The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln is to lead the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership as the new Chair of its Board of Directors.
Professor Neal Juster will replace the outgoing Chair Pat Doody, who is stepping down after serving three years as Chair.
Professor Juster took over as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln from Professor Mary Stuart in October 2021. He holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Computer-Aided Design, both from the University of Leeds,and has extensive experience of management in higher education including Senior Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Glasgow, and Pro Vice-Principal and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. His research interests were in the area of computer-aided design including rapid prototyping and the use of virtual reality in design and manufacturing processes.
Professor Juster said: “I am honoured to have been asked take on the role of Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP following from the two, very inspirational, previous Chairs. They, together with Ruth Carver as CEO and the wider team, have given the Board a clear strategy to help the county achieve economic growth.
“I would like to thank Pat Doody for his last three years as chair and eight years as a member of the Board. It is an incredibly exciting time for Lincolnshire as we discuss devolution, attract and create new businesses, create jobs and develop critical infrastructure. This cannot be done by any one institution and I look forward to working with partners across the region to achieve collective success.”
LEP Chief Executive Ruth Carver said: “Bringing in Neal Juster to lead our Board of capable Directors is a tremendous opportunity for the LEP. Following in the footsteps of Ursula Lidbetter and Pat Doody will be tough, but we know that Neal has a wealth of experience, knowledge and business acumen as well as the high profile and excellent far-reaching contacts that this role requires.
“His deep knowledge of the engineering sector will be an advantage as we promote and strengthen the manufacturing and engineering heritage of Greater Lincolnshire. Never has the business voice been more important in driving forward the economy, and Neal and the Board will bring fresh ideas to help us navigate the period of change that we’re facing.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Neal and getting started on the task in hand, which is to represent the business voice for our area at a regional and national level, build on our four game-changing sector developments across energy, food, ports and defence, and lead projects and programmes which are all aimed at driving economic growth.”
Joining Professor Juster on the LEP Board will be four new non-executive directors drawn from the private sector and the third sector:
- Liam Scully, CEO of Lincoln City FC
- Shaun Povey, Head of Strategic Planning & Projects at Siemens
- Nikki Cooke, CEO of LIVES
- Mark Webb, CEO of Grimsby-based business support group E-Factor
Pat Doody, Dean Fathers and Professor Andrew Hunter will all be stepping down from the LEP Board this year.
Since 2010 the LEP has created over 3,500 jobs and 800 new businesses and delivered 75 major growth projects and programmes, bringing jobs and skills to the region. The LEP has supported over 8,500 learners and apprentices, and through its Careers Hub more than 100 Enterprise Advisers from across business and industry are supporting students in their career choices.
The LEP has unlocked investment worth over £500 million for transformational schemes and is fundamentally improving the economy and infrastructure of Greater Lincolnshire.
