Board Members

He has written four best-selling books: Death of Economics, Butterfly Economics, Why Most Things Fail and Positive Linking. The first sold over 1 million copies worldwide and Why Most Things Fail was a Business Week “US Business Book of the Year”.

Paul read economics at Cambridge and took the MPhil in economics at Oxford. In 2009 he was awarded a DSc honoris causa by the University of Durham for “the distinction of your contributions to the discipline of economics”.

Paul is also Chair of Rochdale Development Agency, an independent organisation which works with Rochdale Council to promote the economic wellbeing of the borough.

Prior to being Mayor, Andy was MP for Leigh from 2001. In Government, Andy has held Ministerial positions at the Home Office, Department of Health and the Treasury. In 2008 he became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, before returning to Health as Secretary of State in 2009.

Andy has said the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone “will be the key to unlocking the huge economic potential of Greater Manchester as a world leader in research and innovation”.

Aside from his political appointments, Eamonn works at the head office of a national charity managing the office administration. He was educated at St Monica's RC High School in Prestwich and Holy Cross College in Bury.

He gained a BA (History and Politics) and MA (History) from the University of Manchester. Eamonn also set up the country’s first student-led food bank in central Manchester.

Previously, Lynne was Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development at Manchester City Council. Before that she held the same role with the National Crime Agency.

Lynne led the development of Bury’s shared vision for 2030 LET’S Do It! and continues to work with partners to ensure all Bury people realise the benefits from the unprecedented regeneration work going on across the borough’s towns.

From 2017, Lynne has been a peer reviewer with the Local Government Association, supporting other Councils to improve their plans.

A trained accountant, he has an impressive track record of delivery including significant regeneration activity to boost inward investment and create jobs as well as overseeing large-scale public service improvement programmes.

Harry has also held the Chief Executive role at Blackburn with Darwen Council and at St Helen’s Council. During his time at Blackburn, Harry transformed the council, to achieve reductions in funding whilst continuing to deliver a high standard of local services and drove forward an ambitious regeneration programme for the borough. As a result, Blackburn was named local authority of the year during his time as Chief Executive.

Neil also studied at the University of Valencia and the Sorbonne in Paris and is fluent in five languages.

He was first elected to the council in 1986 at the age of 23 and served for 8 years before leaving to pursue work opportunities in other parts of the country. Neil returned as a councillor in 2010 for his second spell which continues to this day.

During his career, Neil has worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, and at Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre as well as Freehold Community Base in Rochdale. Neil is also a board member for Rochdale Development Agency.

He is also the lead Chief Executive on Housing, Planning, Infrastructure and Homelessness for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, as well as a Rochdale Development Agency board member.

Steve was previously the Chief Executive of Burnley Council where he raised the East Lancashire town’s profile and economic performance with a particular focus on advanced manufacturing and aerospace. He has worked in local government around the north of England for his entire career including as Director of Housing for Manchester City Council.

She has previously held positions as Group Property Director and Board Member for London Stock Exchange-listed Town Centre Securities plc and Divisional CEO, Property at the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), where she was responsible for MAG’s investment portfolio and development land bank, including its “Airport City” joint venture.

This followed a long career managing both investment and development real estate portfolios for BT and Co-operative Group where she brought forward the redevelopment of the Group’s central Manchester estate including 1 Angel Square and NOMA, before joining Lloyds Banking Group where she held positions as Global Head of Real Estate lending, and Head of Scottish Widows Investment Partnerships Real Estate Fund Management business.

Lynda is also a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Vivid Housing Association, Chair of the BPF Regional Policy Committee.

Since joining NPL in 2015, Peter has overseen the laboratory’s development and growth. This has included providing strategic leadership and oversight of NPL-led programmes such as the Advanced Machinery and Productivity initiative, the Cancer Research UK Rosetta Cancer Grand Challenge, National Timing Centre programme, Quantum programme and Measurement for Recovery programme.

He holds a number of advisory positions, including on the International Advisory Board of the National Institute of Metrology in China, as well as advising in areas such as the National Quantum Technologies Programme.

Peter brings a passion for diversity and inclusion in science and engineering and a focus on maximising impact for end users. His previous roles include strategic advisor to MOD’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Board Member and Deputy Chief Executive of Dstl and Head of the Counter Terrorism, Science and Technology Centre.

In January 2023, Peter joined the board of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult as a non-executive director.

He co-founded Russells Construction in 1997 and has grown the company to one of the most recognised and well respected in the North West.

In 2018 the company joined forces with global contractor WBHO Ltd and the business rebranded as Russell WBHO.

In 2004 Gareth jointly launched residential developer Russell Homes and in 2022 Russell LDP, a new land, property and development division spearheading strategic development across the region.

Russells is bringing forward the 15-year economic regeneration programme known as the South Heywood Masterplan, providing up to 1,000 new homes, 1.5m sq ft employment space, major transport infrastructure improvements, a new local centre and community facilities.

A key part is HPARK, a 120-acre industrial and logistics scheme just off Junction 19 of the M62 which has planning for 1.5m sq ft B8/B12 use.

He co-founded Russells Construction in 1997 and has grown the company to one of the most recognised and well respected in the North West.

In 2018 the company joined forces with global contractor WBHO Ltd and the business rebranded as Russell WBHO.

In 2004 Andrew jointly launched residential developer Russell Homes and in 2022 Russell LDP, a new land, property and development division spearheading strategic development across the region.

Russells is bringing forward the 15-year economic regeneration programme known as the South Heywood Masterplan, providing up to 1,000 new homes, 1.5m sq ft employment space, major transport infrastructure improvements, a new local centre and community facilities.

A key part is HPARK, a 120-acre industrial and logistics scheme just off Junction 19 of the M62 which has planning for 1.5m sq ft B8/B12 use.

He has written extensively about the role of science and innovation policy in addressing regional economic disparities.

In Greater Manchester, he is the Independent Science Advisor to Innovation GM, which brings together business, the GM Combined Authority and GM’s universities. Its goal is to develop Greater Manchester’s innovation ecosystem, to help level up communities, generate the solutions needed to achieve net zero, and create the conditions for more businesses in more places to benefit from global exporting and inward investment.

Richard is supporting the Atom Valley public-private partnership to capitalise on its proximity to an outstanding university research base, an evidence-based local industrial strategy, translational research centres such as the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre and a strong start-up/spin-out eco-system.