DEVON CHAMBER - Key Persons
Amanda has over 20 years marketing experience leading globally recognised brands and is currently Marketing Director at Axminster Carpets. A key aspect of Amanda's career to date has been in defining marketing strategies and developing ownable integrated marketing communications that achieve brand fame and ensure a consistent brand proposition and profitable growth.
Amanda also has valuable experience at a local level having worked with regional South West businesses and Devon based media across a diverse portfolio of brands.
Charlie is our Chamber Wellbeing Officer. He helps keep the team calm and welcomes guests with a waggy tail. Charlie (aka Chumpy, The Chumpster and His Royal Chumpiness) lives for fun walks, swims, warm cuddles and his favourite foods - chicken and cheese.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Wollens Solicitors
- VICE CHAIR, EXETER CHAMBER
Charlotte McGregor is a Partner at Wollens Solicitors and heads their Exeter Office. With three hubs located in Exeter, South Devon and North Devon, Wollens is a full spectrum law firm, servicing clients across Devon and beyond, the firm has exceptional specialists across private client matters as well as company and commercial law.
Charlotte has over 15 years of experience and her specialism is in Estate Administration with a focus on high value and / or complex Estates acting for clients across the UK. Charlotte is highly regarded by her clients and professional contacts and has lived and worked in Exeter for 13 years and has developed strong links and many professional relationships during her time in the city. She is passionate about supporting local businesses and the communities in which she lives and works.
Job Titles:
- Project and Events Administrator
Charlotte Percival Project and Events Administrator
Job Titles:
- Membership Experience Manager
Clare is our Membership Experience Manager. Her role is to ensure that you can make the most of your Chamber membership, that you feel welcome, gain value and understand how you can use your membership to connect, grow and succeed. Clare is proud to lead the membership, events and comms team to provide an exciting, dynamic, inclusive business support network for businesses for every size and sector across Devon. People are Clare's passion, and her background includes finance services and hospitality (including managing a nightclub in Hong Kong in the 1990s!).
Clare joined Exeter Chamber in 2023, and is the first point of contact for businesses who want to make the most of their membership benefits.
She comes from a background in communications and events, having previously worked in the public sector and several independent local businesses in and around the Exeter area.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- Solicitor
- Vice Chair of the Plymouth Area Business Council
Craig is a solicitor with over 25 years' experience in commercial property and finance. He is the Plymouth Office Head for international law firm Womble Bond Dickinson. His experience includes acting for a wide variety of businesses, public bodies, charities and education institutions and he is client partner for a number of organisations in our region and nationally.
Craig grew up in Plympton, and following time at University and Law College, returned to the city as a trainee solicitor with Bond Pearce in 1993. Since then, he has developed an excellent network, as well as experience across the public, private and third sectors, which he believes can make a really positive difference to the Chamber and its members, as well as the wider region.
Craig is currently Vice Chair of the Plymouth Area Business Council, Vice Chair of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and a former President of the Plymouth Law Society. He has previously been a governor of Sherford School.
Derry has led the Heritage Business at Powderham Castle since 2017. Derry is an advocate of businesses led by strong social values and is constantly working to establish the Castle as both a popular tourist attraction, delivering culture rich engaging and educational days out and experiences alongside establishing the castle as a premium wedding, functions and large events venue that cares for clients and community alike.
Derry brings a wealth of tourism and hospitality experience to the Chamber board.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- Director for the Devon & Plymouth Chamber
Emily holds the position of Apprenticeship Manager at Pennon Group, where her primary focus is leading their award-winning Apprenticeship programme and developing a future-proofed Work Experience programme.
With a passion and dedication to developing people, Emily is committed to providing individuals with invaluable opportunities to learn and grow. Her passion for this is rooted in her own journey, during which she received meaningful and well-timed support and opportunities that enabled her to build a successful career.
