City-REDI Board Members
Liam Askins
Head of West Midlands Area team, Cities and Local Growth Unit: Government’s Local Growth Team - a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Liam has nearly a decade of experience in national Government, working at the heart of a number of departments in policy and strategy roles.
Read more about Liam Askins
Read more about Liam Askins
The West Midlands area team’s mission is to:
- Work collaboratively with key partners in local areas in the West Midlands region and across central Government on Local Growth and Levelling Up opportunities, including devolution.
- Help connect national policy making and programmes with places.
- Based on a real understanding of local issues and opportunities, the team plays a critical function empowering decision-making in local areas and ensuring central Government decision-making is informed and shaped by local insight.
- We innovate, collaborate and challenge with a clear understanding of both the local and central Government contexts.
Professor Julian Beer
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University
Julian is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Enterprise) at Birmingham City University (BCU).
Read more about Julian Beer
Read more about Julian Beer
Julian is a Professor of Knowledge Transfer at BCU, an Emeritus Professor at Plymouth University, a Visiting Professor at BML Munjal University, India and a Visiting professor at LP University in India.
He received the Amity University India Excellence Award for his contribution to international academia in 2020. He is a founding Member of the Institute of Knowledge Transfer and a Fellow of the Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange as well as, a longstanding member of the British Sociological Association.
He has an extensive track record in designing, developing and leading flagship programmes, projects and partnerships to unlock capital and revenue and connect innovation and talent, and engage Higher Education as a catalyst for change and growth positioning universities as “anchor” institutions internationally, nationally and in regional economies.
Find out more about Birmingham City University.
Henrietta Brealey
CEO, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Henrietta is CEO of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The GBCC is a not-for-profit business membership and support organisation that exists to Connect, Support & Grow local businesses. At age 30, she is the youngest CEO in the organisation’s 208-year history.
Read more about Henrietta Brealey
Read more about Henrietta Brealey
Prior to becoming CEO in 2021, Henrietta was Director of Policy & Strategic Relationships leading the GBCC’s research, policy, stakeholder engagement and campaigns activity as well as management of the GBCC’s top tier of membership: the Patronage group. Henrietta was appointed to the role in 2015. In 2018, she was appointed to the GBCC Board as an executive director. In 2019 she was named as one of Birmingham Live’s Brum 30 Under 30. Outside of work, she is a Trustee of the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students and a graduate and supporter of the UpRising Leadership Programme.
Find out more about the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
Henriette Breukelaar
Regional Director West Midlands, Canal and Rivier Trust
Read more about Henriette Breukelaar
Read more about Henriette Breukelaar
Henriette Breukelaar is the West Midlands Regional Director for the Canal and River Trust, looking after over 500 miles of canal and towpaths and the rich biodiversity they host.
Before joining the Canal and River Trust Henriette was Chief Executive of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the city region.
She has a background in senior leadership in a variety of sectors including supporting start-up businesses as part of the Climate Knowledge Innovation Community, working in retirement housing with care, advanced engineering, innovation and regional economic development. Henriette started her career in the Netherlands in equalities and community regeneration.
Outside her day job, Henriette is Trustee at Birmingham Hospice.
Si Chun Lam
Head of Research, Intelligence, and Inclusive Growth at West Midlands Combined Authority
Si Chun is the Head of Research, Intelligence, and Inclusive Growth at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), tasked with bringing together the research and intelligence expertise across the West Midlands to build a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener and healthier West Midlands.
Read more about Si Chun Lam
Read more about Si Chun Lam
Before joining the WMCA, Si Chun worked for Coventry City Council in a variety of roles, most recently, leading Coventry’s research, insight, and intelligence function. In this role, Si Chun transformed the Council’s approach to insight, analysis, and data through the development of a citywide intelligence hub and a ‘One Coventry’ approach to performance management. Through nurturing partnerships with local universities, Si Chun championed the development of a flourishing research and intelligence ecosystem in the city.
Si Chun has contributed to the national conversation on the power of research and intelligence to make a positive impact on our society. Outside of paid employment, Si Chun is part of the Economy of Francesco, a global movement of economists, entrepreneurs and change-makers working to create an economy that works for everyone, with nobody left behind.
Paula Deas
Deputy Chief Executive at Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership
She has extensive senior management experience in creating and implementing economic strategies, inward investment, skills initiatives, and large-scale projects.
Read more about Paula Deas
Read more about Paula Deas
Paula is experienced in setting up and running private/public sector partnerships with specific expertise in economic development and growth; listening to business and stakeholder views and bringing talented teams together to create a more dynamic and resilient economy, collaborating between private; public and education sectors.
Find out more about Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Delma Dwight
Director of The Economic Intelligence Unit & Director of Midlands Engine Observatory
Delma Dwight has been pioneering the development, implementation and leadership of an evidence-based approach to policy and strategy development across the Midlands for over 20 years.
