HERTFORDSHIRE GROWTH BOARD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Adrian Hawkins OBE is Chair of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and its Skills & Employment Board, championing the delivery of the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP). Adrian is the independent Chairman of the Stevenage Development Board and led on its bid from the Government's Towns Fund, securing £37.5m - the second highest contribution received anywhere in the country. Adrian is also Founder of Weldability SIF, Chairman and Co-founder of biz4Biz and a Patron of Business Clubs, working alongside local MPs. In 2021, Adrian was awarded an OBE for his services to business and in particular, the welding industry.
Neil Hayes is Chief Executive of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. He has overseen its development from its inception, helping to ensure that its long-term priorities set out in its Strategic Economic Plan (2017-2030) are delivered for the county, securing over £309m EU funding and UK government investment. The LEP's Local Industrial Strategy continues to build on that vision by building on the county's economic strengths to create opportunities for all its residents.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Chief Executive at St Albans City
Amanda Foley is Chief Executive at St Albans City and District Council. She was appointed in 2017, previously holding the post of Head of Corporate Services. Amanda, who lives in the district with her family, joined the Council in 2009 from Ofsted - the Government's Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. She was Ofsted's Head of HR Strategy and has worked across a range of sectors and industries including banking, retail and the Civil Service.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, North Herts District Council
Anthony Roche has been Managing Director of NHDC since July 2020, having previously served as Deputy Chief Executive from 2017. A lawyer by background, he started in private practice before switching to the public sector and NHDC in 2008.
Ben Crystall has lived in Hertfordshire for over 20 years. He has served on East Herts District Council since 2019 and became the East Herts Green Party's first-ever representative on Hertfordshire County Council in 2021. As a member of the district council's planning committee and the county's Environment Cabinet Panel, Ben has advocated for policies that safeguard the environment and promote sustainable growth. Prior to this, Ben enjoyed a successful 10-year scientific career. He has a PhD in solar energy and spent 18 years as a writer and editor for the New Scientist magazine. Ben was elected Leader of East Herts District Council in May 2023.
Chris White has been Liberal Democrat councillor for Clarence Ward since 2008 and is currently Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Council. He chairs the Council's Strategy & Resources Committee and the Planning Policy & Climate Committee. Chris qualified as a chartered accountant in 1984. He was elected a county councillor in Hertfordshire in 1993 and group leader in 1994. Chris is Vice Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive, Dacorum Borough Council
Claire Hamilton has over 25 years' experience of working in the public sector, leading high-performing teams and developing positive partnerships to deliver complex regeneration initiatives. Claire's previous role was Director of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town, which is an exciting regeneration project, building on the heritage of Harlow to deliver 23,000 high-quality homes, 9,000 employment opportunities and sustainable travel infrastructure within the area. Claire has a background in housing development, estate regeneration and town centre regeneration and economic development.
Job Titles:
- Police and Crime Commissioner, Director
Donna Nolan joined Watford Borough Council as its first female Managing Director in February 2020. Former Deputy Chief Executive of Mendip District Council, Donna has led a range of successful regeneration and commercial programmes in both the public and private sector. Donna works closely with Watford's Elected Mayor to ensure the council's strategic commitments can be implemented, including its ambitious plans for sustainable regeneration.
Job Titles:
- Leader of North Herts District Council
Elizabeth Dennis is the Leader of North Herts District Council following the Local Elections in May 2021. First elected in 2016, Elizabeth has worked to improve the Recycling & Waste service in North Herts and is passionate about reducing food and other waste, especially single use plastics. Outside politics, Elizabeth works for the Financial Ombudsman Service, leading on emerging issues in the consumer rights and regulatory sector. A competitive figure skater since the age of five, Elizabeth is a strong advocate for sport and the arts, working to widen participation and champion their place in regeneration and growth of local enterprise. Elizabeth is Vice Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board.