In addition to her role at Pennon Group, Emily also serves as a Director for the Devon & Plymouth Chamber. She approaches this role with enthusiasm, aiming to make a tangible difference in the network of businesses.
Helen has retired from her role at the Chamber and is now the PABC Executive. She played a key role in delivering the our Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) in the Heart of the South West. A keen gardener and walker, in her spare time, Helen can be found either walking the lanes and footpaths around Devon or in her garden and allotment, growing organic fruit and vegetables for her family.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- Co - Founder and Managing Director of Diversity Business Incubator
- Member of the Black
Jabo is the co-founder and Managing Director of Diversity Business Incubator (DBI), a Plymouth-based hub which helps to elevate business success in the minority communities and reduce the economic disparities within.
Jabo is an active member of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicities community (BAME) in the region and is passionate to see the members of these communities thriving economically.
James is the CEO of Fraser Anti-Static Techniques (FAST) a global technology manufacturing leader. Headquartered in Devon, FAST enables customers to create safer working environments, manufacture at lower costs and to take products to market faster by the control, measurement and application of static electricity.
James has more than 24 years of experience in the Commercial, Business and Entrepreneurship Banking sectors, working with business owners, leaders and their teams. Ranging from start-ups to corporate organisations, he has helped them to grow, scale-up and achieve their business and personal goals.
James pioneered the inspirational and award-winning Devon based networking event, #NatWestBoost, and is a director at Exeter Chamber of Commerce.
In 2024, he founded the Boost Your Business Network #BYBNetwork with a mission to help businesses and people reach their potential.
As Director of External Affairs at Theatre Royal Plymouth, James's current role is focussed on the external visibility of the organisation, encompassing Marketing & Communications, Front of House, Box Office and Insight & Revenue Management. Originally from Surrey, James has been an adopted Devonian for more than half of his life, spending the majority of his business career working at Plymouth Argyle, where he played a crucial role as Head of Commercial as the club returned to prominence as a model for financial sustainability with record-breaking revenues. James has a reputation in the region for forging effective relationships - both internally and externally - and delivering collaborative, eye-catching projects.
Jemma Cleave International Trade Executive Jemma joined Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce as an International Trade Executive in June 2024, and is looking forward to helping businesses with their International Trade documents. Jemma started her career in Administration and Logistics roles for an audiovisual and medical broadcast company where she spent six years coordinating crews and equipment for conferences and events both nationally and internationally. It was in this role that Jemma first learned about ATA Carnets! She then moved to a role as a Logistics Coordinator for a supplier and manufacturer of ecological equipment, sending research equipment around the world from wildlife sanctuaries in Zambia to Antarctic research vessels in Chile. This allowed her to gain experience in submitting documents such as UK Certificates of Origin and EUR1.
Job Titles:
- Events and Communications
Katie joined the Exeter Chamber team in 2021, with a degree in media communications from Bath Spa University. Katie oversees the Chamber communications across all platforms, working with members to increase their profiles and to keep members updated with the latest insight and information.
Katie also manages many of the Chamber events, including Coffee in the City and Thirsty Thursday.
Kelly is our Events Executive and is responsible for producing and delivering a suite of high-quality events for both members and non-members to the Chamber right across Devon. She has a wealth of experience in event management, marketing and customer service from a variety of different sectors and loves taking an idea, thought or suggestion (no matter "how off the wall") through from conception to fruition. Kelly is partial to a glass of wine or gin and really enjoys cooking for friends and family.
Kirsty is our Membership Executive. Having vast experience in business development, she is a real people person with a passion for problem solving, and a great understanding of the needs and challenges faced by businesses of all sizes. Working closely with the Membership Experience Manager, her role is to work with new and existing members to identify and understand how best we can help support and grow your business, by recommending the best membership fit for you. A keen drawer and animal mad, she is originally from Essex, and has lived and worked in Devon since 2010.
