NWAA adds six non-executive directors to its board

The North West Aerospace Alliance has added six new members to its management board.

The new non-executive directors join the existing NWAA board team of chairman Prof Andrew Schofield, chief executive Paula Gill NWAA, Anthony Hammond of Hyde Group, Jeff Cheetham of Blue Sky Growth Solutions, Jon Bridges of Velocity Composites and Paul Burns BAE Systems. 

Lynne Gillen is the export manager for Lancashire at the Department for International Trade, as well as holding roles at the Growth Company, Northern Powerhouse and Lancashire Enterprise Partnership. She brings more than 20 years of experience specialising in market research, ranging across more than 90 countries. She is a full member of the Institute of Export and holds a MSc in International Business and Management

Beth Owen is head of logistics and transport at Airbus. She is experienced in quality and operations management, deploying quality standards and auditing and also holds managerial and leadership skills driving for continuous improvement across key business indicators.

Annette Weekes is managing director of PDS CNC Engineering, and is due to commence as general manager of Paradigm Precision later this month. She is also a non-executive director and chairs the manufacturing sector group  of the LEP and is a director of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. Her 25 years of experience began with NASA in Houston before forming a small group of SME engineering companies in East Lancashire.

Dion Williams is associate dean for enterprise and engagement and director of research, enterprise and innovation at Lancaster University. He currently oversees a £100m+ portfolio of research, business and public sector engagement across a local, regional, national and international dimension. He holds extensive expertise in working with the university’s external stakeholders including funding bodies, government agencies, regional Local Enterprise Partnerships, Higher and Further Education partners, corporate businesses and SMEs. He also sits on the Eden North project Board and was part of the team that secured the government’s decision to locate the National Cyber Force in Lancashire.

Adam Burrows is head of manufacturing at Rolls Royce, heading up two manufacturing facilities at its Barnoldswick site. He has holds more than a decade of experience as a senior business leader within the aerospace industry and is passionate about encouraging young people into engineering.

Ged O’Dwyer is manufacturing sector head at MBDA Missile Systems, a European Joint Venture company wholly owned by BAE Systems, Airbus and Leonardo. He began his career as an engineering apprentice in 1980, and has accrued a wealth of knowledge and experience across an extensive range of technical, operational and leadership roles, initially in the UK, but in more recent years in French, German and Italian companies leading a variety of manufacturing effectiveness and major change programmes.

Prof Andrew Schofield said: "I am delighted to welcome our new members to the NWAA board.  With these new additions, we are gaining the high level experience and diversity needed to move the aerospace industry in the North West forward. 

"This will be much valued as the NWAA continues to strive to add value to our membership and the regional supply chain. I am confident that our new non-executive directors can help the NWAA foster new relationships based on their knowledge and understanding of areas currently underrepresented in our external engagement."