Board Profiles
New Forest Business Partnership became a Community Interest Company in 2020. A Board of volunteer directors lead the day to day operation and set the direction and strategy of NFBP. Our Advisory Group consisting of the directors and representatives of New Forest businesses, local government, other partner organisations and colleges.
NFBP Board of Directors
Matthew Lawson
Chairman
Marine & Tourism
Matthew's top-rated and award winning yacht charter business Escape Yachting operates from Lymington with day trips on the Solent and sailing holidays worldwide. He also owns the Thatched Cottage Hotel, Tea Room & Gin Bar in Brockenhurst.
Rob Dewing
Partnerships Director
Web and IT
Lyndhurst
Rob runs Northerwood Systems, a business in Lyndhurst building and maintaining websites for local businesses. He is active in business lobbying as the Chair of the South Central Region of the Federation of Small Businesses.
Vicky Ryce
Communications Director
Marketing and Communications
Based in Sway, Vicky has more than 20 years communications and international marketing experience. She now runs her own company, Let’s Talk Communications, and works with a range of businesses helping them to understand and communicate with their audiences. She is a Parish Councillor in Sway.
David Lawrence
Compliance Director
Legal Services
As Senior Partner, David manages Eric Robinson Solicitors' Lymington office, specialising in many aspects of litigation, conveyancing, wills, estates and is also the firm's Compliance Officer. David is an advocate in the firm’s Criminal Department, a Solicitor-Advocate, a member of the Criminal Litigation Scheme and a Police and Court Duty Solicitor.
Sandeep Sesodia
Finance Director
Financial Services
Sandeep has more than 35 years’ experience in Banking and Finance including at NatWest and The Royal Bank of Scotland and now runs his own commercial finance business, MGPS Commercial. His key focus is to assist businesses to develop and grow and to achieve their goals. Sandeep is a Non-Executive Director of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Sherry
Investment Director
Innovation
Prior to running his own businesses and holding blue-chip corporate sales and marketing roles, Paul gathered extensive experience as a trader on the Futures Exchange in the City of London. Since moving to the New Forest, Paul has become more involved in the third sector and founded 49, the business-led open innovation centre near Lymington. He has created and delivered a pilot programme for children “at risk” of exclusion in the New Forest.
NFBP Advisory Group
The Advisory Group meets every other month and brings a wide range of local business and government partners and organisations together to discuss the needs of the local economy and support local businesses.
Hannah Avoth
Education & Apprenticeships
Hannah is the Vice Principal and Campus Lead at Totton College, a technical/vocational centre offering programmes for 14-16 and adults across a wide spectrum of courses and apprenticeships.
Jane Porter
Lymington
Jane’s consultancy and agency Bartley Marketing provides the full range of digital and traditional marketing services and PR, combining strategic planning with hands-on implementation. Their online hub Lymington.com promotes local businesses via on page advertising and its highly regarded direct and social media channels.
Andrea McCallum
Hampshire County Council
Andrea is Manager for Enterprise & SME Growth at Hampshire County Council, having worked in economic development across the South East. Andrea’s role is supporting businesses growth in the area and business looking to locate in Hampshire. She worked with Solent LEP to establish their Business Support and Growth Hub to provide services to local SMEs.
Matt Callaghan
New Forest District Council
Matt is Economic Development Manager at New Forest District Council, responsible for local business growth, initiatives to improve workforce skills and encourage appropriate economic investment. This is achieved through close partnership working with organisations including but not limited to NFBP, Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, Job Centre Plus and Enterprise South.
David Simpson
Housing, Planning & Development
Based in Lyndhurst and Lymington, Simpson Hilder Associates are a multi-disciplinary architectural and surveying practice. David and his team are involved in a number of projects and schemes in around the New Forest including the Ampress Park development, Gordleton Industrial Estate, as well as the marine and housing sectors. The practice also works nationally in the healthcare and educational sectors.
Simon Bennett
Marketing and Creative
Simon leads the wonderful You Agency team, a ferociously passionate digital development agency. They design and develop, unique and engaging websites, apps and digital solutions and brand identities, thought-provoking business collateral and inspiring communication strategies.
James Hiley-Jones
Hospitality
Central Forest (Burley, Brockenhurst, Beaulieu)
James is Managing Director of Greenclose Hotels which includes Careys Manor Hotel & Senspa in Brockenhurst and The Montagu Arms in Beaulieu. With a long career in hotel management and the New Forest, James is passionate about the Forest and offers a wealth of experience of the hospitality industry. When not at work James enjoys cycling and time on the Solent.
