The Initiative Team

 

Dr John Savage CBE

Managing Director

 

To lead the organisation in the promotion of partnership between local government, industry and commerce in order to promote the position of Bristol and its neighbouring communities as a vibrant and vital European city region in the twenty-first century.

Email    Telephone: 01275 370791

 

James Durie

Director of the Initiative


To run and manage all the activities and roles of the Initiative across Bristol, Bath, West of England, Swindon and Gloucestershire. To assist the Chief Executive in leading GWE Business West in its role as the voice and representative body of the business community.

Email    Telephone: 01275 370792

 

Tessa Coombes

Director of Policy and Strategy

 

To provide information, research, and policy development support, covering a wide range of strategic policy issues relevant to the delivery of the West of England Vision.

Email    Telephone: 01275 370793

 

Nigel Hutchings

Director, Chambers of Commerce

To develop and legitimise with members and others GWE Business West's position as the leading representative organisation for the private sector in the Greater Bristol, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire region through Chambers of Commerce. To facilitate the development of the South West Chamber of Commerce and seek opportunities to raise the Chamber’s profile within the South West Region.

Email    Telephone: 01275 370789

 

Julie Lever

PA to the Managing Director/Office Manager

 

To provide PA/secretarial support to the Chief Executive.  To organise and supervise all of the administrative activities that facilitate the smooth running of the Initiative Team office and manage the administrative support.

Email    Telephone: 01275 370791

 

Alison Parsons

Partnerships Accountant

 

Responsible for all aspects of accounts preparation and statutory returns for various Initiative project organisations, including Bristol Cultural Development Partnership and South West Chamber of Commerce.

Email    Telephone: 01275 370794

 

Jane Boa

Initiative Team Coordinator & PA to Director, Chambers of Commerce


Provides secretarial and administration support to the Initiative Team, including organising monthly Initiative lunches, committee meetings  and Initiative Secretaries lunches. PA support to the General Manager, Chambers of Commerce. Administration of the South West Chambers of Commerce website, database, communications and Board meetings.Email    Telephone: 01275 370790

 

Hannah Poulson

PA to Director of the Initiative


PA to the Director of the Initiative, including managing the diary, monitoring email and handling general correspondence. To help with the organisation of Initiative evenings and work with the team to provide administrative support to the Executive team.

Email    Telephone: 01275 370792

 

Ian Bell

Media Consultant


Produces a variety of communication material for staff, members and the outside world including writing the main articles for Update, the Chamber section of the Bath Chronicle Business Supplement and the members' monthly e-zine as well as responses to strategic consultations. Assists with the running of the Initiative for B&NES and the Bath Chamber of Commerce.

Email    Telephone: 01275 333128

 

Sandy Bell

Communication Consultant

 

Provides a full general management service for both the Bath Chamber of Commerce and Initiative for B&NES including the preparation of a variety of communication materials as a co-Director of Tintinna Ltd.

Email    Telephone: 01275 333128