Dynamic and motivated professional with a proven record of generating and building long term relationships. Adaptable and transformational leader, making critical decisions during challenging times. Expectational communication skills. delivers results which add value. Extensive knowledge across public and private sectors. Specialities: Leadership, Business Development, Mentoring and Coaching, Strategic Management, Service Excellence.

Present roles: Board member of Rural Design Centre, Board member of Tedco, Panel member of County Durham Growth Fund.

Previous roles: Chief Executive – The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, Relationship Manager – UKTI, Business Development Manager – Business and Enterprise Group,
Various management roles – Barclays.

Jamie Ollivere is Managing Director of RTC North. Founded by his father in 1989 in Sunderland, RTC is one of Europe’s leading independent technology transfer companies and has built its reputation over the past 30 years for supporting small businesses with innovation, business growth and internationalisation. As well as providing services to SMEs, the company also works to promote the STEM agenda in schools and reaches over 10,000 young people each year. The company currently employs 85 staff and has offices in the North East, Yorkshire and North West England.

Sarah Slaven is Interim Managing Director at Business Durham, the economic development arm of Durham County Council.

Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in economic development, business support and partnership working in County Durham, in particular leading on business engagement to help businesses start-up, develop and grow in County Durham. Sarah was part of the management team that established Business Durham in 2012 and held the post of Operations Director until taking on her current position as Interim Managing Director. Prior to working for Business Durham, Sarah set up and managed East Durham Business Service, a public-private partnership.

Sarah is a Member of the Institute of Economic Development, and holds a BA (hons) in Law and Economics, and an MBA from Durham University.

Currently, Sarah is a Director of County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) and of Aycliffe Business Park Ltd, as well as serving on the Board of the County Durham Economic Partnership and Innovate North East Ltd.

In her spare time Sarah enjoys walking and cycling with her family, gardening, watching cricket in the sunshine or relaxing with a good book and nice coffee!

Nicki is Chief Executive at UMi. Nicki’s professional experience includes the Financial, FMCG, and Business Service sectors which has also resulted in her working with a number of different cultures following her years in export. As one of the founding members of the team at UMi Nicki has facilitated a number of partnerships, acquisitions and has played a key role in the development of what makes UMi a very special place to work. She believes that businesses have the power to make a difference and by working together we can do more. Its that belief that is a key part of UMi’s culture today and is evidenced through employee ownership and a progressive open minded culture that thrives on doing what others say can’t be done.

Nicki’s has a number of other commitments that give her the opportunity to influence driving a balanced and thriving business community as well as the education of young people. All with the clear purpose of fulfilling our aim of making it easier for businesses to do more and go further.

Caroline Theobald has spent her North East career connecting business people for mutual advantage and is passionate about creating commercial and life opportunities, particularly for young people. She was awarded a CBE for services to business and entrepreneurship in 2016 and is a lifetime holder of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Caroline co-founded, among others, FIRST, a learning and development company that specialises in entrepreneurial skills, and The North East Initiative on Business Ethics (NIBE), a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to make the North East known as a place for transparent and quantifiable business practices. Caroline is also chair of the business advisory board at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University; an associate at Teesside Business School, an advocate of gender equality, a trustee of Newcastles of the World and an honorary diplomat representing Sweden.

Visiting Professor in Business and Law, Northumbria University

Born and bred in the North East, Chris is experienced in setting up and growing small businesses, as well as working at a senior level in multinationals.  Chris led the development of new manufacturing technologies and innovations for clients across the world, before leading the divestment of what is now the Materials Processing Institute in Teesside in 2014.  As Chief Executive, Chris has overseen the diversification of this 75 year old innovation centre, from its core business in the steel industry to cutting edge new developments in digital technologies, advanced materials, decarbonisation and the circular economy.

Chris is a prominent supporter of UK industrial strategy, often called on to comment in the media and provide support to government. He chairs the UK Metals Council, which connects the metals supply chain to government and is chair of innovation & enterprise at the Federation of Small Businesses, as well as being a North East Regional Council member of the CBI.

In supporting the Open North Foundation, Chris hopes to share his expertise in innovation, technology and strategic change, to support businesses in the region.

Sharon Lane is Managing Director of Tees Components, a heavy engineering subcontractor in Redcar & Cleveland. Tees Components provides precision engineering services for defence, marine, and energy sectors. An apprenticeship and degree qualified mechanical engineer, and alumna of Teesside and Durham Universities, Sharon has led the family business for the last 15 years. Sharon is an enthusiastic ambassador for STEM and skills, a governor at Middlesbrough College where she chairs the Employer Advisory Board, and also sits on the regional advisory board for Make UK. Currently she represents the Tees Valley LEP on the Government’s Green Jobs Task Force. Sharon’s work has been recognised over recent years with awards including North East Business Executive of the Year (Teesside region), WES Top 50 Women in Engineering, and Tees Businesswoman of the Year.

Tania Cooper MBE is the Managing Director of Steel Benders UK Ltd providing steel forming and profiling services. SB is a family owned busines started in 2002 by Tania and her husband Malcolm. Based in Teesside and servicing offshore, architectural design, renewable energy and manufacturing industries.

Tania joined Alexander Technologies Europe in 1990 as Finance Manager and swiftly grew in the role to become the CEO. Alexander design and manufacture battery and charges for portable power applications. With sites in Mexico, USA, Malaysia and UK, supplying OEM customers globally. Tania has extensive experience and knowledge in global logistics, manufacturing operations, finance, procurement and CEM management, regulatory design management and ISO. Tania has participated and lead in several USA acquisitions and mergers and provided change management and corporate turnaround roles specializing is distressed acquisitions.

Tania won the North East Exporter of the Year Award (Overall Winner) in addition to being awarded an MBE for Services to International Trade and Business in the North East.

Previously Chair of the NE Regional International Trade Office for UK Trade and Investment, and Chair East Durham Business Services.

Currently member of Business Durham Advisory Board supporting business development and job creation in County Durham. Chair of the County Durham Regional Growth Fund and a Trustee for the NE STEM Foundation a charity which supports STEM education for children in the North East.