MEET THE TEAM
Chris Barnett
Project Manager
Cardiff Council
Chris has 30 years’ experience within the property development sector delivering a number of large mixed developments across the UK and Europe.
In recent years prior to joining Cardiff Council Chris has been involved in the planning and delivery of projects such as Dumballs Road (The Embankment) and Cardiff Sports Village. These mixed development projects include open market residential, affordable homes, retail, offices and a new Ice Arena. Through these projects, which equate to in excess of 70 acres within the City Chris has delivered planning for in access of 3 million sq. ft. of development since 2010.
Vikki Beesley
MIPIM Manager
Invest in Cardiff
Victoria has over 20 years’ experience of working in her specialist area of event management and marketing in the private sector in the finance, retail and leisure industries.
She has worked in Cardiff Council for the past 8 years in various departments including Events, Tourism and
Economic Development where she worked for the Cardiff Business Council, a subsidiary arm of Cardiff Council.
She has helped deliver Cardiff’s attendance at MIPIM Cannes and MIPIM UK for a number of years before moving to the Tourism team and delivering the Cardiff Tourism Summit and more recently working on the
world’s premier offshore race, The Volvo Ocean Race.
She has recently returned to the Economic Development team as MIPIM Manager where she is heading up Cardiff’s attendance at the international property event in Cannes in March 2019.
Email: vikki.beesley@cardiff.gov.uk
Ruth Cayford
Head of Creative Industries, Media and Culture
Invest in Cardiff
Ruth leads on the development of the creative industries, media and culture in Cardiff, with a special focus on the growth of the screen and music industry. Cardiff is enjoying a golden era in Film and TV production and has established its position as an international ‘Music City’ and the biggest centre for Drama production in the UK, outside of London.
To support significant investment in high end media production, Ruth’s work includes establishing new studio complexes, production facilities and cultural venues in Cardiff, considered in the context of environmental responsibility, supporting culture led regeneration to help reimagine the city.
The Cardiff ambition is to ensure that creativity and innovation are at the forefront of the city’s development, the success of which is evidenced in a recent KPMG report that highlights the creative sector in Cardiff, is growing faster than any other UK city.
Ruth leads on the Culture portfolio for UK Core Cities and recently worked on the lead team for UK Cultural Cities Enquiry. This focused on role of culture has in urban regeneration and the opportunities this presents for cities. Investment in culture has a disproportionately powerful capacity to catalyse wider economic development in a locality, and Ruth works to ensure this approach supports inclusive growth in the wider creative and digital industries in Cardiff, recognising cultures role in attracting talent and developing a 21st century progressive and sustainable city.
Ruth trained as an artist with a special interest in urban design and architectural practice. She is part of Cardiff’s Economic Development team and dedicated to establishing Cardiff as an internationally recognised Creative City and a global centre of excellence for production and performance, championing the Jane Jacobs approach that ‘cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody’
Email: rcayford@cardiff.co.uk
Jon Day
Operational Manager Tourism and Investment
Invest in Cardiff
Jonathan is Cardiff Council’s Head of Economic Policy, recently playing a central role in the development of the successful Cardiff Capital Region City Deal proposal.
Jonathan is responsible for the city’s business support team, the Invest in and Visit Cardiff platforms, as well as being Cardiff’s lead officer for supporting city-region
working across the Cardiff Capital Region. His key areas of interest are economic research and analysis.
Prior to joining Cardiff Council, Jonathan worked as a consultant specialising in economic development, and was previously Director and Chief Economist at Arad Consulting, a Cardiff based research consultancy. Before
becoming a consultant Jonathan worked at the HM Treasury as part of the Debt and Reserves Management Team.
Email: jday@cardiff.gov.uk
Juliet Gamlin
Principal Officer for Inward Investment
Invest in Cardiff
Principal Officer for Inward Investment, covering all priority sectors within Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and aftercare.
As part of my role I support local businesses covering all aspects of their day to day challenge’s – Property, Regeneration, talent pool, Specialist skills, recruitment,
development of Strategic objectives, businesses planning and continuity, Cardiff Commitment Initiative (linking Education and Business) and general business support/ advice.
In addition, attracting new Business and Investment into the city including expansion projects (new job creation), relocation projects, soft landing space and recruitment. Working closely with the Welsh Government Sector teams, DIT and other investment bodies to deliver a stronger economy for Cardiff and the wider City Region.
Previously worked in the Private Sector supporting the delivery of Major sporting events. Email: jgamlin@cardiff.gov.uk
Louise Harrington
Commercial Development Manager
Invest in Cardiff
Louise has worked for the council for 11 years (collectively) in various departments including the CEX office, Events, Tourism, Parks and Sport and Economic Development.
