Paul Johnson (Chair)

Paul has recently stepped down from the Chairmanship of Knorr Bremse Rail Systems (UK) Limited after 12 years as an Executive with the Company. Born in Swindon, he has spent his working life in Advanced Manufacturing and lives in Wiltshire. Paul has been very actively engaged in the wider industry and local business networks – Chairing the Railway Industry Association and currently Chair of the Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership. He has been a Director on the SW Board of the EEF and Patron Director on the Board of Wessex Association of CoCs. Involvement in the community has included Chairing the Mid-Somerset Festival and being a Governor of Melksham School.

 Email: paul.johnson@swlep.biz

Nicky Alberry

Nicky started her career in July 1979 with HSBC. In 1991 she was seconded to Great Western Enterprise in Swindon – 20 years later she is still with the company, although GWE Business West looks very different today.  GWE Business West provides business leadership, business membership and business Services . The Company employs around 130 staff and has an annual turnover of £17m with Head Offices in Swindon and Bristol. Chief Executive until March 2005, she became part-time Executive Chairman when the Group re-structured. She also chairs Incubation South East and GWE Holdings Limited. 

A founding member of the Swindon Cares Fund Raising Appeal, which has raised almost £300,000 for local community and voluntary organisations.  An active member of Swindon Rotary Club - where she was the first Lady President in 2007/8 -  she sits on the Swindon Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace for Wiltshire.  Nicky also sits on the Companies House Steering Board as a Non Exec. Director and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Wiltshire in 2006. 

 Email: nicky.alberry@swlep.biz

Rob Angus

Head of Group Strategy & Planning at Nationwide, he was appointed in May 2011. Rob is a qualified Accountant (ACCA) and Tax Manager (CTA).

Rob joined Nationwide in 1995 and worked in a number of operational

and technical roles at Nationwide Investment Group.

Between May 2006 and January 2008 Rob worked on the project to sell NIG to Legal & General. From January 2008 to September 2010 Rob worked in Group Strategy & Planning as Head of Corporate Planning. In September 2010 Rob led some strategic thinking and negotiation in respect of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) providing business lead to one of our key Strategic Programmes.

In his current role he is responsible for formulation of our Group Strategy & Corporate Plan, Economic and Market analysis, management of rating agencies & investor presentations and analysis of strategic opportunities.

 Email: rob.angus@swlep.biz

David Ashmore

David is Chief Executive of GreenSquare Group  - a major housing , & regeneration social enterprise which owns over 10,000 homes across Wiltshire , Swindon, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. The Group comprises of charitable and commercial subsidiaries, including an in- house construction management company and a Swindon -based gas installation business.

 It is currently investing c£200m developing over 1300 mixed tenure homes including several projects with Kevin McCloud’s company HAB. GreenSquare employs 450 staff, has a turnover of £50m and supports a range of training and employment initiatives.

David has worked in senior positions in housing for 35 years and been CEO of three organisations since 1988.He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and gained an MBA at Birmingham University in 2000. His non-executive experience includes Chairing the North Wiltshire Local Strategic Partnership and the SW Regional Committee of the National Housing Federation.

 Email: david.ashmore@swlep.biz

Mark Barnett

Mark is the Chief Operating Officer for The Consortium and joined in 1996, having previously held the position of Divisional Procurement Manager at Remploy.

The Consortium is a Trowbridge-based business that provides a wide range of goods and services including stationery, furniture, energy, catering and food management -  together with specialist resources for the education and care sectors. The business has an annual turnover of £45m (2011) and profits of £5m.

Mark’s wider business mission is the development of sustainable supply chains and he sits on the UK steering committee of the United Nations Global Compact. He is also a Director of the Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership and was a member of the Business Working Group that set up the Swindon & Wiltshire LEP.

 Email: mark.barnett@swlep.biz

Councillor Roderick Bluh

Conservative Leader of Swindon Borough Council since 2006, he has represented the Dorcan ward since 2004. Rod chairs the executive cabinet and takes a direct interest in the regeneration of the Town centre as well as supporting the drive for sustainable economic growth that will bring benefits to all those who live and work in Swindon. He still retains his interest in business and is involved in a wide range of community projects.

 Email: roderick.bluh@swlep.biz

Graham Dean

Graham is Director of UK Operations for Herman Miller, a US-owned global company whose core competencies include innovation, using problem-solving, research-based design to target existing and emerging social change and customer needs. It works exclusively with a network of leading independent designers, combined with a diverse and global supply chain, to develop innovative solutions. A recognized leader in environmentally responsible product design and business operations,

The business operates from sites in Bath & Chippenham and Graham is responsible for ensuring that their UK operation meets the investment needs of the parent company by meeting the needs of their European client base.