Suna King
New Milton
Suna’s broad expertise and knowledge in marketing and communications comes from wide-ranging roles in marketing agencies as well as organisations including Samsung Electronics and the Wilton Carpet Factory. She is Town Development Manager at New Milton Town Council, co-ordinating the Neighbourhood Plan, with a focus on the regeneration of the town centre and enabling a digital economy.
Cllr Keith Mans
Hampshire County Council
Keith is a former RAF pilot who spent 10 years working for the John Lewis Partnership after leaving the RAF. He was elected MP for Wyre in Lancashire in 1987 and was PPS to the Secretary of State for Health as well as being a member of both the Defence and the Environment Select Committees. After leaving Parliament in 1997, Keith was CEO of the Royal Aeronautical Society until his retirement in 2009. Keith is County Councillor for Brockenhurst, Leader of Hampshire County Council and on the Board of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.
Polly Perkins CBE
Education & Apprenticeships
Polly is Principal and Chief Executive of Brockenhurst College. With a staff of 700, the College provides education and training to 2,500 full-time 16-18 year olds studying A-levels and vocational qualifications; 700 apprentices and 7,500 mainly part-time adults. With sites across the New Forest, the College works with over 300 local businesses.
Dan Parsons
New Forest Marque
Dan is the Chair of the New Forest Marque (NFM), established to champion local businesses who pride themselves on producing and providing food, drink and craft with clearly defined NF provenance. Dan is also the Director of a couple of small commercial companies, prior to which he spent 18 years as an Investment Banker and before that 6 years with the British Army.
Adie Callaghan
Food & Drink
Adie runs the New Forest Hamper Company, promoting a wealth of local food and drink producers across the New Forest. Adie worked in high level corporate marketing and communications for many years, with links to hospitality and retail. Adie is fiercely passionate about “supporting local” and strives to raise the profile of the New Forest across the Food and Drink sector.
Peter Armstrong
Waterside
Peter runs Bespoke Funeral Ceremonies which offers personalised and meaningful funeral ceremonies. He has been involved in the management of cemeteries in local government. He has experience of public speaking in the UK and abroad and has served on various charities. Representing the Waterside, Peter connects local businesses to the opportunities available through NFBP.
Paul Walton
New Forest National Park Authority
Environment & Rural Economy
Paul leads the New Forest National Park Authority’s work in conserving the National Park and fostering a healthy economy to sustain the Park’s unique qualities. He previously worked in Cornwall for the National Trust and as the manager of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Paul has a Master's degree in Town and Country Planning.
Sophy Robinson
Environment & Rural Economy
Sophy’s varied career includes coaching business leaders, entrepreneurs, global corporations and the public sector. Sophy volunteers for Dorset Business Mentors and Rethink Mental Illness. Based on a grassland farm near Fordingbridge, she is interested in the sustainable management of land, forestry and historic farm buildings.
Richard Parkinson
Maritime & Logistics
Richard is Port Director at Solent Gateway.
Cllr Alexis McEvoy
New Forest National Park Authority
Cllr Sue Bennison
New Forest National Park Authority
Cllr Michael Harris OBE
New Forest District Council
Business Consultant and NFDC Cabinet Member for the Local Economy, Michael has 40 years experience in advising companies and individuals in film, tv, advertising and PR.
Claire Upton-Brown
New Forest District Council
Claire is the Chief Planning Officer at NFDC, responsible for Planning Policy and Strategy, and Economic Development.
Frances Fawcett
International Trade
Frances brings experience of working in IT, marketing consultancy and global programme management. Frances also owned a manufacturing business and now works as a consultant, trainer and coach in the fields of business planning and international trade.
Keith Lightning
Energy & Renewables
Owner of Lightning and of KLIA Group of companies and associated businesses, offering electrical and instrumentation installations and specialist personnel provision, quality partnership and team practices and arrangements. RoSPA and British Safety Council Health & Safety National Award winners. Services include Oil & Gas, Hazardous Areas, Energy From Waste, Nuclear, Power & General. Keith is a member of IOD, Management Board & General Council Member of Engineering Construction Industrial Association, Industrial Relations Committee and Engineering Productivity Improvement Committee.
Anthony Climpson OBE
Go New Forest
Worked in the forest for 35 years, firstly with NFDC and since 2017 with GNF. Totally committed to embedding responsible tourism into the daily life of the wider community and using it to create a strong and locally resilient economy.
James Ford
Solent Local Enterprise Partnership