WE WORK WITH BONDHOLDERS TO BUILD THE HUMBER OF THE FUTURE.
Future Humber promotes the region’s distinctive strengths to the widest audience and accelerates opportunities to unlock the potential in the Humber.
We work to prioritise people, place, partnerships, and the planet with the mission to make a difference, influence and inspire all communities so that opportunities for investment and growth accelerate through our dynamic Humber narrative.
We are proud to connect the businesses and communities in the region for a common purpose: to promote the Humber as a great place to live, work, study and invest.
Managing Director
Diana sits on the board of Bondholders and leads the executive team. She is responsible for guiding the vision and strategy to market the Humber to the UK, Europe, and beyond. She works with our Bondholder's, partners and stakeholders to build the voice of the region and enable businesses and organisations within the Humber to succeed and grow.
Engagement and Stakeholder Manager
Leahann is Engagement and Stakeholder Manager, tasked with looking after Bondholder's and maximising opportunities which stem from our powerful network.
Marketing Manager
Paige leads Future Humber's marketing and comms strategy, shaping compelling campaigns and events to engage and promote Bondholders. She works collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver joint initiatives that have significant impact on the Humber’s brand and achieve consistent messaging about the Humber’s offer as a great place to live, work, learn and prosper to attract investment and economic growth.
Marketing and Communications Executive
Alicia oversees the production of marketing material, social media, print, and campaigns in response to the needs of the Bondholder partners, enabling them to become ambassadors for the region and promote the opportunities of the Humber. This includes leading the Business Voice campaign.
As part of The Waterline Campaign, Alicia leads Future Humber's student engagement, including The Waterline Student Sustainability Challenge - an opportunity that brings together the region's students and leading businesses.
Alicia supports the Talent+ steering group, to deliver a programme of events aimed at developing and strengthening the next generation of leaders in our region.
Office Administrator
Saffron works alongside the team supporting marketing activities such as events, publications, podcasts, and Talent+. Saffron also keeps all Future Humber online communication channels up to date with regular content from around the region, including social media, the website and the E-news. This is to ensure Bondholder members receive the latest content, all while promoting the Humber as a great place to live, work, study, visit and invest.
Digital Marketing Executive
Joanne works alongside the team supporting marketing activities through digital marketing.
Joanne creates content for the social media channels and the blog, sharing more information about Bondholder activities and promoting the Humber as a great place to live, work, study, visit and invest.
Chair of Future Humber
Bill has for many years been a keen advocate of the Humber region on the national stage, most recently as Director of Strategic Relationships at the University of Hull and before that as Operations Director at the Hull Daily Mail. He has been actively involved with the Humber LEP and with its predecessors the Humber Economic Partnership and Yorkshire Forward; was chair of the Knowledge Exchange Directors group at Yorkshire Universities and closely engaged with business and collaborative organisations including the CBI, National Centre for Universities and Business, Northern Powerhouse and, more locally, For Entrepreneurs Only, Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, Humber Business Week and the City Leadership Board.
Bill won business awards at regional, national and European levels while leading a world-leading business-education programme while at the Mail and won the Guardian University Awards for Best Business Partnership for his work on creating Hull University’s first Enterprise Centre, which led to the establishment of more than 150 new businesses.
He established the Hull Multimedia Association in 1992 and was a founding member of City Digital and ultimately the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4Di). He retired from the University at the end of April 2020 but continues to help promote the region through his role at Future Humber.
Director at Future Humber
Andy Parkinson is Chair of the Bondholders Advisory Board and a Business Strategy Consultant.
Andy has a varied background spanning many different areas from working on large infrastructure projects across various sectors, at Spencer Group, one of the largest privately owned engineering firms in the UK, to Fast Moving Consumable Goods, the Public Sector, Consulting and working in the FTSE index. Andy has worked with some of the biggest brands in Europe, including Kellogg’s, Cadbury’s and Guinness developing highly effective marketing strategies.
In the public sector, Andy was the lead for Hull’s City Plan, a £1b economic infrastructure plan to transform the city, creating in excess of 12,000 jobs in the region. Having recently moved from the Telecoms Sector, Andy is also on the board of C4Di in Hull. Andy is a regular key note speaker and is a member of the FEO group.
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Executive Director of Communications, Marketing and Media Relations Recruitment, Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
Anja has developed a wealth of experience in delivering Marketing & PR campaigns, major events and other initiatives in promoting Hull and East Yorkshire as a great place to live, work, study, invest and visit during roles at Hull Citybuild, Hull Cityimage, and at the University of Hull. Anja is now Executive Director of Communications, Marketing and Media Relations at Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
Anja is passionate about Hull and the Humber. Having lived in the area all her life and attending University in the city, she has then gone on to spend a significant amount of her career to date here.
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Business Development Manager, ABP
After completing a BSc in Marine Resource Management, Gareth joined ABP and has since held a number of senior commercial and operational management posts at several of ABP's ports around the UK.