Kyra is our Accounts Assistant and works alongside Helen in our accounts department. Her role is to ensure the accounts are kept up to date on the member area and to keep track of the member benefits. She also recently received her Certificate of Origin training and EUR1 training so is now able to process both of these documents. Kyra is a massive animal lover and spends most of her time on long walks with her dog.
A well-known face to many, Lisa has worked with the Chamber since 2008. Lisa works with the board, CEO and team on all aspects of the Chamber, overseeing the office day to day.
Outside of the Chamber, Lisa leads city PR agency, One Voice Media and PR, and is currently undertaking an MBA at Exeter University.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- Commercial Director at Apex Scaffolding
Matthew Cousins is commercial director at Apex Scaffolding, Exeter, Starting out as an apprentice, and rising to the board room. This award winning firm has grown to 60 employees and works with blue chip companies including local, national and international contractors mostly in Exeter but across the South West.
Matthew plays an active role in both the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation as the Chair of the Contracts Committee, and sitting on the National Council He is also the chair of "Building Greater Exeter", an organisation which provides support to the important and high growth construction industry across Exeter, East Devon and Teignbridge, running effective engagement programme with schools and young people to inspire the next generation of construction specialists.
Job Titles:
- FINANCE DIRECTOR
- Managing Partner of Griffin Chartered Accountants
Misty Nickells is the Managing Partner of Griffin Chartered Accountants, based in Exeter and Honiton. Misty is a chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience. Misty qualified as a chartered accountant with a large national firm in 2005, when she went on to work as an audit manager for one of the big 4 firms of accountants. She founded Griffin Chartered Accountants in 2015, where she works with a large number of local business, charities and academy schools.
Misty's main role is as an accountant supporting her clients in tax planning and year end accounts/audit. However, as the founder of her own business she can relate to the issues faced by local business owners. As such, she provides a wider role for a number of her clients as an all-round business adviser.
Olivia Paterson is our Communications Executive and is responsible for all things brand. She deals with all of the marketing opportunities for members such as the Brand Booster and solus emails, as well as sending out the weekly In The Know newsletter. Get in touch if you would like to put your brand in the region's spotlight! Olivia loves trying new things and has been around the world, experiencing lots of different and exciting cultures.
Paul is a company director, writer and broadcaster who specialises in media, business, technology and consumer issues. He is managing director of Devon commercial station Radio Exe, which is one of the country's few remaining independent radio stations, and publisher of Good Deal for Devon magazine.
Following a career in media and advertising, and with international brands such as the BBC, Visa and the Financial Times, in 2001 he co-founded copywriting agency Plain Text, with clients including the British Council, CSC Digital Brand Services, Energy Saving Trust, HP, Hay Group, Henley Group International, KPMG, Lex and Vodafone.
A graduate of Exeter University, Paul holds an MBA from Bristol Business School, is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and has written five books, ‘Creative Business', ‘Blagging It', ‘Pigeon Guided Missiles, ‘Ye Olde Good Inn Guide' and ‘History's Narrowest Escapes'.
Job Titles:
- VICE CHAIR, PLYMOUTH CHAMBER
Paul is Managing Director of Fresh Air Studios. A former presenter for Plymouth Sound Radio (many years ago), he turned his love of audio into creating one of the UK's most respected independent production companies. The firm is proud to have a portfolio of national clients like Three, Royal Mail, two major universities and two of the top five banks.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- Managing Director of Stagecoach South West
Peter Knight is Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, Exeter and Devon's largest local bus operator, leading a team of over 1,000 staff and operating over 300 buses. Having worked in the Bus Industry for 13 years, Peter started as a Graduate Management Trainee with Stagecoach Group and has worked in a variety of different geographies' long distance coach and local bus operations, including the set-up, launch and operation of megabus.com Italia.
Peter is an advocate of high quality public transport and is passionate about delivering integrated local bus services that people can rely on. A believer in close partnership working between the private and public sector, Peter understands the role working together plays in delivering better outcomes for all. Peter moved to the South West from Stagecoach's subsidiary in North East Scotland in December 2022 and brings with him a wealth of leadership experience in challenging times, having lead that business through the pandemic and the tough times that brought for business in 2019.
