Cllr Steve Pitt is the Leader of Portsmouth City Council and also has cabinet responsibilities for Culture, Leisure, Economic Development and Regeneration.

Steve has long been a champion of culturally led regeneration and a vocal proponent of the power of culture to positively change lives.

He has run his own business and has worked across several sectors within the arts including as a music manager and promoter, and theatre director.

He is on the regional council for Arts Council South West and is a trustee of Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust. Steve is also a director of Solent LEP.

Cllr Paul Harvey has been Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council since May 2023, leading a collective of councillors.

His specific Cabinet responsibilities, as portfolio holder, include economic development and inward investment. He has had a long-term interest in economic development during his two decades at the council.

The Cabinet is focusing on a thriving economy for the borough and it being a place that has jobs, skills, opportunities, infrastructure and services that its communities need, and Paul is keen to bring a university to the borough.

Paul previously served as Leader for the 2005 to 2006 council year, before that as a Cabinet member, responsible for economic development, between September 2002 and 2005.

Regional and national bodies that Paul sits on include the executive of the District Councils’ Network, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association and the Executive of South East England Councils.

Paul is deeply involved in his local community being a school governor and trustee of a community centre, both roles he has held for over decade.

Paul holds a doctorate in International Politics and is an Associate Lecturer for the Open University. Specialising in strategic affairs and defence, he has previously taught at King’s College London, with the Joint Services Command Staff College and Defence Academy, also with the University of Reading and Queen Mary’s College, Basingstoke.

Caroline Compton-James has more than 25 years’ experience, working across the built environment in both the public and private sector. She has held non-executive roles in both local government and membership-based organisations and Caroline has served as a school governor.

Supporting Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive (GCE) for the SCAPE Group, Caroline is responsible for the strategic growth of SCAPE, strengthening relationships with the framework partners, and ensuring the organisation’s valued clients benefit from operational excellence and high levels of service delivery on all frameworks.

Caroline is also committed to building a strong culture and fostering an engaged workforce across the SCAPE Group, supporting internal teams in creating work environments where employees feel valued and motivated.

Caroline formerly held the position of Public Sector Director at Osborne, where she orchestrated strategic initiatives in the residential and education sectors. Prior to this, she served as the Head of Construction at the Cabinet Office, collaborating with government departments to implement the Government Construction Strategy. Caroline began her career working in the Affordable Housing Sector.

Satvir Kaur is former Leader of Southampton City Council, the MP for Southampton Test, and the Chair of the LGA’s City Region’s Board.

She is born and raised in Southampton, graduating from both the University of Southampton and Solent University.

Satvir has helped shape Southampton, leading on several projects, from Southampton’s largest council home building programme, starting community initiatives to tackle poverty and build resilience and was responsible for launching Southampton’s bid to become UK City of Culture in 2025 in which the city were finalists.

As Chair of Southampton’s Renaissance Board, bringing together the city’s anchor institutions and major land owners, her current focus is on ensuring Southampton and the central-south region remain future focused; working in partnership to create Southampton and the southern region into a marine and maritime powerhouse, a thriving destination place, with sustainability at its heart, leading the way in new technologies and the green agenda.”

Councillor Lorna Fielker is the Leader of Southampton City Council, Labour Councillor for Swaythling Ward.

Cllr Fielker’s ambition is that by working in partnership with the public and private sectors and our communities, Southampton realises it’s potential as a city of opportunity.

Cllr Fielker was elected in 2018 and has had Cabinet Member responsibility for adult social care, public health, housing, leisure and education prior to becoming Leader.

Outside of politics, Cllr Fielker is a Postgraduate Researcher at the University of Southampton investigating the impact of the GDPR on voluntary organisations.

She has a professional background working in hospitality, local government, social housing and the voluntary sector.

Brian is the Chair of the Solent Freeport, he has over 20 years’ experience in the Marine and Maritime sector at organisations such as Thales, Marconi and BAE Systems.

Brian is also on the Board of the Society of Maritime Industries.