People: Harrison Drury; Salix Homes; Anwyl; Amion Consulting; Brabners; Slater Heelis; Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse

Lucy Benton and Kerry Webster

North West law firm, Harrison Drury, has appointed experienced solicitor, Kerry Webster, to join its commercial property team.

Kerry joins as a solicitor after spending 19 years at Temple Heelis Solicitors, where she developed a strong reputation for her client focused approach and in-depth knowledge of property law.

Based at Harrison Drury’s Kendal office, Kerry will advise clients on a range of property matters, including landlord and tenant work, freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals, secured lending, and property development.

Lucy Benton, senior associate solicitor in Harrison Drury’s commercial property team, said: “Kerry’s experience and passion for supporting clients make her a great fit for Harrison Drury. She also has an in-depth understanding of the hospitality and leisure sectors, which further strengthens our offering in the South Lakes region and beyond.”

Kerry said: “I was drawn to Harrison Drury due to its people-first approach and because it has such a great team, many of whom are highly specialised in their area of law.”

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Liam Turner

Salford housing association, Salix Homes, has appointed Liam Turner as its new Chief Executive, taking over from outgoing CEO Sue Sutton, who is retiring next year, after a 25-year career in housing.

Liam has worked at Salix Homes for the past 12 years, and is the current Executive Director of Assets, Growth and Sustainability, with responsibility for property, building safety, development and sustainability.

Martin Warhurst, Chair of the Salix Homes board, said: “The board is very pleased to appoint Liam Turner following a rigorous recruitment process. Liam has been an integral part of Salix Homes for many years, with a proven track record of exceptional leadership, extensive knowledge of our customers and communities, and a strong commitment to our organisation, our people, and to Salford.

“This is an exciting time for Salix Homes as we build on the strong reputation we’ve established under Sue’s leadership, including being one of the first housing associations to achieve the top C1 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing.”

As part of the ongoing transition period, Liam will continue to work closely with outgoing CEO Sue Sutton, who will remain with Salix Homes until summer 2025 to ensure a smooth handover.

Liam said: “Sue Sutton has set an incredibly high standard during her time, and while I have big shoes to fill, I’m committed to continuing the legacy she has built. I look forward to leading Salix Homes on the next stage of our journey, and helping to create a brighter future for Salford.”

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Lauren Humphreys

Homebuilder Anwyl has appointed its first head of human resources. Former HR and culture manager, Lauren Humphreys, has been promoted to the position, having been with the Ewloe-based company, near Chester, for almost three years.

Lauren brings a decade of experience. She previously worked in specialist and advisory human resources roles for a range of banking and manufacturing firms including MBNA, Jaguar Land Rover and Morrisons.

She said: “I’m focussed on delivering our people strategy, which has been designed to support the company’s planned growth, while maintaining a proactive approach to legislative changes being driven by the new government.”

Lauren is Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualified and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cardiff University. She also received a scholarship to study cultural relations at the University of California, in Los Angeles in 2014.

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Simon Dancer

Simon Dancer, Director at Amion Consulting, has been appointed to the board of the Institute of Economic Development (IED), the UK’s leading professional body for economic development and regeneration practitioners.

With more than 25 years’ experience in economic development, housing and regeneration, Simon joined the UK-wide economics advisory business Amion in 2016 to provide independent strategic advice to its clients to help them achieve economic growth.

He previously worked in Whitehall for 16 years at the Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England), managing a team of specialised economists. In addition to an extensive understanding of Green Book economic appraisal and business cases, Simon has co-authored several economics policy guidance notes that have become “industry standards”.

Amion Consulting has offices in Liverpool and London. Simon said: “With over 25 years’ experience under my belt, 16 in the public sector and now well established in the private sector, putting myself forward for the IED Board feels like a natural position. I see the IED as the kitemark for our profession.”

Tom Stannard, Chair of the IED, said: “I would like to formally welcome Simon to the IED board of directors, and look forward to working with him as we seek to further deliver our mission and push the objectives of our Grow Local, Grow National manifesto across the UK.”

