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Councillor Mary Ann Brocklesby
Chair, Cardiff Capital Region
Leader of Monmouthshire County Council
Mary Ann is Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, elected in May 2022.
She has been Chair of the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (Cardiff Capital Region) since June 2024, and the Portfolio Lead for Governance, Resources and Assurance. She is a Welsh Local Government Association spokesperson on Climate Change and Social Justice.
Mary Ann is an expert in international development, gender and human rights. She has previously worked with the United Nations and International Aid agencies, the World Bank and Governments across Asia and Africa to strengthen the voices of marginalised people.
In Wales, she is Chair of the Women’s Equality Network Wales, a director of the Egni Coop responsible for £4m of Solar investment locally and a former chair of Awel Aman Tawe, Wales’s largest community energy group raising £7m to establish the first community wind farm in Wales.
Councillor Huw Thomas
Deputy Chair, Cardiff Capital Region
Leader of Cardiff Council
Huw is Leader of Cardiff Council and Deputy Chair of South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (Cardiff Capital Region). Huw has held the position of Council Leader since May 2017 and has served as a Councillor for the Splott ward in Cardiff since 2012 – he subsequently held a number of cabinet roles before becoming Leader of the Council. He chairs the Cardiff Public Services Board and is also Director of the Millennium Stadium PLC.
In addition, he is one of the Welsh Local Government Association’s Economy Spokespersons and a member of the Core Cities cabinet alongside representatives from other major cities in the UK. Huw is a fluent Welsh speaker and graduated in Music from Oxford University before completing a Master’s degree in International Relations at Aberystwyth University. He has worked previously in IT and transport and international development as the Head of Christian Aid Wales.
Councillor Dimitri Batrouni
Leader of Newport City Council
Dimitri is the Leader of Newport Council, having taken on the role in May 2024. He has served as a Councillor in Newport since May 2022 and has extensive experience in local government, including as opposition Leader at a previous council and as Cabinet Member for Organisational Transformation.
As the Welsh Local Government Association’s lead spokesperson for Digital Leadership, Dimitri advocates for innovative solutions in local governance. With a background in IT, he has worked at both the UK and Welsh Parliaments in senior researcher roles and has lectured in politics at the University of Bristol.
Dimitri also served as Senior Analyst for the Independent Monitoring Authority at the Ministry of Justice, overseeing Brexit and citizens’ rights.
He is an active member of the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (Cardiff Capital Region), where he leads the Portfolio for Building Capability – Data and Skills, focusing on regional development and digital transformation.
Kellie Beirne
Chief Executive, Cardiff Capital Region
Kellie Beirne is the Chief Executive of Cardiff Capital Region – the partnership of ten councils working to improve the lives of the 1.5m residents in South East Wales through transforming the economy, business landscape and innovation in the Region.
Kellie joined CCR in 2018 from her role as Deputy Chief Executive at Monmouthshire County Council, where she gained a reputation for promoting the entrepreneurial state.
Kellie is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, a Governor at Cardiff Metropolitan University and sits on several innovation advisory boards including the Morgan Advanced Studies Institute at Swansea University, Cardiff University’s International Board and the Connected Places Catapult Advisory Group. She is also an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University.
Colan Mehaffey
Strategic Director of Policy, Impact & Partnerships
Colan is a member of the CCR Executive Team, having evolved his role beyond the development and delivery of major programmes, projects and partnerships to shape regional and organisational policy & strategy. He has helped establish CCR as a new regional public body (Corporate Joint Committee), which is a partnership of the ten local authorities of South East Wales. His remit spans the statutory powers of economic development, spatial planning and regional transport.
He is accountable for regional policy development; monitoring & evaluation; impact & performance frameworks; organisational strategy & strategic planning; data & intelligence; communications & marketing; and many of our key strategic partnerships with the public & private sector.
Mike Brough
Director for Regional Growth and Investment
Mike leads the delivery of the growth agenda for CCR, delivering on CCR’s objectives to be Stronger, Fairer and Greener. Prior to this role, Mike led the transition of CCR from a single programme to the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee with all the requirements to operate as a formally constituted corporate body. Mike’s career has focussed on delivering major infrastructure projects, spending a number of years working in the Houses of Parliament, delivering major interventions to ensure the House of Commons and House of Lords could continue to operate safely and securely. This culminated in his role within the Restoration & Renewal Sponsor Body as the Director for Programme and Assurance.
