Jo Dally is the Chief Business Officer at NCC where she leads strategy development and implementation alongside the business’ s corporate affairs functions and its portfolio of strategic industrial partnerships. Before joining NCC, Jo held senior leadership roles across the public and private sector, including Director of the Western Gateway and a role within the Civil Service with responsibility for Horizon Scanning and Emerging Technologies.

Nick Sturge MBE has a portfolio of non-executive, advisory and voluntary roles in the tech, public and education sectors at organisations including techSPARK, Bristol Women in Business Charter, Bath Spa University and Cardiff University. He also grew the Bristol SETsquared Centre to become a top global university-backed business incubator, and co-founded Engine

Shed to house SETsquared and drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the West of England.

The Business Board will represent the full breadth of the West’ s diverse economy. It will become the primary platform for businesses to engage with the regional authority’ s strategic priorities including the Growth Strategy set to be launched in September. All Council leaders, including North Somerset, will be part of the Business Board.

Helen Godwin said,“ Businesses across the West are driving the innovation which gives our region the strongest recent economic growth of any combined authority area in the country. But we know that there is more to do. We need to celebrate our success so far, attract further investment, and ensure that everybody here has their chance to get on.“ I know that Jo and Nick share that

ambitious goal, which will be restated in our ten-year Growth Strategy in September. Working with our new board as it comes together, they bring decades of business experience to the table to inform and enhance our work with businesses across the region.”

Jo Dally said,“ I passionately believe the West of England can trailblaze in demonstrating how places can drive inclusive growth and industrial transformation, both regionally and nationally. This makes the opportunity to work with Helen, the WECA team and partners across the region to realise its full potential an absolute privilege. I’ m excited to get started, and to work alongside Nick to champion our businesses today and to create the conditions that will see those of tomorrow thrive.”

Nick Sturge added,“ I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to help Helen

and the team at WECA deliver significant, fast and positive change. The West of England, with its richness of diversity in sectors and population, has many challenges and opportunities, but by working together I believe we can make this region thrive and fulfil its potential with renewed vigour.

“ Enabling and facilitating the voice, interests and collective capability of the business, voluntary and education communities to support Helen’ s mission will be exciting and I look forward to working with Jo to do this.”

Nick Sturge will be speaking at TBE Show on Thursday 11th September at the University of Bath School of Management. Find out more on page 38.