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Cara Nuttall, Chris Fairhurst, Hannah Saxe

Independent law firm, Brabners, has welcomed two new family experts to its Brabners Personal practice. Chris Fairhurst and Hannah Saxe have joined the 23-strong family team to provide support to business owners and high net worth individuals.

Chris joins as a partner with more than 25 years’ experience. Based in Brabners’ Lancashire office he will use his connection to Lancashire and Cumbria to support clients across those locations, as well as nationally and internationally. Hannah joins as a legal director with 18 years of experience in complex financial and children work, including cross-border cases, and up to Supreme Court level. She will strengthen Brabners’ modern family offering, with expertise in domestic and international adoption, surrogacy and fertility law, as well as experience supporting parents and children who are neurodivergent.

The family team is led by Cara Nuttall and is part of the 100 strong Brabners Personal team. Cara Nuttall said: “Chris and Hannah are a welcome addition to our team and align perfectly with the Brabners Personal practice. They’ll be working with UK-wide and international clients, and are committed to providing comprehensive and holistic approaches to all elements of family law.”

Nik White, managing partner at Brabners, said: “Chris and Hannah will enhance our team’s expertise, reinforcing our commitment to providing calm, expert guidance during complex family legal situations.”

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Anthony Le and Chris Bishop

Anthony Le and Chris Bishop

Manchester-based law firm, Slater Heelis, has appointed Anthony Le as an Associate Partner in its Commercial Litigation team.

Anthony has broad legal experience having previously worked in Regulatory Law and is an experienced Commercial Litigation Solicitor with almost 15 years’ Post Qualification Experience, but has worked in law since 2006.

Based at Crossgate House in Sale, Anthony brings considerable experience advising clients of all sizes and across all sectors including high profile cases that will further bolster the firm’s current team, with particular experience in contractual and misrepresentation claims, civil fraud, injunctions, construction, repossession, insurance coverage disputes, adverse possession, breach of restrictive covenant claims, insolvency and mediation.

Senior Partner, Chris Bishop, said: “Anthony is a much-welcomed addition to our team and we are confident that we can continue to go from strength to strength with him on board.”

Anthony said: “Since joining the firm, I can already see there is a clear commitment to its people with a value proposition that allows the team to work smarter, work better and serve clients with unwavering support and I look forward to seeing how my career unfolds.”

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Saphena Aziz, Paul Kallee-Grover, Julie Ledder

Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres are set to benefit from a wealth of expertise as Saphena Aziz, Paul Kallee-Grover and Julie Ledder join the Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Board of Trustees, with Amy Causley and Mike Clarke stepping down at the end of their respective terms.

The new appointments bring valuable skills in creativity, inclusion, human resources, project management, and capital regeneration to the organisation, further strengthening an already accomplished board.

Saphena Aziz brings extensive experience in arts and culture, currently serving as Director of Inclusion and Workforce Development at Curious Minds, where she champions access to arts for young people in the North. A playwright and graduate of the Liverpool Everyman Theatre’s Playwright Programme, her work spans organisations such as the BBC, Tate Liverpool, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Paul Kallee-Grover adds more than 25 years of experience in cultural business advisory and capital regeneration. His career demonstrates a commitment to using culture as a transformative force for place-making and community development. Passionate about championing neurodivergent perspectives and LGBTQ+ voices in the arts, Paul aims to enhance the Trust’s role in enriching Liverpool’s cultural identity and driving inclusivity.

Julie Ledder, Head of HR Operations at the University of Liverpool, brings a proven track record in fostering positive organisational culture and driving employee engagement. With experience spanning the private, public, and third sectors, Julie’s leadership skills and enthusiasm for innovative theatre make her a valuable addition to the board.

The Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust (LMTT) is the charity which oversees the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres. Chair, Andrea Nixon, said: “On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Amy and Mike for their outstanding service and support over their tenure as Trustees. With the appointment of Saphena, Paul, and Julie, to join myself and fellow Trustees, the Trust is well positioned to continue its mission of enriching the cultural fabric of Liverpool City Region and supporting diverse voices in the arts.”

The Trust will be looking for new Trustees in January 2025, as other tenures conclude.

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