Meet the Team

Leigh-Sara Timberlake

Group CEO

Joined Business South in 2008

Best bit about my job: Very excited about the Central South UK Global Gateway agenda, after many years we have a chance to push aside personal agendas and really promote all that is great about the Central South collaboratively.

Tim Hancock

Chair

Chair of Business South since 2023

Tim is a chartered town planner and Chairman of leading planning and design practice tor&co since April 2020 before which he was the practice’s Managing Director since 2003. Tim provides advice to major clients on planning and political strategies to secure success for high profile projects.

Kevin Muldoon

Enterprise Manager

Joined Business South in 2021.

Best bit about my job: When looking after the Solent Business Centre and Fareham Enterprise Centre I get to work with such a variety of different businesses and people.

Natalie Hunt

Business Support Executive

Joined Business South in June 2015.

Best bit about my job: My favourite agenda is Workforce South, as within the HR header we are able to tackle so many different topics that can resonate to all levels of employees in the workplace.

Shirley Wynne Jones

Event Director

Joined Business South in 2010.

Best bit about my job: Delivering such brilliant events with great speakers, sponsors and brilliant delegate engagement. Each and every event is delivered with team work. Every team member at Business South has a role to play and working together to make events a success is very rewarding.

Nathan Bailey

Marketing Manager

Joined Business South in 2021.

Best bit about my job: Promoting all of the exciting projects and events that Business South is leading on – as well as getting to work with so many amazing businesses across the Central South.

Kate Pearce

Community Manager

Joined Business South in 2021.

Best bit about my job: There truly is never a dull moment at Business South. Coming from a journalism background, I’m used to the cut and thrust of daily news and deadlines so my role at Business South – looking after the Action Groups, creating content and managing media activity – is all grist to the mill.

In any given week we can be presenting to MPs at Westminster, drawing together the best business brains in the region to develop a Housing Manifesto or hosting the Directors of Tomorrow at a hugely enjoyable dinner in partnership with the Business School at the University of Southampton.

Susan George

Business Advisor

Joined Business South in 2022.

Best bit about my job: I enjoy meeting the wide range of people who are starting their dream business. I love their enthusiasm and diverse ideas and helping them to move forward.

Alex Gravestock

Relationship Manager

Joined Business South in July 2023

Best bit about my job: Networking and connecting with so many incredible people and business from all around the region. Every day is a learning curve and through collaboration and hard work the Central South will be able to achieve great things.