Forogh joined as Director for Hertfordshire Growth Board in April 2023 to deliver an ambitious vision for sustainable and good growth across Hertfordshire. Forogh is passionate about localism and has worked in local government including at the Greater London Authority and London Development Agency for the past 15 years. Forogh has led the development of economic strategies working collaboratively with London government, businesses and communities and delivered multi-million-pound skills and employment programmes, as well as helping to secure devolution of skills to the Mayor of London.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive of Broxbourne Borough Council in Southeast
- Chief Executive, Broxbourne Borough Council
Jeff Stack is the Chief Executive of Broxbourne Borough Council in southeast Hertfordshire. He joined the Council in 2008 as the Director of Environmental Services and became Chief Executive in 2013. Prior to this, he worked for a variety of councils and in the housebuilding industry. He is a chartered town planner and has been a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 1985.
Job Titles:
- Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council
Jeremy Newmark was appointed as Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council in May 2023, having been first elected to the authority in 2017 and becoming principal opposition leader shortly afterwards. As member for Borehamwood's Cowley Hill Ward he represents an area that scores particularly highly on the national indices of multiple depravation. Jeremy previously chaired Hertsmere's Shareholder and Investment Committee and served on Planning, Licensing and Policy Review Committees. He has a professional background in political communications with specialisms in housing and transport-related issues. Jeremy has previously headed a national third sector organisation and worked for seven years as spokesperson for the former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive, Three Rivers District Council
- Three Rivers' New Chief Executive Officer
Joanne Wagstaffe was appointed as Three Rivers' new Chief Executive Officer on 3 February 2020 and was shared Director of Resources with both Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council from 2013. Previously, Jo was the Director of Resources at Wyre Forest District Council; Director of Resources and Transformation at Copeland Borough Council; and an Assistant Director at Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council. Jo also has extensive private sector experience.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Ka Ng is Chief Executive of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the lead Chief Executive on Hertfordshire Growth Board. She began her career at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in 2009 as a management accountant. After a few periods outside the council, she returned in 2016 to take on her current role, along with being the council's chief financial officer.
Lewis Cocking was elected to the council in 2016 and was appointed the Leader in May 2019. He is the youngest leader in Hertfordshire and is very passionate about sustainability and tackling climate change with ambitions to improve the Broxbourne economy so that local people have opportunities to find employment in high value jobs without the need to travel outside the borough.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive of Stevenage Borough Council
Matt Partridge is the Chief Executive of Stevenage Borough Council and has over 35 years local government experience in a variety of front-line and strategic leadership roles. In his current role, Matt is responsible, in conjunction with the Leader, Executive and the Senior Leadership Team, for the ongoing development and implementation of the Council's Cooperative Corporate Future Town Future Council Plan.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partners
- Chief Executive, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Neil Hayes is Chief Executive of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. He has overseen its development from its inception, helping to ensure that its long-term priorities set out in its Strategic Economic Plan (2017-2030) are delivered for the county, securing over £309m EU funding and UK government investment. The LEP's Local Industrial Strategy continues to build on that vision by building on the county's economic strengths to create opportunities for all its residents.
Paul Burstow has a wide range of public policy and leadership experience. He currently holds a number of non-executive leadership roles across the health and social care sector. As the Independent Chair at Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System he is working with system partners across local government, NHS and community and voluntary sector to develop population health working and integrated care. He has also been appointed as Chair of St Andrew's Healthcare, a charity providing specialist mental healthcare for patients with complex mental health needs. He is also Chair of the independent charity SCIE (The Social Care Institute for Excellence) which works with local government, independent sector and Government by sharing knowledge about what works, translating policy into practice and supporting transformation to improve the lives of people who use care services.
Paul Zukowskyj has been Liberal Democrat councillor for Welham Green and Hatfield South ward since 2016 and is currently the Leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council following Elections in May 2023. Paul has also been a Hertfordshire County Councillor representing the Hatfield South Division since 2013. Paul has lived in Hatfield for over 20 years. His children have grown up and gone to local schools in the area. He cares deeply about climate change and works hard to make Welwyn Hatfield a better place to live, work and play.