Now based on the Humber, Gareth has spent the past few years developing business opportunities for ABP's Humber Ports, which more recently has included the emerging renewables sector and the development of Green Port Hull.
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Specialises in HR & Recruitment
Kate has worked in the region for 14 years, supporting local businesses with recruitment projects for graduate employees, experienced hires to C-Suite and Board level appointments across most sectors.
Due to her extensive work, Kate can offer insight into the latest trends in recruitment and resourcing, as well as having a broad network of connections. Kate is a former chair of the Humber LEP recruitment forum, a fellow of the IRP (formerly REC) and a former member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Humber committee.
Outside of work, she is a passionate advocate of family life and everything the region has to offer!
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Manager Director, Pace Communications
With over 25 years’ experience in communications, marketing and business management, Anita spent the majority of her career working for Hull-based KCOM Group PLC, before starting her own communications agency, Pace, in 2015. Anita is a Board Trustee for Hull Children’s University and the Tigers Trust.
From Hull originally, and having lived and worked in London, Anita returned to the area in 2011. She is a passionate advocate of the region and is keen to change negative perceptions and help drive sustainable economic growth.
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Director & Company Secretary of Bondholder Scheme Ltd
Andrew is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience advising private and public sector firms in business and project finance. He is the finance director of local company Airco, and the director of Sandglass Ltd, a firm specializing in accountancy, business advisory and interim business support. He is also Chair of Governors for Headlands School in Bridlington.
Andrew is extremely passionate about the region and has used his knowledge and experience to work with many local organisations, including providing strategic and financial leadership and operational management to Hull Forward, Hull’s Economic Development Company.
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Chairman, Bio-D Company Ltd
Chris is an experienced Divisional Board and Managing Director of large, medium and small subsidiaries of multinational corporations within the food, drink and healthcare sectors.
After starting out with Mars, working for Allied Domecq and then Merck Consumer Healthcare, Chris has since his retirement become a non-executive Chairman of two rapidly growing Consumer businesses as well as a non-executive Director of a local Life Science business. He is also an investor in two Yorkshire SME's. Chris now brings his wealth of experience and expertise to the Bondholder Scheme.
Chris and his family have lived in the region for many years and he is extremely passionate about encouraging inward investment in the Humber.
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Project Manager, Alan Wood & Partners and Director of Lagoon Hull
Paul is an experienced maritime civil engineer and has worked for over 25 years in the Humber ports managing the delivery of major construction projects including the Green Port Hull facility at Alexandra Dock for ABP. Now leading the maritime section for Alan Wood & Partners, he is also the Project Director for the Lagoon Hull project.
Paul is passionate about finding opportunities for the Humber region to thrive and ways to grow its economic potential in harmony with its natural capital.
Aura Director
Louise is Director of Aura and its brand new Innovation Centre at Bridgehead Business Park in Hessle. Set up by the University of Hull and its partners in 2015, Aura acts as a catalyst for collaboration, bringing together industry, SMEs, academic, local & regional government and NGO partners to harness and drive innovation in the offshore wind and the wider low carbon energy sector.
A linguist by training, Louise has spent most of her 30 year career in industry as a communications and stakeholder engagement consultant, with a particular interest in issue management and ‘soft’ risk management. She joined the Aura Team in 2016, working to build the Aura brand and reputation, consolidating its position in the region, nationally and internationally.
She is a strong advocate of the Humber, having spent the last 20 years working on projects in the region – for BP, Ineos, Nippon Gohsei and Vivergo. She has worked on some of the largest and ground-breaking renewable energy projects in the sector, including carbon capture and biofuels.
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Sales & Marketing Manager, Bostonair Group
I am responsible for looking after our brands marketing across the full group which includes Bostonair (Worldwide), Boston Energy (UK & Europe), Boston Renewables, Boston Energy Wind Power Service (USA) and Boston Rail. I work with our Head of Marketing to develop and deliver our marketing strategies and support business development.
When the opportunity arose to join the Young Talent Network steering group, I was in the process of building my own network and establishing myself in my role and this was the perfect opportunity to get involved and work with others in a similar position as myself. Since then I have been very keen to help promote the talent in the Humber region and to open up the opportunities that are available for young people, hoping to fill the gaps for business and personal development for those starting in their careers.
Business Development Manager, Sowerby Chartered Accountants
Billie is a fully qualified Accountant who started her profession straight out of sixth-form after being offered an apprenticeship opportunity.
Having lived in the region all her life, she has a real passion for promoting the benefits of the Humber as a fantastic place to work not only because of the diverse range of industries in our unique part of the world but the incredible networking opportunities due to the friendly people in the area.
Currently progressing in her career with Sowerby Chartered Accountants in Beverley, Billie also sits on the steering group of the YTN, the board of the Hull Young Professionals and has been a finalist in the Hull & Humber Top 30 Under 30.
Connecting powerful ambassadors for change, working together to build a prosperous future for all in our region
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