Board

Board Member - CHAIR

Nicky Watson

Nicky Watson is an architect and has been a Director of Newcastle based practice Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall Ltd since 2000. The majority of her architectural work is in the North East Region and spans many sectors including housing, education and commercial projects. Nicky acts as External Examiner at Newcastle University for the Post Graduate Diploma in Architectural Practice and Management.

Board Member - VICE CHAIR

Leon Mexter

Leon is chief executive of the Regional Youth Work Unit - North East. The organisation, based in Gateshead, promotes and supports the development of youth work across the North East. Leon joined the Unit seven years ago, and he has worked in the voluntary youth sector for over 20 years. Although born in the South of England, Leon has strong ties with the North East, being half Geordie, on his mother’s side. Leon received his full time training in youth work at the University of Durham, and has lived back in the North East for the past 18 years. As well as the opportunity to take part in cutting edge youth work, Leon was inspired to make the move back to the region because of the balmy weather and access to a decent football team. Prior to moving to the North, Leon worked and trained in the South East. When not immersed in strategic development, Leon likes to indulge his twin passions of cricket and salsa dancing. He is hoping to one day combine the two into a new sport.

Board Member

Adrian Stanley

Adrian is a Senior Office Partner at the Newcastle office of Eversheds law firm. He specialises in urban regeneration schemes for both the public and private sectors. His recent experience includes acting for Tees Valley Regeneration and English Partnerships with regard to the proposed mixed use development at Middlehaven on Teesside which is to be lead by BioRegional Quintain Limited. He has also been advising Sunderland arc, English Partnerships and One NorthEast with regard to the various regeneration schemes being undertaken by Sunderland arc and in particular the schemes at the former Vaux site and Holmeside.

Board Member

Emma Thomas

Emma Thomas is the Head of Learning at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead beginning there in 2000. Her background is in education delivery and management and she has recently completed the North East Cultural Leadership Programme, a Government funded investment in excellence in leadership across the creative and cultural industries. Emma has a particular interests in socially engaged art practice and communication technologies and has undertaken numerous international research visits on these themes.

Board Member

Paul Fiddaman

Paul is Chief Executive of Cestria Community Housing Association, the main providers of affordable rented housing within the Chester-le-Street district of County Durham.  He is a Modern History graduate of Hertford College, Oxford and qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse. He maintains a keen interest in sport, music and literature.

 

Board Member

Nick Deeming

Nick is a partner at FaulknerBrowns and could easily be described as their 'delivery champion', leading a team of project/design managers. He has extensive knowledge and experience of the methods by which projects are procured and managed, and has effectively used these skills in the re-structuring of the delivery of projects within the office. In parallel, he has been an integral part of the teams for some of our landmark projects including Dubai Aquatics Complex, Bristol Temple Meads, Manchester Aquatics Centre and the Aerostructures Assembly & Manufacturing Plant at Chester. Nicks role within the partnership is as a key member of the management and project control teams. He is a 'Collaborative Working Champion' for Constructing Excellence and a Professional Examiner at Newcastle University.

 

Board Member

Alan J Simpson

As an architect, Alan has worked worldwide, with national and local government agencies, universities, community and business interest groups, and interdisciplinary professional teams, brought together to respond to critical urban, social, and economic problems and opportunities. He led the creation and application of the Yorkshire (UK) Urban Renaissance and Town Team Programs and is currently working on the creation and application of Urban Renaissance and New City Beautiful strategies.  In his role as professor, Alan has led innovative academic teaching and research initiatives at universities in the UK and the USA.