Read more about Delma Dwight
Read more about Delma Dwight
Delma was educated in Ireland and holds a First-Class Honours degree (Batchelors) in Commerce from University College Galway and an Honours Masters (MA) in Economics from University College Dublin and holds a Visiting Professorship with the University of Wolverhampton.
Delma established The Economic Intelligence Unit in 2002 and has been the Director of the Economic Intelligence for the last 20 years, alongside Director of the Midlands Engine Observatory since 2021. She utilises her excellent analytical abilities to translate complex information into meaningful messages and concise reports in order to support evidence-based debate at Strategic Board Level.
Find out more about The Economic Intelligence Unit and Midlands Engine Observatory.
Dr David Jarvis
Deputy Director, Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University
Dr David Jarvis is Deputy Director of the Centre for Business in Society (CBiS) at Coventry University. He has twenty years post-PhD experience as a professional researcher and research leader in both commercial and higher education settings.
Read more about David Jarvis
Read more about David Jarvis
During this period, David has delivered successfully more than 70 research, consultancy and evaluation assignments for clients across the public, private and charitable sectors. These have included multi-national corporate clients, the European Union, UK central government, local and regional government, non-departmental public agencies and voluntary and community sector organisations. David’s priority is applied impactful research which makes meaningful connections between academia, policy and practice. His persistent focus on various dimensions of local and regional economic change is wrought with personal experience of deindustrialisation and includes a particular interest in both the automotive industry – its renaissance, transformation and low-carbon transition – and transport, especially the ways in which mobility shapes places, economies and communities.
Find out more about Centre for Business in Society.
Maria P Machancoses
Midlands Connect Programme Director
With a degree in Law and an MSc in International Transport, Maria has spent the last 20 years working in the UK.
Read more about Maria P Machancoses
Read more about Maria P Machancoses
Maria is currently Director for Midlands Connect, one of the largest and most successful partnership programmes in the country bringing together 23 Local Authorities and 9 Local Enterprise Partnerships across the Midlands from the Marches to the Wash.
In March 2017 the partnership published a 25 year pan-Midlands transport strategy for the region, therefore increasing economic activity and helping to power the Midlands Engine. Since its formation the partnership has secured over £17m support from government to accelerate the delivery of its transport priorities from 2020 and beyond.
More recently Maria has been working as Interim Director of the Midlands Engine, a partnership which aims to generate a step change in productivity, economic growth in the Midlands and help drive Britain’s post-Brexit growth.
As part of her previous role, Maria managed the WM Integrated Transport Authority’s input into the HS2 Hybrid Bill and was actively involved in master-planning activities around proposed HS2 Stations in the West Midlands.
Find out more about Midlands Connect.
Simon Marks
City Executive Birmingham, Arcadis
Simon Marks is the City Executive for Arcadis responsible for over 350 staff in the Birmingham office.
Read more about Simon Marks
Read more about Simon Marks
With 30 years of construction and property experience Simon helps clients make the best of their built and natural assets in relation to achieving their vision, strategy and key priorities. He has led and delivered a range of projects across the public, private and infrastructure sectors and has a deep understanding of the housing and regeneration arena. Simon is a Board member of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and Chair of the Executive Board of the City Centre Enterprise Zone.
Find out more about Arcadis in Birmingham.
Ben Odams
Head of Policy at the West Midlands Growth Company
Ben Odams is the Head of Policy at the West Midlands Growth Company. He is responsible for strategic and policy development within WMGC and acts as one of the main advisers to the Leadership Team and the Board.
Read more about Ben Odams
Read more about Ben Odams
Ben has previously worked across Further Education and Local Government covering strategic policy. Regularly working with senior leaders, elected members and leadership teams he specialises in public finance, public service markets, and economic development. Within these areas, Ben has covered Local Government reform, devolution, Brexit, Industrial/Growth strategies, HS2 as well as managing central government and parliamentary relationships. He has also worked on several wider projects around skills and the labour market. One of these was working on the Augar Review of Post-18 Education on behalf of a College Group based in Manchester and more recently the initial development of Greater Manchester’s Integrated education, skills and work system.
He has an MRes in Economic History, a PGDip in Economic Policy and had previously been a Board Member of AGE UK Staffordshire. In his own time, Ben attempts to do oil painting and working on his much-delayed PhD proposal on Local Government.
Find out more about West Midlands Growth Company.
Nigel Robinson
Vice President, Capgemini Invent
Capgemini partners with companies to transform and manage their business by unlocking the value of technology. As a leading strategic partner to companies around the world, we have leveraged technology to enable business transformation for more than 50 years. We address the entire breadth of business needs, from strategy and design to managing operations. To do this, we draw on deep industry expertise and a command of the fast-evolving fields of cloud, data artificial intelligence, connectivity, software, digital engineering, and platforms.
