LLEP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Vice Chair
- Interim Chair
Job Titles:
- Chairman - Regional Advisory Board East Midlands - Canal & River Trust
- Interim Chair and Voluntary Sector Representative
Born in Uganda, of Indian Origin, Anil left for India in 1970, continued his education in India for 4 years, before coming to the UK in 1974 to join the other members of the family that were expelled from Uganda during Idi Amin regime.
During his professional career of 38+ years, Anil has worked with numerous international organisations to deliver major transformational changes.
Although he retired from full time employment in 2017, he has pursued his passion of supporting organisations around Education, Health, and Wellbeing Agenda. To this effect, in addition to being appointed Co-Chair at LLEP, he is also a Vice-Chair at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire Colleges, Non-Executive Director at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust. He also Chairs the George Eliot Hospital Trust Charity and Chair of the Regional Advisory Board for Canal & River Trust East Midlands.
Job Titles:
- Economic Growth Officer ( People )
Anne-Marie heads a West Midlands-based team of bankers looking after NatWest corporate clients with £25 million-plus turnovers and a range of complex needs. Her Team's have always consisted of apprentices and graduates and she has a passion for supporting and mentoring others. She currently drives the Technology, Media and Communications sector forwards for her territory within The Bank and previously did the same for the agricultural sector.
Prior to starting that role in 2022 she spent 3.5 years as Director, Commercial Banking for Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, and prior to that, a decade helping a portfolio of East Midlands clients with large real estate projects.
Despite her move to The West Midlands, Anne-Marie's passion and commitment to the East Midlands remains and she continues to work closely with her East Midlands professional eco system and the local Banking team. Leicestershire also continues to be home.
Anne-Marie studied law and psychology at De Montfort University, before joining Natwest Bank as a trainee in 2000. With her team, she has a focus on supporting community organisations and has continued to work with The Princes Trust.
Job Titles:
- Founder & CEO, BetaBooster
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- Snr Director Strategy, Transformation and Productivity, Pepsico - European SC
Job Titles:
- CEO Ultimate Web / Leicester Start Ups
Job Titles:
- Economic Intelligence Officer
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- Regional Director - Midlands & East of England Make UK
About: I have worked for eight visitor attractions including Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers and the National Space Centre where I have been Chief Executive since its launch in 2001. My partnership work with the University of Leicester, several colleges and a number of space companies, together with my creative industries experience and non-executive roles for five organisations including two start-ups, will help me provide an insight into a range of Leicester and Leicestershire's priority sectors in the coming years.
Job Titles:
- Enterprise Zone Coordinator
About: I commenced my political career as a Parish Councillor for Narborough almost 30 years ago, became a District Councillor in 2011 and, taking over as Leader of Blaby District Council in 2015. I also represent the division of Narborough and Whetstone. I entered politics to make a difference and, am delighted to represent the Leicestershire District Councils on the LLEP Board. Before retirement, I worked for a major bank for 41 years, specialising in International Trade and Trade Finance, working with Companies of all sizes to assist them in both Exporting and Importing.
Job Titles:
- Growth Hub Economic Intelligence Officer
Job Titles:
- Head of External Affairs, Intelligent Energy
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- Head of Horizon Scanning for MIRA
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- Chief Operating Officer, Nemaura Medical
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- Director of Research, Loughborough University
Job Titles:
- Head of Delivery and Governance
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- Councillor Terry Richardson
About: I was born and brought up in Leicester then studied law at Sheffield University. From 1992-2016 I worked at Harvey Ingram. I then moved to Freeths LLP as a Director in their Dispute Management team based in the Leicester office. My work area is commercial dispute management and I deal with technical and complex commercial/contract disputes, company disputes, warranty claims and employment support work. I was recently involved in a large insurance dispute and worked for a major energy sector client while at Shakespeares. I have been, and continue to be, involved in various business development projects with the firms I have worked for. At Freeths I am leading a professional women's networking group as part of a firm wide initiative. I am also a trustee of Big Difference Company - best known for running the Leicester Comedy Festival - which also works with charities in terms of health and well-being projects. My involvement as a trustee involves giving legal advice to the board. My strong local connections and contacts coupled with the fact that I have spent the vast majority of my career in Leicester and Leicestershire demonstrate my commitment to the development of our region and have enabled me to gain an understanding of the issues that it faces which I look forward to building on as a board member of the LLEP.
About: This is both a challenging and exciting time for our region and the businesses within it. I am excited to bring my passion for Leicester and Leicestershire together with my experience and knowledge as a business adviser to represent the SMEs that make up such a large proportion of our local businesses. I look forward to playing a key role in developing strategies to enhance growth and investment in these SMEs, and to positively represent a significant sector of the business community that is served by the LLEP.
Job Titles:
- Regional Senior Energy Projects Officer
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- Careers Hub Lead - Strategic
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- Director, GW Growth Consultancy
Glynis became a lawyer in her 40s after an early career spent working in local government on the economic development of Leicestershire.