An award winning, experienced individual; Louise has 20 years’ experience with an extensive knowledge of commercial, marketing, internal and external communication strategies and event management. She has worked in the UK, France and Spain across a range of diverse market sectors including Compliance, Financial and Legal Services, Tourism and Major Events.
She has successfully delivered large-scale, high-profile brand management and commercial partnerships including London 2012, UEFA Super Cup 2014, Rugby World Cup 2015, UEFA Champions League Final (2017), the naming rights of Principality Stadium and The Volvo Ocean Race 2018 as well as delivering AGM and conference programmes for companies such as Eversheds and Lloyds TSB.
Jo Moore
MIPIM Admin Manager
Jo has over 20 years of Executive Assistant experience across both the private and public sectors. She has worked at Cardiff Council for 4 years, as PA to Ken Poole in the Economic Development team and supporting the marketing team on events, namely Volvo Ocean Race in June 2018 and MIPIM. This is Jo’s third year working on the administration of the MIPIM project.
Prior to joining Cardiff Council, Jo was a PA at PwC for 21 years, supporting the UK Partners and Directors.
Email: Jo.Moore@cardiff.gov.uk
Robert O’Dwyer
Head of Infrastructure
Cardiff Capital Region
Rob is responsible for coordinating all infrastructure activity within CCRCD. In practice, this covers oversight of the CS Foundry Project and associated Compound Semiconductor Cluster Engagement, Sites and Premises Fund, Transport Programme, Housing Viability Gap Fund and implementing the Regional Energy Strategy.
Rob graduated as a quantity surveyor from Bristol University. He has held senior positions within local government for over 20 years, as Head of Business Transformation and formerly Head of Property Services & Procurement. During this time he was responsible for delivering major capital investment projects and operational facilities management.
Rob is also a company director of Y Prentis and is passionate about opportunities for young people and making a difference to people’s lives in the region. Another passion is for the environment and he is always keen to ensure the ‘green agenda’ is high on the priority list.
Nigel Pompeus
Inward Investment Marketing Lead
Cardiff Capital Region
Nigel has over 20 years’ experience in marketing and communications gained in the private sector where he focused on the built environment, sustainability and cleantech manufacturing. He spent 14 years working for the FTSE-listed business Mitie Group PLC, where he led the marketing and communications for a £400m per annum clean environment business of 33,000 people.
He also headed up the marketing and fundraising for a global environmental charity, The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, Wales which was the original pioneer of the development of solar panels and wind turbines.
More recently he executed the start-up marketing for a cleantech timber manufacturer aimed at international architects and builders, which saw his team win several prestigious US architectural awards in the process.
Nigel is a Chartered Marketer and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and has trained and mentored many graduate marketers, focusing on the development of marketing and communications strategy.
Email: nigel.pompeus@cardiff.gov.uk
Ken Poole, FRICS
Head of Economic Development
Cardiff Council
Ken is the Head of Economic Development at Cardiff Council. He is responsible for the implementation of Cardiff Council’s economic strategy. Ken has worked with many of the city’s leading financial, professional services and Fintech businesses in setting up and expanding in Cardiff and on key regeneration initiatives for the Council, which will have a transformational impact on the City and region.
Ken also manages Cardiff Council’s portfolio of incubation and start-up space and property loan funds to business. The co-ordination of the Council’s UK and overseas business marketing initiatives to promote the city is also a key part of his portfolio. He is also responsible for forging closer links between education and business in the city, under the Cardiff Commitment initiative.
Ken works with regional and national partners including UK Government, Welsh Government the Cardiff Capital Region and business organisations. He is also a Director of the Compound Semiconductor Foundry Limited, the vehicle for investing City Deal funds into the compound semi-conductor initiative, and FOR Cardiff, the BID for the city centre.
Prior to joining Cardiff Council team, Ken was a UK Director at PwC where he was responsible for advising clients on business locations throughout the UK and Europe and advising city and regional promotion agencies on strategies to attract foreign direct investment.
Nicola Somerville
Head of Business Development & Inclusive Growth
Cardiff Capital Region
Head of Business Development and Inclusive Growth, Nicola is responsible for identifying new business leads, International engagements, talent Mapping and supporting principles of social mobility. This includes overseeing skills delivery and supporting the partnerships that we have across the city deal network ensuring ‘opportunity’ is embedded into all investments that are made. Nicola has worked across the 3rd and public sectors leading on housing; regeneration & economic development mainly within SE Wales. With a passion for grassroots engagement and growing our communities into flourishing vibrant centres. Nicola has undertaken many voluntary roles to support the growth of developing organisations, along with being Non Executive Director with one of the best financially rated housing associations in Wales. Nicola has also contributed too and participated in many task oriented groups for Welsh Government, most recently of which – the Valley’s Task Force.