Before his work in Parliament, Mike had a varied career delivering major projects and programmes in Local Government, the Civil Service and the aviation sector. Mike has always endeavoured to work to support underrepresented groups and to champion the work of others in this area.
Toby Williams
Head of Investment Zone
Toby specialises in project and commercial development across both public and private sectors. As Head of the Investment Zone for Cardiff Capital Region, he plays a pivotal role in shaping strategic propositions and targeted interventions that drive inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment across the region. Toby works closely with a broad range of stakeholders to unlock opportunities and deliver long-term economic and social value.
Gareth Berry
Inward Investment Senior Manager
Gareth leads Cardiff Capital Region’s inward investment activity, working with private sector partners, local authorities, Welsh and UK Governments to attract and retain high-value businesses and investors. His focus is on creating jobs, building infrastructure, and fostering a thriving business environment across the region.
Gareth also champions CCR’s key industrial clusters, including Compound Semiconductors, FinTech, Cybersecurity, Creative, MedTech, and Energy & Environment. With a strong commitment to driving economic growth and promoting South East Wales as a world-class destination for investment, Gareth plays a pivotal role in shaping a competitive and inclusive regional economy.
Huw Wilkinson
Business Development Senior Manager
Huw is an experienced Business Development Manager with a strong track record in driving regional economic growth, innovation, and investment. With years of experience in senior leadership roles, he brings strategic insight and operational expertise to the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) and leads initiatives that foster high-impact partnerships across business, research, and government sectors.
Huw’s work focuses on mobilising the regions priority clusters, enhancing supply chains, and aligning business development with broader regional priorities. With a collaborative leadership style and deep understanding of complex stakeholder environments, he aims to build a more prosperous and productive economy through place-based innovation and inclusive growth.
Nicola Denning
Head of Infrastructure Development
Nicola leads Cardiff Capital Region’s infrastructure development portfolio, delivering major housing, energy, transport and commercial property programmes that enable sustainable and inclusive regional growth.
With extensive experience working across complex multi-partner environments, her work is driven by a commitment to collaboration, innovation and place-based development. She works closely with public and private sector partners to deliver transformative infrastructure initiatives that strengthen communities and create lasting social, economic and environmental impact.
Francesca Carpanini
Head of Communications & External Affairs
Francesca leads Cardiff Capital Region’s communications and external affairs function, shaping the narrative of the region’s innovation and investment through impactful storytelling. An award-winning Chartered PR practitioner, she brings over 15 years of experience in strategic communications and more than a decade in senior leadership roles, with a proven track record of reporting at Board level and delivering campaigns that drive meaningful engagement.
Her career has been defined by a commitment to purpose-driven organisations, creating integrated outcomes-focused strategies that resonate with diverse audiences and strengthen partnerships across sectors.
Nicola Somerville
Head of Operations, Engagement and Governance
Chris Barnett
Head of Major Projects
Cardiff Council
Chris has 30 years’ experience within the property development sector delivering a number of large mixed developments across the UK and Europe.
In recent years prior to joining Cardiff Council Chris has been involved in the planning and delivery of projects such as Dumballs Road (The Embankment) and Cardiff Sports Village. These mixed development projects include open market residential, affordable homes, retail, offices and a new Ice Arena. Through these projects, which equate to in excess of 70 acres within the City Chris has delivered planning for in excess of 3 million sq. ft. of development since 2010.
Since joining the Council Chris has been involved with the procurement and delivery of the new Indoor Arena, delivering a 16,500capcity state-of-the art facility in Cardiff Bay operated by the No1 promotor in the World Live Nation. Chris has also been instrumental in securing a long-term future for St Davids Hall securing a long-term operation and maintenance contract with AMG for a 02 Academy.
Chris is currently bringing forward major regeneration projects for the Council within Atlantic Wharf with the redevelopment of the Red Dragon Centre, bringing forward new WMC Capella Production Studios and the Council new County Hall. He also remains involved in securing a long-term plan for the Sports Village.