 Email: graham.dean@swlep.biz

Brigadier Piers Hankinson MBE

Brigadier Piers Hankinson assumed command of 43 (Wessex) Brigade September 2011 – the regional garrison for the South West, based on Salisbury Plain. An experienced front-line soldier, he was commissioned into the 17/21^st Lancers in April 1984 and has undertaken nine operational tours – seeing  active service with the 2^nd Royal Tank regiment in the Iraq war.

He also has considerable strategic planning experience with staff appointments as Chief of Staff, 4^th Armoured Brigade and Military Assistant to the Vice Chief of Defence Staff (MoD). Prior to this posting, he was Director Land Warfare; responsible for support, analysis, tactical lessons process, tactical doctrine, experimentation and development for Land Forces.  He is also the British Army’s National Director for ABCA^[1] and Permanent Military Expert for FINABEL

  Email: piers.hankinson@swlep.biz

Jane James

Jane James has been the Managing Director for the HFH Group since 1989.  During this time she has developed a team of highly skilled and committed individuals who have shaped HFH into a market leader for community based Health and Social Care. 

An accredited Expert Witness, Jane leads a team of experienced Nurses and Occupational Therapists specialising in medico-legal reporting.  The Group has offices in London and Wiltshire and currently employs in excess of 350 people.  Key clients are insurers, law firms, Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities.

She is also engaged in the local community through her work as Trustee of Community First and Head Trustee of Youth Action Wiltshire

 Email: jane.james@swlep.biz

Councillor Jane Scott OBE

Leader of Wiltshire Council since 2003, Jane represents the By Brook ward and has shown real commitment and drive in developing the Authority’s role of supporting the development of Wiltshire’s economy.

With the support of the business community, she led Wiltshire Council’s successful bid for Unitary status in 2009 and this is now delivering real benefits to all those who live and work in the County.

She juggles her hectic political life with her business interest in a small stock breeding farm in the county.  She was a member of N.Y.A and a member of LSC and Chairs the Wiltshire Public Service Board and MCI Board.

 Email: jane.scott@swlep.biz

Steve Stone

Currently Chair of Wiltshire Colleges, Steve represents the FE/HE sector on the Board. An experienced business executive he spent his career in the Polymer industry and as an executive director of Avon Rubber was responsible for expanding that company’s manufacturing interests around the world.

Since stepping down from that role in 2005, Steve has been actively involved in the economic development of Wiltshire through his Chairmanship of the Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership and engagement in the FE arena.

His ability to articulate the skills needs of the Business community and his commitment to addressing the youth unemployment challenge by driving the up-take of Apprenticeships are having a real impact.

 Email: steve.stone@swlep.biz

Peter Wragg

Owner of Widbrook Grange Hotel, Bradford on Avon,  Peter is  also Chairman of Visit Wiltshire Limited -  the company tasked with the development of the area’s Visitor Economy by raising awareness of  Swindon & Wiltshire, generating additional tourism visits and spend. Peter also Chairs Team St Laurence Limited, a company running facilities management contracts in schools and is a Director of Bath Rugby Foundation, -a registered charity promoting healthy lifestyle choices. By using the appeal of the club and the sport to deliver educational  programmes, it  helps  children who have a variety of difficulties.

Peter previously worked in the Automotive industry and lived and worked in Europe, the Middle and Far East, American and Africa. His base discipline is marketing and he was North American Market Director Volvo Truck Corporation.  Progressing into General Management,  he became Managing Director of a UK Volvo subsidiary, Managing Director of an automotive marketing services company and Group Managing Director of Marshalls East Africa PLC.

  Email: peter.wragg@swlep.biz

Sir Christopher Benson

A Salisbury resident since 1957, Sir Christopher Benson is a qualified surveyor after an early career in the Royal and Merchant navies. He then formed his own business and built MEPC plc into a global property company over 15 years as MD. Becoming Chairman in 1988, he has held a number of other high profile Chair roles, including London Docklands DC, CrossRail, The Boots Company, Royal & Sun Alliance,Costain, ReedPack, Albright & Wilson, The Housing Corporation and the Civic Trust.  He is President of the British Property Federation, the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the National Deaf Society. Current business interests include farming in Ford and Chairman of Eredine Capital– a global business investing in the development of deep sea port infrastructure, including a £100 million+ project in India. Closely involved in his local community, Sir Christopher chairs the Salisbury Vision project and has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that face South Wiltshire.