She set up her own law firm in 2011, going on to become one of the region's most high profile lawyers and businesswomen. After managing the sale of her business to Nelsons in 2020 she became a partner.
Glynis is a past-President of the Leicestershire Law Society and serves on its Executive Committee. She is also Chair of the Advisory Board for the Faculties of Business and Law at De Montfort University. She was awarded an MBE for services to female entrepreneurship in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Commercial and Marketing Director, Charnwood Campus
She has more than 15 years of experience of working on multi-million pound projects in the pharmaceutical sector. Gosia was part of the team which encouraged the LLEP to recognise life sciences as a priority sector, as well as the successful Enterprise Zone bid of 2016.
A further bid in 2018 secured Charnwood Campus as the UK's first Life Sciences Opportunity Zone. Gosia worked with Government during the Pandemic to establish a Lighthouse Laboratory - creating 35,000sq ft of laboratory space within six weeks and enabling 450 scientists to work round the clock on vaccination NHS Test and Trace programmes.
Job Titles:
- Director Enterprise and Business Services De Montfort University
Job Titles:
- Economic Strategy Manager
Job Titles:
- General Manager, Highcross Leicester
Jo is responsible for the financial and operational performance of Highcross - opened in 2008 as Leicester's biggest ever redevelopment project.
She leads a team delivering performance targets, continuously enhancing the brand and creating and nurturing relationships
Larraine Boorman has over 25 years' senior executive experience and brings significant and diverse sector knowledge to the LLEP Board. She started her career as a ‘fast-track' management trainee in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, before moving into senior management roles in engineering; logistics and distribution; construction; employment and skills; and training and education.
Job Titles:
- Careers Hub Lead - Operations
Job Titles:
- Senior Projects Manager ( Low Carbon )
About: As an owner of a Leicester based SME, using digital technology to help businesses run their companies from anywhere in the world, I am keen to grow an environment that encourages the development of a digital & technology skills in our area. I have served on the Business Board of the LLEP for several years, I am an Enterprise Advisor at my local college - building stronger understanding and working relationships between business & education and I am now privileged to be a governor. I want to use these experiences and 40 years in business to help us create a vibrant economy and society.
Job Titles:
- President and Vice Chancellor University of Leicester
Born and educated in Sri Lanka, Nishan is a double Cambridge graduate and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol.
Nishan has been appointed to a number of national roles including being a member of the UUK advisory group to tackle racial harassment in higher education and serves as a Commissioner for the Midlands Innovation Policy TALENT Policy Commission. He is also a Trustee of IntoUniversity, an Educational Charity and a Board member of The Conversation.
Nishan has served on a number of national and international panels on research funding, governance, and postgraduate education.
He has also chaired the University Executive Committee for the National Composites Centre, was a Non-Executive Director for North Bristol Trust, and served on the HEFCE STEM Review Advisory Board.
About: I grew up in Hertfordshire and gained a law degree from Oxford University in 1988, before pursuing a career in further education. On the creation of the Learning and Skills Council in 2001 I moved into senior management, holding a number of positions including Regional Director for the East Midlands and National Director of Funding, Planning and Performance. I was appointed Principal and Chief Executive of Leicester College in January 2013. I also chair the Student Loans Company's Advanced Learning Loans Stakeholder Group, the Leicester and Leicestershire Principals' Group and I am Chair of the Members of a Multi-Academy Trust in the city.
Job Titles:
- Leicestershire County Council Representative
Phoebe Dawson announced as incoming Chief Executive of LLEP
Job Titles:
- Managing Director Blue Sky International
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- Managing Director Aristec / Leicester Textiles Federation
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- Oadby & Wigston Borough Council Representative / Leader, Oadby & Wigston Borough Council
Job Titles:
- Employer Engagement Enterprise Coordinator
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- SME Representative Director, Assist Business Consulting Limited
About: This is both a challenging and exciting time for our region and the businesses within it. I am excited to bring my passion for Leicester and Leicestershire together with my experience and knowledge as a business adviser to represent the SMEs that make up such a large proportion of our local businesses. I look forward to playing a key role in developing strategies to enhance growth and investment in these SMEs, and to positively represent a significant sector of the business community that is served by the LLEP.
Job Titles:
- Director Business Banking, NatWest
- Director Business Banking, Natwest Bank
Job Titles:
- Head of Business & Innovation
Job Titles:
- Further Education Representative
About: I grew up in Hertfordshire and gained a law degree from Oxford University in 1988, before pursuing a career in further education. On the creation of the Learning and Skills Council in 2001 I moved into senior management, holding a number of positions including Regional Director for the East Midlands and National Director of Funding, Planning and Performance. I was appointed Principal and Chief Executive of Leicester College in January 2013. I also chair the Student Loans Company's Advanced Learning Loans Stakeholder Group, the Leicester and Leicestershire Principals' Group and I am Chair of the Members of a Multi-Academy Trust in the city.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director Research, Innovation & Impact, University of Leicester