World Class Experts
Professor Tom Cannon
Tom is a former Director of Manchester Business School and has pioneered work on enterprise development. While head of Stirling University Business School he formed the Scottish Enterprise Foundation and created the first Chair in Entrepreneurship in the UK. More recently he was Chief Executive of the Government's Management and Enterprise National Training Organisation - responsible for key aspects of SME development.
His enviable research record resulting in over 100 published papers and books is matched by extensive experience in policy work and consulting for major international companies, central and local government, Regional Development Agencies and NGOs. He has extensive policy experience ranging from national projects such as the New Vision for Business study initiated by the Prime Minister of the UK and the current Merseyside Entrepreneurship Commission.
Tom's areas of interest and expertise also include leadership, especially during times of dynamic change, social entrepreneurship and the emergence of the ideopolis. He is an acknowledged expert on football finance.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans
Dylan specialises in the development of small firms, enterprise education for SMEs, growth entrepreneurial businesses. He is the author of the best-selling book ‘Enterprise and Small Business’, published by the Financial Times.
Fiona Trapp
Fiona is Chief Executive of BDG, Wales, a business which assists private businesses, social enterprises and public sector organisations with a multitude of business development and sustainability related issues.
Fiona has over 20 years experience in senior sales management and marketing roles.She brings to businesses a powerful combination of sales management and marketing knowledge and practical experience and so ensures that strategic marketing plans are not only right for the business, but are able to be executed at 'ground level' in order to generate sales.
She has a thorough understanding of the strategic economic needs of North Wales and has built a strong regional client base of medium to large businesses across all sectors.
Charles Blair
Charles is skilled in: Team/project leadership; Market analysis; Product development and marketing; Promoting the growth of art/craft and design-led small enterprises.
Paul Connellan
Paul is a Sociology graduate and for postgraduate work undertook the Sloan Fellowship Programme at the London Business School. He has worked in many parts of the world including Germany, the USA and five years in the Middle East.
He brings to this project a speciality in the links between CSR, marketing and customer service which is vital to understanding the long term role of CSR in an environment in which rapid change is the norm. He is an associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University in these subjects.
Before moving into consultancy he was Customer Services Director for Manchester Airport with special responsibility for the airport’s community relations programmes during which time it was voted Best Airport in the World. Amongst others he has consulted for Railtrack, Liverpool Airport and the European Union.
Judy Cotter
Judy’s work on equality and diversity especially Positive Action Training has won a series of national awards including the Department of Education and Skills National Training Awards.