Prior to her recent appointment, Sharon was the 7th Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre. During her tenure at PDT, Sharon received a number of awards and accolades: In 2010, she was named as one of the Cultural Leadership Programme’s ‘Women to Watch’, a list of 50 influential women working in arts and culture in the UK. She was awarded The Sue Ryder ‘Yorkshire Women of Achievement in Business Award’ and named ‘Yorkshire Woman of the Year’ in 2016. Acknowledged at the 2017 Northern Power Women Awards as part of the very first ‘Top 50 Power List’ and in 2018 Sharon won the First English Woman’s Award for Arts and Culture and was presented with an Honorary Fellowship by Northern School of Contemporary Dance. In July 2019 Sharon received an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for her contribution to the arts. Sharon’s recognitions are testament to her continued passion and drive to contribute to the local and national creative industries through the medium of dance. November 2020, Appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire. In 2021 awarded an MBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours list. Sharon is a recent appointed trustee of Manchester International Festival and remains a trustee of Leeds 2023. She is committed to improving diversity within the arts by supporting the creative voices of women and Black, Asian and ethnic minority artists.

Neil McCallum is the CEO of Bradford-based Sovereign Health Care. Sovereign Health Care is one of the UK’s longest established providers of health care cash plans for individuals and businesses, with approximately 67,000 customers across the UK. As well as leading the 150 year old not-for-profit’s growth and customer-first strategy, Neil also oversees its community programme, which over the last 10 years has donated £7 million to local charities, community groups and NHS Trusts.

Neil was formally appointed as Sovereign’s CEO in December 2023 after more than a decade at Benenden Health, including eight years as Head of Products and Partnerships. In this role, Neil led the team responsible for developing, launching and managing Benenden’s suite of financial services and healthcare products. Neil also led the subsidiary business, Benenden Wellbeing Limited, which provides products and services to Benenden Healthcare members, and supports the Society in strategy development and product innovation.

With almost 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Neil started his career at Royal Bank of Scotland and spent seven years at insurance broker, Equity Direct Broking Limited (EDBL) before joining Benenden Health in 2013.

Neil is married with three children and enjoys travel, hill walking, running, and trying to look after his overgrown garden!

James leads the esteemed Audit and Assurance team in Leeds, with over 20 years of experience in the profession. His expertise lies in audit and general practice, where he has developed outstanding relationships with clients, providing expert, personable advice and assistance. He works with a diverse range of clients for S&W, from growing owner-managed businesses to large corporates.

Jeff has over 40 years of experience in the commercial property sector. Arriving in Leeds in 1988 he began specialising in the office sector and has advised many commercial developers and occupiers over the last 4 decades.

Of particular note he was involved acting for the Government Property Agency in their acquisition of a new regional hub in Leeds extending to almost 380,000 sq ft, the largest office transaction outside of London for over two decades.

Almost 20 years ago, he was employed by JLL, where he was appointed to head their Leeds office growing it from 23 staff to over 100 at its peak. In the last 5 years he also led their UK regional office agency business with responsibility for office specialists across the UK’s key cities.

Emma Pearmaine is Managing Director at Ridley and Hall Solicitors, and winner of the Yorkshire Law Awards Managing Partner of the Year Award 2020. Emma is very proud to have supported Ridley and Hall to win Yorkshire Law Awards Small Law Firm of the Year Award 2019 and to be shortlisted for the same award in 2020.

In 2018, Emma was shortlisted in the Forward Ladies National Awards 2018, Female Entrepreneur of the Year category in Yorkshire, North East and Scotland.

In 2014 she won the Modern Lawyer ‘Lawyer of the Year’ Award.

Emma has been a member of the Multi Party Family Courts Parliamentary Group, is a Past President and current Director of Leeds Law Society, and current Vice President of The Yorkshire Union of Law Societies.

Emma’s focus is now on her role as Managing Director, and she is a key member of the Ridley & Hall management team. The Modern Law Award recognised her strong management and leadership ability. Emma is as interested in the development of legal process and services as she is in the delivery of them.

Emma is married and is the very proud mother of 2 grown up sons. In her spare time, she loves to be with her family and friends, she cooks up a storm in the kitchen, enjoys walking the dog in the countryside and loves a good book.

