About Choose Abingdon

Clllr Sandy Lovatt is the Oxfordshire County Councillor for Abingdon North. He is a former Army Officer and served with the Royal Corps of Signals for 23 years, reaching the rank of major, hence his background in information management, electronics and ICT. He is now freelance management consultant. He is also an active member of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and is the Secretary and Regional Director for the FSB's Thames Valley region. He is also a member of the FSB's Local Government Committee and Vice-Chairman of the FSB South East Policy Committee. He has a special interest in local economic development and the role of small businesses within the national economy. This encompasses not only economic issues but also the relationship of businesses to the social and cultural activities in the community. He led an FSB study into the small business economy in Oxfordshire, carried out by Oxfordshire Economic Observatory through Oxford Brookes University, which was published in March 2007. Lately, his business activities have involved advising businesses on business planning and organisation and has been instrumental in setting up small business networks, e.g. OxIT, with the aim of enabling them to increase business and sales.

Following the elections in May 2011, Sandy has become Leader of the Town Council but represents the County Council on the Choose Abingdon Partnership Board.

Bio coming soon

Iain joined the Board in May 2011 as one of Abingdon Town Council's representatives. He is passionate about Abingdon's development and is a strong supporter of the Partnership's role in promoting our fantastic town and facilitating further improvements.

 Professionally he has spent the last 20 years working with organisations, both in the private and public sectors, on transformational change initiatives. For the last five years he has run his own, Abingdon based, management consultancy business. He has an economics degree from Oxford University and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

 Iain has lived in Abingdon for 15 years, and is married with three children, who attend state schools in Abingdon. In addition to his role as a town councillor, he is a governor of Larkmead School and Christ's Hospital of Abingdon.

Cllr Julie Mayhew Archer was part of the original Choose Abingdon Partnership board when it was set up in 2009, originally representing the town council. Following the elections in 2011, she left the board, but was asked to take up one of the two seats representing the District Council in May 2012, so that both of our locally dominant political parties are represented on the Partnership.

Stuart Bates is a partner in the accountancy firm of Wenn Townsend, based in the town centre. He has been an active member of the business community for many years and was involved in the setting up of the Partnership when it evolved out of the Joint Economic Forum. He sits on the Partnership representing the Chamber of Commerce.

Co-opted onto the board following a shortlist and interview process, Bryan Brown was elected as the new Chairman at the AGM in October 2012.

Bryan has been a resident of Abingdon-on-Thames for over 30 years and formerly ran an architecture and design consultancy business from the centre of the town. He is an honorary fellow of Oxford Brookes, is writing a book about the founder of the university and also finds time to do some management consultancy when a new or unusual project presents an interesting challenge.

Tony Stephens is a senior Manager with Miele Company Ltd, the leading European domestic appliance manufacturer. Tony joined Miele in 1983, shortly after the Company moved to Abingdon, following an earlier spell in the motor industry. Since then he has overseen much of the expansion of Miele at their premises at Fairacres, and constructed the Miele Experience Centre and the Miele Gallery in Central London. Formerly Administration & Facilities Director, he stepped down two years ago to enable him to work 3 days per week, concentrating on projects including the forthcoming Experience Centre at Cheadle, Manchester.

Tony's other interests include a lifetime's involvement with old cars, and from March 2011 he will take up the position of President of the Vintage Sports-Car Club, the UK's biggest club for pre-war cars with over 7000 members worldwide, which is based in Chipping Norton. He has held an international motor racing license for nearly 40 years and has competed all over the world in historic racing cars. Tony is married with a daughter at university.

Bio coming soon

Bio coming soon

Dr Martin Dare-Edwards is UK Country Manager for Infineum's Business and R&D operations employing around 500 staff and contractors, based at Milton Hill on the outskirts of Abingdon-on-Thames.

Infineum's petroleum additive products are used in one in three vehicles across the globe, and are aimed at reducing the environmental impact of transportation.

Martin was Chairman of the Oxfordshire LEP during its all-important start-up phase and is also one of the UKTI's global network of Business Catalyst Ambassadors, promoting the UK as the international business partner of choice. In the cultural domain, Martin is a member for Oxford Inspires and an active violinist in several amateur orchestras.

Hester has lived in Abingdon since the early 1970s and worked for most of her career in Human Resources at Harwell. She first became involved in community affairs during the Old Gaol campaign and since then has been active in various projects to improve town vitality including the "What's On Diary", the "Spring into Abingdon" shops promotion and Heritage Day events. She is keen to help the Partnership improve communications in the town and especially to increase awareness of events and activities.

Jill Carver is a local business owner who established her own retail deli business 8 years ago after a successful career in the financial systems industry as a senior manager for software houses and consultancies including Tetra and Walker International.

Rob Pennington holds a senior position at New River Retail, who are responsible for the Abbey Shopping Centre, the prime retail area in the town centre.

Although New River Retail have other shopping centres all over the country, Rob lives locally. Through New River Retail, a number of projects have been supported by the fund managers. Scottish Widows, including the last two Christmas Extravaganzas and the community shop project.

Former Chairman James White no longer sits on the Partnership Board following the completion of his statutory three year term of office. He is now fulfilling the role of executive link to the Science Festival, driving the steering committee of this project and reporting into the board regularly whilst this project is seed-funded by the Partnership.

Nigel Warner has been Town Clerk at Abingdon Town Council since 2000. He was born in Witney and went to school there before taking his degree at Jesus College, Oxford from where he graduated in 1987. He commenced his career in local government at West Oxfordshire District Council in 1988, eventually working as Principal Auditor. He joined Witney Town Council in 1995 as Treasurer. He was for 12 years Treasurer of West Oxfordshire Citizens' Advice Bureau, and Chairman of the Bureau for a short period before his move to Abingdon ten years ago.

Matt Prosser is the Strategic Director responsible for Economy, Leisure and Property and Corporate Strategy for the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils.

A member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Matt has worked in both the public and private sector over the last twenty years. Prior to becoming a shared Director in January 2009, Matt was Strategic Director at South Oxfordshire with responsibility for Finance, Environmental Services, Economy, Leisure and Property. Prior to this role Matt worked as a management consultant across the UK working with central government and a wide range of local authorities and private sector partners.

Suzanne is the Shared Economic Development Manager for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils. The objectives of the economic development team include supporting a vibrant local economy and working in partnership to sustain vibrant market towns. The team also look after strategic property, town centre regeneration and tourism.

Prior to being appointed in her current role, Suzanne was employed as Economic Development Manager at South Oxfordshire District Council, prior to which she managed tourism for Oxford City Council.