Central South Panel Session on the Public Sector Stage
The Central South UK: A National Growth Region Hiding in Plain Sight
How clusters, collaboration and confidence can put the Central South on the same stage as the UK’s major city regions. When seen as one economic area, the Central South matches the scale, diversity, and opportunity of the UK’s major city regions. Our panel featuring business leaders and local authority leaders will discuss why we are a leading region and the many opportunities to invest in the Central South.
Join us at the SCAPE Public Sector stage. No need to book into the session but you will need to purchase a pass to UKREiiF to join us, visit UKREiiF – The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum
Event Speakers
Cllr Paul Harvey
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. He believes that the small business community is the bedrock of the borough’s economy and large companies are a critical part of its success but that its future also rests on incubating, innovating and unlocking entrepreneurial talent.
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.
Brian Johnson
Brian is the Chair of Solent Freeport.
He has recently retired from BAE Systems Maritime, where he was Business Development Director.
He brings a wealth of private sector experience to his role, with over 30 years’ in the Marine and Maritime sector at organisations such as Thales, Marconi and the aforementioned BAE Systems. Brian is on the Board of the Society of Maritime Industries and Maritime UK and previously chair of the Solent LEP.
Chris Fry
Chris is Chief Executive of Kingsbridge, a privately owned property company developing exceptional spaces for work, life and leisure across the South.
The experienced, award-winning team collaborates with like-minded partners to create outstanding schemes with a focus on responsibility, sustainability and community.
Chris has almost 30 years’ experience in commercial property. He has been leading Kingsbridge for the last 8 years, prior to which he was a fund manager at LaSalle Investment Management, responsible for over £3bn of assets across sectors and throughout the UK.
Sarah Wardle
Event Partners
