Leading businesswoman named Liberal Democrat mayoral candidiate

BIRMINGHAM City University’s director of corporate affairs, Beverley Nielsen has been named as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Metro Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Ms Nielsen, a well-known figure in the Midlands business community, plans to draw on her 22-year career in the region to appeal to voters.

Her career to date has included roles as Director of CBI West Midlands, Chief Executive of the Heart of England Tourist Board, managing director of AGA Rangemaster subsidiary Fired Earth and a Fellow at Warwick Manufacturing Group.

Ms Nielsen, who won the Ambassador category in TheBusinessDesk.com’s West Midlands Business Masters Awards 2013, is also founder of the Birmingham Made Me Design Expo, which promotes the city’s innovation and design excellence.

She also orchestrated Birmingham’s Jobs Fair which linked students with practical work-based opportunities.
She said: “Everywhere I go, in whatever sphere I’m working, I find the originality, ingenuity, imagination and sheer hard work that is the hallmark of a successful region. That make us simply the best.

“But too often I see the region held back and starved of investment and resources. It’s time to be masters of our own destiny promoting our own needs with a shared voice. It’s high time we were recognised as the Self Made Place that we are. A place that is changing the world through its ingenuity to improve quality of life for people everywhere.”