People: University of Liverpool; Sutcliffe; Deepbridge Capital; Lancashire Mind; Evelyn Partners; Chatsworth House Trust
US District Judge Wendy Beetlestone has been announced as the next Chancellor of the University of Liverpool.
She is the university’s 11th Chancellor and the institution’s first female, and first black, Chancellor. Wendy succeeds Colm Tóibín, who carried out the role from 2017 until 2022.
An alumna of the university, Wendy was born in Nigeria and educated in Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Philosophy in 1984, before embarking on a career as a TV journalist, entering the legal profession a decade later. In 2014 she was nominated by US President Barack Obama to serve as a District Court Judge. Her jurisdiction covers both civil and criminal cases involving the US Constitution, US statutes, and diversity cases between citizens of different states.
In 2019, the university awarded Wendy an honorary degree in recognition and celebration of her fearless commitment to fairness and justice throughout her career. As Chancellor, she will be the university’s ceremonial figurehead and will play an important ambassadorial role, locally, nationally and internationally.
Judge Beetlestone said: “It’s a huge honour to be appointed as Chancellor of the University of Liverpool. As a student here, I gained the skills and thought discipline I use in my professional career every day. I also had a wonderful time, participating in student life and enjoying all this great city has to offer. I’ve remained closely connected to the university since graduating and I’m looking forward to being its ceremonial figurehead and ambassador. I’m also excited about returning to Liverpool to meet our current students and celebrate graduations later this year.”
Vice Chancellor, Prof Tim Jones, said: “Wendy shares our values and I know she will be a superb international ambassador for the institution. I’m very much looking forward to welcoming her back to the city and to the university, for graduations this year.”
The Chancellor appointment was formally approved by the university’s Council following a nomination process last year.
::
Civil and structural engineering firm, Sutcliffe, has grown its headcount further throughout the first month of 2023, welcoming one of the region’s few female Chartered Structural Engineers, Kate Watson, as executive associate to the company.
With more than 15 years of experience as a structural engineer, Kate has previously worked for a number of high profile firms in London, including Patrick Parsons and AKT, specialising in the residential sector and large structural and civil project teams along the way.
Bringing a wealth of knowledge to Sutcliffe’s Liverpool HQ, Kate will be working with senior managers, on a number of multimillion-pound projects including Countess of Chester Hospital, Haywood Civic Centre and Touchstones Grade II refurbishment as well as helping to oversee the development of the apprentices and younger members of the team.
Sean Keyes, Kate Watson, Anoop Jayakkar (technical director)
Sean Keyes, managing director of Sutcliffe, said: “Huge advocates of equality and diversity in the workplace, Sutcliffe has a long and proud history of working with and unearthing the best female talent in the sector. With Kate bringing years of experience and on-site skill to the team, I have no doubt that she will help take us to the next level, as well as act as a role model for the females and males within the office and the industry.
“With approximately just 14% of the construction sector made up of females in 2022, we need to continue to push female inclusion in the sector and that must begin in early years education. From a commercial and a social perspective, having more strong women in the sector can only be a good thing, especially as we want our industry to truly reflect the environment that we live in.”
Kate Watson said: “We are at a very important time right now, with the technological leaps that have been made in recent years, as well as the increasing threat of the climate crisis. As engineers we have the power to alter the impact on our world and environment, to drive forward new sustainable technology and methods of construction.
“Sutcliffe is an incredibly well respected company in the North West, and I am now looking forward to being a part of their journey as they head towards their 40th anniversary in a few years time, continuing to work on plenty more projects which are re-modelling the face of the Liverpool City Region, Manchester and beyond.”
::
Venture capital investment specialists, Deepbridge Capital, has appointed Dr Andy Round as senior investment director.
As an experienced life sciences investment specialist, most recently as director and head of healthcare at Praetura Ventures and previously at both Maven Capital Partners and MSIF, Dr Round will be working within Deepbridge’s Life Sciences investment team which manages the Deepbridge Life Sciences EIS fund.
Andy Round
This recruitment forms part of Deepbridge’s wider restructuring programme, following the promotion of Ben Carter to head of life sciences and the additions of Simon Thelwall-Jones, David Blake and Oliver Wheatley to Deepbridge’s tech investment team, with Dr Savvas Neophytou as chief investment officer.
With more than £230m invested to date and in excess of 75% of investment being outside London, Deepbridge is one of the most active regional early stage investors in the UK, reporting a record year of fundraising during the 2021/22 tax year, supporting investee companies within the Deepbridge Technology Growth EIS and Deepbridge Life Sciences EIS funds.
Managing partner, Ian Warwick, said: “My colleagues and I have known Andy for many years, having co-invested with Andy on numerous occasions, so we are delighted that he has now joined Deepbridge, which is testament to the quality of the life sciences companies in our portfolio.
“Despite the uncertainty surrounding the global economy, the UK continues to produce great life sciences and tech innovations which require funding to grow and become the leading companies of tomorrow. This is why the Enterprise Investment Scheme is such a crucial and generous scheme, which is the envy of the world.”
Ben Carter said: “Our objective within the Deepbridge Life Sciences investment team is to identify, select and proactively support the very best early stage life sciences opportunities across the UK. Andy’s domain expertise and wealth of experience will be an invaluable addition to our team as we seek to grow the great medtech, pharma, biotech and digital healthcare companies of tomorrow.”