Helen Carling is Marketing Director at BPI, one of the UK’s leading online asset disposal and auction specialists. With extensive experience in commercial strategy, marketing leadership, and business development, Helen has successfully led major projects including acquisitions and the integration of multiple businesses. She is passionate about driving innovation, strengthening customer engagement, and expanding market presence, supporting BPI’s mission to deliver maximum returns and promote the circular economy.

Dr Sean Clarkson is the Head of Strategic Operations at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber. He leads the organisation’s externally-facing portfolio of strategic projects and drives internal strategic development of the organisation.
He works with stakeholders across the globe on projects seeking to tackle the big health and societal challenges impacting the population today and in the future. Much of Sean’s work focusses upon driving inclusive economic growth and creating equitable health outcomes through building cross- sector, multi-disciplinary partnerships focussing on innovative healthtech products and services. He has extensive experience supporting academic institutions, the public sector, and businesses located across the world to successfully translate research and development into practice and drive spread across the health sector.

Andy Clarke is the Head of Strategic Partnerships for Ahead Partnership, who are experts in creating youth engagement programmes around the world of work. He leads on building the organisation’s presence nationally and specifically leads on their work with the public sector in addition to the organisation’s work on green skills, legal and transport careers. Prior to this, Andy worked in corporate affairs for a decade. In this time, he worked for a Member of Parliament and prior to joining Ahead Partnership, he was the Head of Corporate Affairs for Manchester Airport, where he was responsible for reputation and building relationships with key stakeholders, including local, regional and national Government. In his spare time, he is on the Board of the Fragile X Society, a disability charity.

James Ashton is Chief Executive of the Quoted Companies Alliance, the members’ organisation that champions small and mid-sized companies whose shares are publicly traded. James was City Editor and Executive Editor of the Evening Standard and independent titles and before that City Editor of the Sunday Times. He is the author of several business books and chairs Oscar’s Book Prize, the annual search for the UK’s best picture book. James is also a non-executive director of Finsbury Growth & Income, the FTSE 250 investment trust.

With over 25 years of experience in the bus sector, Brandon Jones is the Head of External Relations for First Bus across the UK. He joined First Bus in 1997, holding senior roles across various commercial functions.
Brandon holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. His career has focused on communications, customer service, and public affairs, with a strong track record in stakeholder management and strategic communications.
A skilled communicator and advocate for professional development, Brandon has board-level experience and is passionate about coaching and mentoring. He continues to play a key role in shaping First Bus’s relationships and reputation across the UK.

Tariq is a Doncaster-born businessman, social investor and philanthropist. As CEO of Vigo Group, a multi-generational family business based in Yorkshire and London, he oversees a portfolio of companies focused on property development, regeneration and long-term asset operation.

Rooted in the values of his grandfather, who founded the business in 1966, and his father, who led its expansion, Tariq has played a central role in transforming underused land into places that serve and strengthen local communities. Under his leadership, the business has championed projects that blend commercial success with meaningful social impact.

He read Economics and Politics at the University of Birmingham, later completing an Executive MBA at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School in 2021. Since joining the family business in 2006, he has spearheaded numerous developments across the North and South of England, with a particular emphasis on place-making and long-term stewardship.

Beyond business, Tariq has contributed extensively to civic and charitable life, including chairing the Town Deal Board for Doncaster and sitting on the successful City Status Bid board, securing Doncaster’s place as one of the UK’s newest Cities.

A founding board member of Mosaic, the mentoring charity established by HM The King, Tariq has also supported organisations including the King’s Trust, the Sleep Charity, and Business in the Community. He is a Trustee of the AHS Foundation and a member of the Inspire2Ignite Advisory Board.

Tariq currently sits on the UK Government’s Public Services Honours Committee, co-chairs the Mayor of South Yorkshire’s Business Advisory Board, and chairs the Doncaster City Board.

In 2022, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours for services to charity.

A tireless advocate for the North of England and a believer in the power of place, Tariq’s career bridges commercial and social purpose, driven by a conviction that prosperity should be shared and rooted in the communities that create it.