Juliet Gamlin
Principal Officer for Inward Investment
Cardiff Council
Inward Investment and Regeneration Specialist working within government, with extensive experience supporting place-based economic growth. Focused on attracting private investment, unlocking development opportunities, and delivering inclusive and sustainable regeneration in partnership with the public and private sector.
Ken Poole MBE FRICS
Head of Economic Development
Cardiff Council
Ken has held this role for the past 13 years, leading the city’s inward investment, regeneration, and economic growth agenda. Prior to joining local government, Ken was a Director at PwC LLP with responsibility for public private partnerships and inward investment bringing deep private-sector insight to his public-sector leadership.
He has been instrumental in attracting significant domestic and international investment into Cardiff, securing major occupiers and investors including Rolls-Royce Submarines, HMRC, Future plc, Legal & General, Celsa, PwC LLP, Badwolf, Great Point Media materially strengthening Cardiff’s position as a leading UK city for business, innovation, and talent.
Ken’s portfolio spans inward investment, city centre regeneration, marketing and promotion, education–industry links, property management and incubation strategy, equity investment and grants funding, and community regeneration.
He is widely recognised for his negotiation, partnership-building, and delivery skills across government and the private sector. He sits as a judge for the Cardiff Business Awards, is Chair of the Finance Awards Wales judging panel, and has given evidence to both the Welsh Affairs Committee and the Senedd Economy and Rural Affairs Committee on the economy issues.
His achievements have been recognised with an MBE for services to the economy and communities in Cardiff, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Cardiff Business Awards, Fellowship of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) for services to economic development in Wales, and an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff and Vale College for his invaluable contribution to the economic growth and regeneration of Cardiff and the wider region.
David Jaques
Assistant Director for Development & Regeneration
Cardiff Council
David is the Assistant Director for Development & Regeneration at Cardiff council and is responsible for maximising the delivery of affordable housing and investment within local communities. He has worked at Cardiff Council within Housing, Regeneration and Development since 2002.
David is currently delivering the largest council house building programme in Wales, which will build over 4,000 new homes throughout the city, with a focus on specialist and supported accommodation. In response to the current housing pressures being faced in the city, new delivery models are being explored to increase the scale and pace of the programme, including the delivery of two strategic development partnerships.
The programme is having a transformational impact on the City’s housing provision. The Regeneration work delivered by the team ensures that investment is focused where it is most needed across the communities of Cardiff with a new Local Regeneration Strategy being launched this year.
David works collaboratively with partners such as Welsh Government, Housing Associations and Local Health Boards to deliver projects in a collaborative way ensuring that positive outcomes are achieved.
Richard Crook
Project Manager
Cardiff Council
Richard has over 30 years’ experience within the regeneration and development sector delivering several large schemes across residential, commercial, industrial and transport sectors.
In recent years prior to joining Cardiff Council, Richard has led the planning and delivery of projects such as the reopening of the Ebbw Valley Railway, a 200 acre steelworks redevelopment providing a mixed use low carbon scheme and new College and University provision as well as the first 3-16 school in Wales.
At a strategic level Richard established the Cardiff Capital Region Skills Partnership and developed the £100m Tech Valleys programme for the Upper Valleys.
To deliver these schemes Richard has secured over £600m of investment from public and private sources over this period as well as leading innovation in energy, transport and apprenticeships across South Wales.
Jon Day
Head of Economic Policy
Invest in Cardiff
Jonathan is Cardiff Council’s Head of Economic Policy and Partnerships and is responsible for the city’s business support team, the Invest in Cardiff and Visit Cardiff platforms, external funding and economic partnership.
Jonathan is also Cardiff’s lead officer for supporting city-region, following on from his role in project managing the establishment of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal.
His key areas of interest are economic research and analysis. Prior to joining Cardiff Council, Jonathan worked as a consultant specialising in economic development and was previously Director and Chief Economist at Arad Consulting, a Cardiff based research consultancy.
Before becoming a consultant Jonathan worked at the HM Treasury as part of the Debt and Reserves Management Team.