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SEEDA Board Appointments Strengthen Approach to Future Challenges
15 December 2005
 The growing challenge of emerging economies such as China and India and the need to alleviate obstacles to the prosperity of the South East, including low levels of basic skills and shortages of transport and affordable housing, are just some of the issues facing the senior team of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). The Regional Development Agency (RDA), which is at a crucial point in its comprehensive review of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) for the South East, welcomes seven major appointments and reappointments which will support the continued strong and effective leadership of the Agency.
Current SEEDA Chairman and top Sussex businessman James E Brathwaite CBE has been reappointed as SEEDA's Chairman for a further three year period up to 2008 by the Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions. Current Board Member Cllr Peter Jones, Leader of East Sussex County Council, has been appointed as a Deputy Chairman of the Agency. In addition, five current Board Members have been reappointed – four, Poul Christensen, Cllr Terry Mills, John Peel and Cllr Keith House, for a further three year term, and Cllr Sarah Hohler for one more year. All seven appointments are effective from 14 December 2005.
Alun Michael said: "I am confident these 'champions of the region' will use their considerable skills and experience to make a strong contribution to SEEDA's work, whose role is boosting productivity and creating jobs and prosperity in the South East.
This is a time of great opportunity for the organisation, particularly as it develops further its strategy for the future. These talented people have a wealth of experience in delivering success, and will help SEEDA continue to make a real difference to economic development in the region."
Mr Brathwaite has been Chairman of the Board at SEEDA since 2002, when he took over from the Agency's first Chairman, Allan Willett CMG, now Lord Lieutenant of Kent. Cllr Jones has been a SEEDA Board Member since December 2003 and is a member of the Agency's Joint Europe Committee.
In the three years under Mr Brathwaite's Chairmanship, SEEDA has made great progress in developing the economic potential of the South East, not only creating or safeguarding more than 5,000 new jobs and providing over 12,000 learning opportunities for the region's residents, but also creating nearly 450 new businesses, including international investors, in the region and positioning the South East as a truly global player.
Commenting on his reappointment, Mr Brathwaite said: "I am delighted that the Prime Minister and the Minister of State for Industry and the Regions have asked me to continue in my role as SEEDA Chairman for a further three years. The region has a number of challenges over the coming months, such as how and where to invest our funding for the maximum effect, as we refine the RES review – and the decisions that result will focus all our efforts on the long term needs of the regional economy. It is my vision that the South East is, and will continue to be, a world class region and a magnet for overseas businesses, and will achieve sustainable prosperity through 'smart growth'.
"Our quality of life here is second to none, both in the UK and in comparison with similar regions around the world, but in order to maintain this competitive advantage we need to make some bold moves such as: helping economically inactive people return to work – a real challenge considering there are over one million people of working age in the South East who lack basic literacy and numeracy skills; increasing the take-up and impact of sustainable practices; providing the most appropriate housing and infrastructure for the development of the region; and boosting the productivity of the region's economy to new levels. Anything less could mean the slow decline of the South East economy, with a knock-on effect on other regions of the UK.
"However, I am certain that, working with our partners across the region, we will succeed in our objectives and will continue to build on the results that we have already achieved for the South East. I am very excited about this task, and look forward to working with my colleagues at SEEDA to drive our agenda forward on the region's behalf."
Cllr Jones said of his appointment: "I am delighted to take up this position and look forward very much to providing continued support to the Chairman and the rest of my colleagues on the Board. I'm particularly looking forward to helping the Agency build on its agenda for education-led regeneration as demonstrated by the establishment of the ground-breaking University Centre Hastings."
SEEDA Chief Executive, Pam Alexander, added: "This is excellent news and I know that the Board and the Agency join me in congratulating Jim and our other five Board Members on their reappointment, and Peter on his new role. I look forward to working with them both as we move forward our various agendas across the region and I have no doubt that SEEDA will continue to benefit greatly from their vision, experience and drive."
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