire and the Humber’s representative in the UK Youth Parliament and Chair of Yorkshire and the Humber Youth Voice.

I have collaborated with young campaigners at a local, regional and national level on numerous campaigns. I have worked to improve public transport, promoted reducing the voting age to 16 and I have had input into implementing a curriculum that prepares young people for life. I am a vocal advocate for youth voice nationally and help to coordinate events with the British Youth Council.

I currently sit on the Sheffield City Region Youth Combined Authority and I study History and Politics at the University of Sheffield."

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Loren Jones

Chair

Northern Nuclear Alliance (NNA)

Loren Jones is the Chair of the Northern Nuclear Alliance (NNA) which represents over 50 like-minded nuclear industry companies based across the North of England who see mutual benefit in sharing their collective business knowledge.

As well as his role as Chair of the NNA he is the Business Development Director for Cavendish Nuclear and has responsibility for leading business development in the UK. Prior to taking this role Loren was Managing Director for Hyde Group Nuclear where he led the establishment of a nuclear business unit and oversaw the delivery of strategically important nuclear and defence projects. Loren began his career with Westinghouse Electric Company where he was a part of the management and operations team for Springfields Fuels in Preston. During his career he has held various Business Development and Operational roles both in the UK and internationally covering New Build, Operations, Waste Management, and Decommissioning.

Loren is on the Clean Growth policy workshop panel

Ed Cox

Director of Public Services and Communities

RSA

Ed previously led IPPR North for 9 years, where he was a champion for devolution and much of the thinking behind the ‘Northern Powerhouse,’ working closely with several combined authorities in the north of England. Before that Ed was an advisor to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, playing a key role in the Sub-National Review (2007) and Empowerment White Paper (2008).

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Edna Robinson

Chair

People’s Powerhouse, Big Life Group and Trafford Housing Trust

Edna is a social commentator on issues of connectivity, social mobility and integrated system thinking. She has been Chief Executive in several posts in the NHS in the North West and Policy Advisor to Communities and Local Government in the Brown government. She was founder of NHS networks used by thousands of people. Edna is currently the chair of The Big Life Group, Trafford Housing Trust and The People’s Powerhouse.

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Arianna Giovannini

Director (interim)

IPPR North

Arianna is an expert in devolution, regional and local economic development, local government and politics, multi-level governance, and the politics of territorial identity. Before joining IPPR North in July 2019 as Interim Director, Arianna was Deputy Director of the Local Governance Research Centre (LGRC) and a Senior Lecturer in Local Politics at the Department of Politics, People and Place – De Montfort University, Leicester.

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Emma Sheldon MBE

Emma has built businesses internationally and led cross-functional teams in marketing, sales and research and development. She participated in a management buy-out of a healthcare business and exited this business in late 2017, having increased shareholder value, acquired and launched innovative new products and business models and entered new markets profitably.

Emma has supported the development of initiatives to support exporting and growth and is experienced in supporting organisations with international business, scaling up and gaining investment.

Emma works with Healthcare UK to support exporting, she is a board member of the UK India Business Council; a member of the Institute of Directors’ National Council; Honorary Industry Fellow at Salford University and a Board member of Future Everything. She achieved her Global Executive MBA from Manchester Business School and was awarded an MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours for Services to Exporting

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Dame Julie Kenny

Non Executive Director

Dame Julie Kenny is a successful South Yorkshire based entrepreneur. Following the sale in 2016 of award winning Pyronix Limited (£25m T/o) which she built from start up in 1986, Julie continues her involvement in serving business and local communities.

Julie is Chair and NED with Robson Handling Technology Limited; Chairs Maltby Learning Trust;Chairs Sheffield Cultural Compact and Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust which is committed to securing a sustainable future for the largest restoration project in the country.

Julie served as an Intervention Commissioner with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council between 2015 and 2018,and she has been recognised nationally and regionally for her contribution to business.

Julie was honoured in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2019 with a Damehood for her work with heritage. Julie’s CBE and HonDoc from Sheffield Hallam University were conferred in recognition of her contribution to business in the region.

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Henri Murison

Director

Northern Powerhouse Partnership

As its first permanent Director, he has established the Northern Powerhouse Partnership as the business led organisation which convenes the North together. From securing further investment to guarantee HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail would work together as an integrated high speed network, to challenging for a better deal for the most disadvantaged from the education system, his team are focused on how government, business and partners can drive the North’s ambitions. Before joining the Partnership, he worked in senior research and public affairs roles for the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Yorkshire Building Society, as well as previously serving as Cabinet Member for Quality of Life at Newcastle City Council.