Peter Taylor has been the Elected Mayor of Watford since 2018 and joined Hertfordshire LEP Board in September 2019. Before becoming Elected Mayor, he worked as a teacher and Assistant Director for the Catholic Education Service. He served as a councillor in Watford since 2012 and lives in Oxhey with his wife and three young children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive at East Herts Council
Richard Cassidy is the Chief Executive at East Herts Council and has a wealth of experience, having worked in local government for over 30 years in a diverse range of roles linked to supporting communities, environment and public health at councils in London, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Job Titles:
- Leader of Stevenage Borough Council
Richard Henry became Leader of Stevenage Borough Council in December 2022 and is also the portfolio holder for Regeneration and Culture, Leisure and Young People. He is a passionate advocate of Stevenage Re-imagined - the council's long term Cultural Strategy, leisure facilities for residents and the work the council does to support sport and young people across the town.
Richard Roberts is the Conservative Leader of Hertfordshire County Council and is Chair of Hertfordshire Growth Board. He was first elected to the County Council in 2003 as the member for Kings Langley and has previously served as the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Cabinet Member for Partnerships and Performance. He is Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board and became Leader of the Council in May 2021.
Job Titles:
- Leader of Dacorum Borough Council
Ron Tindall became Leader of Dacorum Borough Council in May 2023. He has been a Hertfordshire County Councillor for Hemel St Paul's Division (Highfield, Adeyfield West & Hemel Old Town) since 2009 and has lived in Hemel Hempstead for more than 20 years. He has been a Dacorum borough councillor for almost 10 years, representing the Adeyfield West ward. While a county councillor, Ron has developed a close interest in Adult Care Services and has, for many years, been a campaigner against domestic abuse. For 10 years, he was a trustee of Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline. Ron has recently stood down from management committee of Dacorum Educational Support Centre in order to focus on his role as leader at Dacorum Borough Council.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Hertsmere Borough Council
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Hertsmere Borough Council
Sajida Bijle is the Managing Director of Hertsmere Borough Council. Prior to this she was the Director of Resources and Corporate Director for Hertsmere BC for over 15 years. Sajida is also Company Secretary to Elstree Film Studios Limited and an Accountant and Lawyer by profession.
Sarah Nelmes was appointed Council Leader for Three Rivers District Council, taking over from Sara Bedford in July 2020. Councillor Sarah Nelmes has been a councillor for over 15 years and represents the Penn and Mill End ward. She is currently Chair of the Planning Committee and chaired the majority Liberal Democrat group.
Job Titles:
- Interim Chief Executive of Hertfordshire County Council
Scott is the Interim Chief Executive of Hertfordshire County Council, having served as the Council's Executive Director of Resources since 2019, during which he has overseen a £2 billion budget that supports the delivery of essential public services to the 1.2 million residents and many businesses of Hertfordshire. As Interim Chief Executive, Scott leads a team of over 8,000 council staff to work closely with elected councillors and public, private, and voluntary sector partners to realise the council's vision of creating a cleaner, greener and healthier Hertfordshire for residents.
Job Titles:
- Acting Director, Markets Partners and Places, Homes England
Shona Johnstone has had a varied career that sandwiched politics with the civil service. Having started her career in the Home Office, Shona left to become a county councillor, where she held a variety of roles, including lead member for transport, children's services, council leader and scrutiny. She was also vice-chair of the LGA's transport and economy board and a board member of the East of England Development Agency. As a councillor, Shona was responsible for the delivering the growth agenda in Cambridgeshire, including the development of a new town of 10,000 homes in her own division. After retiring from the council, Shona joined the Department for Transport working on six strategic road studies before heading the consultation on the Airports National Policy Statement to bring forward the third runway at Heathrow. Recognising the importance of housing to economic growth Shona joined Homes England in 2019, where she leads a team supporting the public and private sector in unlocking new homes in the South East.
Adrian Hawkins OBE is Chair of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and its Skills & Employment Board, championing the delivery of the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP). Adrian is the independent Chairman of the Stevenage Development Board and led on its bid from the Government's Towns Fund, securing £37.5m - the second highest contribution received anywhere in the country. Adrian is also Founder of Weldability SIF, Chairman and Co-founder of biz4Biz and a Patron of Business Clubs, working alongside local MPs. In 2021, Adrian was awarded an OBE for his services to business and in particular, the welding industry.