GRANT CONNON
Director at Daniel Johnston (1982) Ltd with 10+ years in commercial and residential property. Committed to contribute to making Carlisle’s high street thrive through local investment and development.
JULIE MENNELL
Professor Mennell has held the position of Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Cumbria since 2016. Prior to this, Professor Mennell held the positions of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development) and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) for the University of Sunderland, leading on portfolio and partnership development, academic and research provision, student experience and outcomes.
Externally Professor Mennell is a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria and is involved in a range of regional and sector groups with a particular focus on people and place. These include: Sponsor of Barrow Education, Employment and Skills, Barrow Delivery Board; Vice Chair of Cumbria Economic Growth Board; Chair of the Carlisle Youth Zone; Patron of Brathay Trust; member representative for the Energy Coast University Technical College; and a member of the Brilliant Barrow Board. Nationally she is Vice Chair Cathedrals’ Group of Universities and member of the MillionPlus university group.
ANDY GIBSON
I have over 30 years experience in the banking sector and I am Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland.
For the past 20 years I have worked in Cumbria in SME/Commercial banking for several of the High Street Banks before joining the Cumberland Building Society in June 2023 as Commercial Relationship Manager/New Business Development Manager.
I am passionate about supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs and making a positive contribution to the local economy and local communities.
LESLEY ROBINSON
Lesley has worked for Cumbria Chamber of Commerce for 17 years and is responsible for the business support arm of the Chamber, Cumbria Business Growth Hub.
Lesley’s role is very varied with direct line manager responsibility for the project team, team of 36 business advisers and 7 mentors, trainer pool and project delivery partners.
As part of her role Lesley oversees all projects including grant funding and business support delivery to both entrepreneurs and existing businesses, designs and implements new activity, manages commercial training alongside sourcing and bidding for new funding opportunities.
One of three members of the Chamber’s Senior Management Team, Lesley is also a qualified APM project manager.
Over 17 years Lesley has developed key contacts within the local area and is committed to ensuring entrepreneurs and businesses prosper, develop and grow. Lesley has also worked on and delivered a number of crisis support programmes including Foot & Mouth, Covid and the Carlisle floods.
JOE HARRISON
Joe is the co-founder of West Walls Brewing Co., a brewery and taproom based in Carlisle city centre. Since launching in 2024, West Walls has quickly built a strong local following through quality beer, a vibrant venue, and a focus on community events. Joe leads on strategy, operations, and marketing, and brings a hands-on perspective from running an independent business in Carlisle’s core. He’s passionate about growing footfall in the city and making it a more attractive place to live, visit, and do business.
KEVIN BEATY
Kevin has worked in the rural sector for most of his life, as a farmer and more recently in Natural Capital markets across the north of England delivering nature recovery projects to offset carbon for the business community and creating biodiversity net gain units to aid development.
I was leader of neighbouring Eden District Council where a Business Improvement District has brought much needed business led investment to help make Penrith a better place to live and work for the past decade or so.
I have lived in and around Carlisle all my life and its prosperity and future as a place to enjoy my leisure time and also as a viable administrative and commerce centre are hugely important to me.
SIMON HARRISON
From a Cumbrian farming background, I am a developer based in Carlisle with almost 40 years experience in construction of residential, commercial and leisure based property. Co founder and developer of the Halston and Halston homes.
TRACEY SLAVEN
Tracey Slaven is the Chief Transformation Officer at the University of Cumbria. Her role is focused on enabling the University community to make the transformational changes needed to achieve our strategic ambitions, for the University, the region, and our students.
As CTO, Tracey draws on her initial training as an economist and over 20 years of experience in addressing governance and operational challenges and leading change across higher education, charity, public and private organisations. This work has included major governance transformations, post-merger integration and the statutory and operational creation of a new public body.
As well as holding senior level roles at the University of Edinburgh, and most recently as University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Aberdeen, Tracey has experience within government, having led the Higher Education policy team in Scotland. She has been an accountable officer as the Chief Executive of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland and as a HESA Board Member, supported the transition of the charity into JISC.
ADRIAN LOCHHEAD
Director of Eden Arts
Adrian’s work is in the culture sector, creating projects that draw people together with the outcomes of improving places and enriching people’s lives. He is also very committed to working with the business sector as the economy is a huge part of making places successful. He is passionate about the relevance of art and culture in enriching all of our lives. He has worked with/alongside the Penrith BID since its inception, so he is very experienced in how BIDs work and benefit their places.
ANDREW MACKAY
Andrew Mackay is Director of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery (trading as Tullie). He is committed to developing cultural projects to stimulate urban regeneration and stimulate the visitor economy.
Andrew became Director of Tullie in 2016. He joined in 2010 as Head of Collections and Programming and led several gallery developments. He leads the Cumbria Museum Consortium, an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, and is leading Project Tullie, the museums major capital investment programme. Previously Andrew was Head of Cultural Services for Craven District Council, where he created a new department combining museums, arts development and heritage and managed three volunteer-run museums. He was at Northampton Museum 1988 to 1994 and General Manager of the Norfolk Rural Life Museum after this. In Norfolk he managed a £4m capital redevelopment, which led a 40% visitor increase. Andrew has post-graduate diplomas in Museum Studies and Management & Leadership and Prince 2 project management certification. He is a Fellow of the Museums Association, is a member of the National Museum Directors Council and is a Trustee of Sunderland Culture.
MAX CONNON
Carlisle is home – I was born and raised here, and improving its high street has been a personal and professional passion. My master’s in real estate and construction focused on just that, and I’m committed to seeing our city thrive through smart, sustainable development.
The Great Border City 