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Annette Bramley

Director

N8 Research Partnership

Annette joined the N8 Research Partnership as Director in January 2018.
Previously working for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Annette brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience from a career that spans numerous senior positions. She will probably be best known to the research and business communities in the North from her most recent role as Head of Healthcare Technologies, where she has had particularly significant success in galvanising multidisciplinary research collaborations between researchers and between funders. She also brings to the N8 strong experience of organisational change, having played a prominent role in the successful transfer of EPSRC’s grants services to a shared service centre, including the implementation of a new IT system. Other roles in EPSRC have included Head of Mathematical Sciences, Complexity Science and Engineering.

Annette is also an artist and student at the Royal School of Needlework, graduating last year from the Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery and is now studying for the Diploma. Her work has been exhibited by the Royal School and in galleries in the UK. She feels that her love for both the arts and the sciences are one of the reasons that she is so passionate about multidisciplinary research and bringing people together to address real world challenges.

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Tom Samson

Tom Samson is the driving force behind an exciting new nuclear venture in the UK, Guardian Power Limited. Tom set up Guardian in 2019 to develop the UK’s first Nuclear SMR project and to bridge the gap between a range of emergent new reactor technology companies and the growing demand for a non-intermittent source of carbon free energy. Importantly, Guardian Power are advocating that the new Small Modular Reactor technology be manufactured in the UK and will focus heavily on manufacturing locations and project delivery sites across the North taking full advantage of the strong industrial and energy heritage the North has to offer.

Tom has over 30 years experience in the Power Industry and has an extensive track record in creating shareholder value in the development and operation of a range of energy and infrastructure assets. Most recently he was the CEO of NuGeneration, one of the UK’s leading nuclear new build developers and prior to that was the COO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) in Abu Dhabi.

13 September

Creating the Strategy

11:50 AM 12:30 PM Big Hall

Eden-Maia Shackleton

North Yorkshire

youth representative

18 year old Eden-Maia Shackleton is a former Member of Youth Parliament representing North Yorkshire from 2017-2019 and a first year undergraduate at The University of Cambridge.

13 September

Our Northern Future

09:50 AM 10:35 AM Big Hall

Jacob Hirst

youth representative

Manchester

My name is Jacob Hirst. I am 16 and I am studying law, politics and geography at Ashton Sixth Form College. I have been a member of Tameside Youth Council for 2 years and a member of the GMYCA for 18 months. I am very passionate about making the voices of young people heard across the country.

Jacob is on the Transport workshop policy panel

The Convention of the North with NP11

Programme

Our Commitment to the North

Our Northern Future

Making that Future a Reality

Break

Creating the Strategy

Delivering with the North

Sum up of the morning and look forward to afternoon

Lunch Break

Fringe Session: How should the North deliver economic policy in future? How should it be governed and resourced?

Fringe Session: Closing the Wealth, Health and Productivity Gap between the North and the rest of England

Fringe Session: Place-making and economic growth - Does place competitiveness matter?

Fringe Session: Northern Power Women Podcast

Fringe Session: An Energy Industrial Strategy for the North

Fringe Session: The people are the Powerhouse

Fringe Session: How can the North lead the green revolution?

Policy Workshop: Education, Skills & Work

Policy Workshop: Innovation

Policy Workshop: Transport

Policy Workshop: Trade and Investment

Policy Workshop: Housing

Policy Workshop: Clean Growth

The Big Melt - a pyrotechnic show of Magna's steel furnaces

Our Manifesto for the North

Event Close

Policy Workshops

Attend

Plan your visit

Partners

Speakers

Steph McGovern

13 September

Our Commitment to the North

13 September

Sum up of the morning and look forward to afternoon

13 September

Our Manifesto for the North

13 September

Event Close

Dan Jarvis

13 September

Our Commitment to the North

Roger Marsh

13 September

Making that Future a Reality

13 September

Event Close

The Rt Hon Jake Berry MP

Political career

13 September

Delivering with the North

Councillor Nick Forbes

13 September

Making that Future a Reality

13 September

Event Close

Andy Burnham

13 September

Our Manifesto for the North

Christine Gaskell

Lord Richard Inglewood

13 September

Creating the Strategy

Mike Blackburn

Lord Christopher Haskins

Steve Fogg

Asif Hamid

13 September

Creating the Strategy

James Muir

13 September

Creating the Strategy

Andrew Hodgson

13 September

Creating the Strategy

Paul Booth OBE

David Kerfoot MBE DL

13 September

Creating the Strategy