::
Mental health charity Lancashire Mind has appointed David Dunwell as its new chief executive following a rigorous selection process.
David’s professional leadership background is in the third sector, and he currently works as CEO of Fleetwood Town Community Trust. He previously worked as deputy chief executive at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust.
Within both organisations, David has supported and overseen projects in similar spheres to the work Lancashire Mind undertakes, including schools’ programmes, employability initiatives, adult training and mental health support sessions.
David Dunwell
David said: “I am genuinely honoured to have been offered this prestigious role as CEO at Lancashire Mind and I’m really looking forward to meeting all the team and leading the organisation into the next chapter of its journey.
“As somebody with a genuine passion for mental health – due to several close friends and family members experiencing poor mental health – this opportunity is a perfect fit. I’ll be marrying my existing skillset and experiences with a cause I truly care about, based in the town and county where I have always worked and called home.”
Chair of Trustees, Janet Richmond, said: “I’ve been working with David in his capacity as a trustee over the last 12 months and I’m delighted that he is now going to be taking up the role of CEO, to lead the wonderful team that we have at Lancashire Mind.”
David said: “There is more of an understanding of mental health, but we are still at the start of the journey and there are large numbers of people who would benefit from our support and knowledge.”
Mr Dunwell will take up the role at the beginning of February and replaces outgoing chief executive, Tommy McIlravey, who left the role in December.
::
Evelyn Partners, the integrated wealth management and professional services group, said experienced financial adviser Gavin Tansey, founder and owner of Gavin Tansey Financial Services, has joined its Liverpool office.
Gavin has run his Wirral-based financial planning business for more than 12 years and has worked as an adviser since 2000. In joining Evelyn Partners Gavin will be providing a continuing professional service to his clients, enhanced by the resource of the broader group.
He specialises in providing bespoke financial services to private clients, medical professionals, company directors and their corporate entities. He is pleased to be able to continue to work in partnership with other professional advisers, including solicitors and accountants.
Gavin Tansey
Richard Dawes, head of strategic partnerships at Evelyn Partners, said: “This is our eighth deal that sees advisers who have run their own businesses join us since launching the programme in Q4 2021, either ahead of their retirement or because they see the benefits of being part of a group that has invested heavily in technology and has an unrivalled range of bespoke services.
“At Evelyn Partners, Gavin will be able to continue to deliver excellent advice to his clients over the coming years but with the support of a well-resourced platform and a first class investment management proposition.”
Jonathan Waddington, regional managing partner, said: “This agreement strengthens our financial planning capabilities in our Liverpool office and also demonstrates our commitment to continue growing in the North region. Gavin has worked hard to build his business over many years and we look forward to working closely with him as he and his clients embark on the next chapter of their growth.”
Gavin Tansey said: “I look forward to continuing to provide a personalised, bespoke service to all.”
::
Jane Marriott has been appointed to the new role of director of Chatsworth House Trust.
Jane has recently started in her new position following a successful six-year tenure as director of Harewood House Trust, during which time she oversaw a significant increase in charitable income and visitor engagement with this historic country house in West Yorkshire, driven by new and innovative programming such as the Harewood Biennial and an ongoing commitment to inclusion and diversity, working closely with contemporary artists and makers.
She joins Chatsworth at an important time. Her remit includes leading the development and delivery of a compelling creative programme to reach and engage new audiences in the UK and globally. She is also tasked with increasing the social impact of the Trust’s activities, overseeing the Devonshire Collections of art, artefacts and archives across its various sites, and building the Trust’s endowment to ensure an ever more secure future for the heritage assets under its stewardship.
Jane Marriott
Jane’s 25-year career has been spent predominantly in leadership roles in museums and galleries at times of major transformation. She started out as assistant curator at Art Gallery New South Wales, Sydney, before joining the team that launched Tate Modern in London in 2000, and then becoming the youngest female director of Royal Academy Trust and director of development at the Royal Academy of Arts.
While at the RA she raised £36m for the David Chipperfield-designed capital project and established an international fundraising operation in Hong Kong. Jane then moved to Yorkshire, firstly as deputy director and then managing director of The Hepworth Wakefield where she instigated the creation of the new Hepworth Gallery Garden designed by Tom Stuart Smith and launched the Hepworth Prize for Sculpture, which, among other initiatives, helped The Hepworth Wakefield win the Art Fund ‘Museum of the Year’ in 2017.
Jane Marriott, director of Chatsworth House Trust, said: “Chatsworth has a great reputation, with an outstanding collection of art, established learning programme and strong exhibitions that together represent a visitor offering to rival any national institution in the UK. Chatsworth also has an incredible reach with more than 600,000 annual visitors, meaning there is huge potential to engage with, and have a positive impact on, a wide and diverse audience.
“I look forward to working with the family and the team at Chatsworth to widen our reach and demonstrate value to our communities as a charitable trust, whilst protecting this vital piece of our national heritage for generations to come.”
Lord Burlington, chairman of the Chatsworth House Trust, said: “Jane’s experience and achievements in the arts, culture and heritage arenas make her the perfect person to lead an ambitious new chapter of growth and development for the charity. There is a great deal of excitement around this appointment, we look forward to working closely with Jane and we wish her every success.”
