Jeremy Greaves has been at Airbus for more than 20 years in a number of diverse international and UK leadership roles including: Vice President, UK and International Communications & PR; Vice President, UK Corporate Affairs & Strategy and currently as Head of Strategic Engagement & Heritage for Airbus Defence and Space UK. He is also the Airbus UK Key Account Manager for NATO, EU and AUKUS.

In Q4 of 2025 Jeremy was appointed UK Deputy Head of Delegation to the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG). The NIAG is composed of senior industry representatives who provide defence industrial expertise and strategic insights to NATO. It serves as the voice of UK industry into NATO, helping form positions on industrial policy, technology, and capabilities while fostering collaboration.

He is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS 2018) and has recently stepped down as an Honorary Captain, Royal Naval Reserve, after 13 years. In the distant past Jeremy completed a short career commission in the Royal Navy and then spent a further 15 years in the Royal Naval Reserve before being made one of the few Honorary naval officers.

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

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.

Born and bred in Portsmouth, Cllr Steve Pitt was first elected as a councillor in 2016 and is the Leader of Portsmouth City Council with cabinet responsibilities for Culture, Regeneration and Economic Development in addition to Portsmouth International Port.

Steve has been involved in organising cultural events across the city for over 20 years as well as working in theatre and the music industry. He is a champion of culture’s ability to drive regeneration and positively change lives.

He is on the regional council for Arts Council South-West and is a trustee of Portsmouth Historic Quarter Trust. Steve is a Board Member of the Solent Freeport and is Chair of the Solent Growth Partnership (run in conjunction with IOW and Southampton), the successor to the Solent LEP. He is one of the council leaders involved in the setting up of a combined authority for Hampshire and The Solent.

Leigh-Sara Timberlake is the dynamic Group CEO at Business South. She has been a key player in the organisation since 2008 and took the helm in 2020.

Leigh is passionate about advocating for the Central South region on a national and global stage. Her energy and conviction have seen the organisation grow to the one we see today and she proudly leads a small but perfectly formed team that shares her vision for the Central South.

Business South is an independent and influential organisation operating in Central South UK as a non-partisan business engagement organisation. It connects leading employers to promote the area and champion the economy in the region.

Business South’s vision is for the region to be recognised nationally and internationally, as a preferred location of choice, able to attract and retain talent, driving increased opportunities for investment, good growth and business.

Jane leads Portsmouth Economic Development work for Portsmouth City Council, covering a range of business focused solutions including inward investment, direct business support, provision of enterprise centres, Place and Markets, supported employment programmes and skills.  Her portfolio includes project based funded work, including the Solent Growth Hub and Bootcamps providing a regional business support service.

Following a career in business support, consultancy, education and training Jane moved into local government in 2019, bringing extensive partnership and quality assurance experience to the growth challenges of the area.  This experience ensures she is passionate about vocational learning and apprenticeships and their role in business growth to ensure regional prosperity.

Jane is Co Chair of CEDOS (Chief Economic Development Officers) a membership organisation for senior public sector professionals focused on local economic development, strategy, and policy, and a non Executive Director for Shaping Portsmouth ( a partnership-driven organisation dedicated to making the city a premier, vibrant waterfront location to live, work, learn, and invest)