Read more about Nigel Robinson
Read more about Nigel Robinson
Nigel is part of the leadership team of Capgemini’s Analytics and AI capability and during his 29-year career in the analytics, business intelligence and data management domains, has developed and led technology consulting/services practices and overseen complex consulting projects in the UK and internationally. His client work covers a broad spectrum and includes digital and data solutions for Justice, Economic Development and Central Government.
- Find out more about Capgemini.
Councillor Lisa Trickett
Birmingham City Council
Lisa has held leadership positions in the sphere of public policy in both a political and professional context for over two decades. Lisa is known for her strategic thinking and collaborative leadership practice and has worked within the public, private and higher educational sectors.
Read more about Lisa Trickett
Read more about Lisa Trickett
Lisa has represented local government on a range of regional and national boards including acting as Urban Advisor to the Regional Housing Board, developing for the Homes and Communities Agency its national Leadership of Place programme and whilst at PwC pioneered an area investment planning approach - more recently she has been a board member of Innovation Birmingham and Birmingham Retail BID. Whilst at the University of Birmingham she drew on her knowledge of regional and local context and work on place - shaping to serve as the policy lead on the Bishop of Birmingham’s Social Inclusion Process, providing the frame for the adoption of approaches to inclusive growth and active wellbeing within the City. She has engaged and published work on Leadership of Place and led projects nationally and internationally on the place shaping agenda and a range of sustainability topics.
Having being elected as a Labour Councillor in Birmingham in 2012 - Lisa served as a Cabinet Member from 2014-2018 providing the strategic lead on environmental and sustainability policy and its implementation to address issues including climate change, carbon reduction, flood management, clean air zones, energy security and fuel poverty. She also had the strategic lead for the city’s parks and green spaces. As Chair of Birmingham’s Green Commission she was the driving force in the development of “Energy Capital” and in the delivery of subsequent projects including the development of the FBC for Birmingham Energy Supply Company and the City’s Air Quality Strategy – work she continues to take forward professionally through UK100 and her engagement with Energy Capital and related collaborations.
Find out more about Lisa Trickett.
Dr Helen Turner
Director, Midlands Innovation
Dr Helen Turner is Director of the Midlands Innovation University partnership, which includes the universities of Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick.
Read more about Helen Turner
Read more about Helen Turner
Midlands Innovation is a world-class research and innovation partnership, combining the collective excellence of leading universities in the heart of the UK. We unite the power of university research with the unique strengths of the Midlands industry to drive cutting-edge research, innovation and skills development.
Helen is a collaboration professional having spent seven years as Director of the Midlands Energy Consortium, where she played a key role in the successful £60m bid to establish the Midlands Energy Research Accelerator. Helen has played a strong role in the Midlands Engine for Growth where she currently sits on both its Operations Board and its Innovation and Enterprise Group.
- Find out more about Midlands Innovation.
Tim Pope
PA Consulting
Tim has over twenty five years’ experience involved in supporting place based reform both as a consultant, civil servant and policy advisor across local government, urban change and transport.
Read more about Tim Pope
Read more about Tim Pope
Tim is leading our work with places, helping local partners collaborate on shared agendas at different geographic scales.
He is experienced in the design and running national programmes and of working with target audiences to make use of them. He has a focus on creative approaches to public services, having worked at Nesta on social innovation. He is a Non-Executive Director at Resonance, a leading social impact investor. He has an MSc in transport planning and is currently studying for a MSc in transformational leadership at UCL researching the governance of mission-orientated innovation districts. He was Commissioner for the Mayor of London on advising on the future funding and financing of London’s green spaces.
- Find out more about PA Consulting
Patrick White
Director, Metro – Dynamics
Patrick is an expert in the development and delivery of successful growth and investment strategies.
Read more about Patrick White
Read more about Patrick White
He gets things done across complex networks and partnerships, leading our work with developer and public sector clients to develop and execute projects that have a real and lasting impact.
Current and recent assignments include leading industrial strategy for the West Midlands Mayor and country’s largest Combined Authority, creating the investment strategy for a major regional developer and leading our work with Liverpool City Region on the single investment fund.
Patrick was previously a Director in the UK civil service, working in the Cabinet Office and what is now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
- Find out more about Metro – Dynamics.
Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams
Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences
Read more about Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams
Read more about Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams
Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams FAcSS is Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Head of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Birmingham. He is a member of the University Executive Board and a Governor of the University of Birmingham School. He is Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and Chair of the Academy's Leadership Forum. He is also Chair of the Management Committee of the ESRC Midlands Graduate School.
Since 2021, Nick has been listed in the Stanford 'Top 2%' of world-leading scientists. A recipient of the Philip Leverhulme Prize, his research - supported by grants from the British Academy, ESRC, and Leverhulme Trust - focuses on the international politics of borders, migration, and security. Findings have been presented to the EU Commission, Frontex, the Maltese Presidency, the UK Cabinet Office, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the UK Home Office.
Read Nick's full profile