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

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.

Sarah has extensive experience in developing stakeholder engagement and public affairs strategies for clients within the Built Environment.

With nearly 10 years’ experience, Sarah has worked across all tiers of government, and across different consenting regimes, advising clients such as Unibail Rodamco Westfield, Crest Nicholson and National Grid.