Richard is committed to ensuring that our cities, towns, rural and coastal areas receive the focus and investment they need to enable everyone who lives here to be successful and valued. Richard Stevens career is in public transport, and was appointed as Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus, now Go South West, in May 2012.
Richard is also the current joint chair of the Plymouth Area Business Council, chair of the Plymouth Growth Board. Richard sits on the Devonport Task Force, One Plymouth, and the Peninsular Rail Task Force. Richard is also a director of Destination Plymouth, he is committed to working with all strategic partners, to ensure that the voice of business in Devon, and the region is strong, unified and playing to its collective strengths.
Job Titles:
- LSIP Executive and Projects Manager
Ronnie is our Local Skills improvement Plan (LSIP) Project Executive. She is currently responsible for leading the team delivering the LSIP in the Heart of the South West. LSIP is putting employers at the very heart of reshaping the skills offer in our region.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, EXETER CHAMBER
- Managing Director of Taking Care
Steve Gates is the Managing Director of Taking Care, part of AXA Health, the UK's largest provider of personal alarms to vulnerable and elderly customers. Taking Care provide 24/7 cover to their customers via three Emergency Resolution Centres (in Exeter, Ashburton and Chichester) and are the UK's fastest-growing providers of emergency monitoring services to vulnerable customers, especially after a fall has occurred. Taking Care have provided services from Devon for over thirty years and have supported over 180,000 Loved Ones to live an independent and active life while remaining in their own home.
Steve from YGS Landscapes Ltd has lived in Plymouth all his life and is passionate about our wonderful city.
He's been involved with the Devon & Plymouth Chamber for more than 20 years and is keen to continue to support our members as a director.
Stuart is our Chief Executive Officer. He drives the strategy of the organisation and its operations, leading on lobbying for businesses and our region, as well as representing business on numerous public sector boards and panels. He Chairs British Chambers of Commerce South West and the BCC Regional Assembly. Stuart is an advanced motorcyclist and having once travelled across the Sahara in a 1979 VW Beetle, he now wants to cross Morocco by motorbike.
Tom has worked in the charitable sector for over 25 years, most recently as the CEO of YMCA Plymouth and Discovery College.
This has enabled him to establish great connections within the business community, serving as a member of the Plymouth Area Business Council and the Devon & Plymouth Chamber, of which he is a great supporter.
Tom is the Business Development Director at Acronyms, an IT support company based at Plymouth Science Park. He joined Acronyms in 2014 and in the last seven years has helped build a Sales & Marketing department at the growing Plymouth business. With Tom's contribution and journey to becoming company director, Acronyms has grown year on year, and celebrated continued growth in 2020 by opening an office in Bristol and acquiring Cornish IT firm IT-OK.
Acronyms has been an active members of Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce throughout the years and had great success as an organisation from this. Tom can provide first-hand experience in how to ensure you are making the most out of your membership.
Away from the office, Tom has recently learned to scuba dive and enjoys spending weekends diving with his fiancée, Sarah.
Job Titles:
- Membership Experience Administrator
Will is our Membership Experience Administrator, he looks after our members by staying in contact with them via email and over the phone. Occasionally he likes to assist at events and with communications to better understand how he can look after our members. Will loves making and listening to music and is spending his year cultivating the perfect Spotify wrapped!
Following over 30 years in the Hospitality industry starting in 1995 as Deputy Manager at the University of Exeter of Campus Services, opening a variety of bars and restaurants in Exeter as well being operations manager for Boston Tea Party. Yvan has owned The Oddfellows in Exeter since 2006, and Barnova Ltd Event Bars business since 2018.
Yvan has an excellent knowledge of the city centre as well a being part of many city centre events, Exeter Festival, Exeter Christmas Market & Exeter Food Festival.