Swindon & Wiltshire News
Western Gateway Partnership appoints a new director
The Western Gateway Partnership board has appointed a new director to spearhead the next stage of work to deliver on its mission to create a greener fairer future.
John Wilkinson, is currently a senior civil servant within the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
He has played a lead role in managing elements of the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio and has worked on the 13 Mayoral Combined Authority Investment Funds and the 20 City and Growth Deals in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Prior to this he worked as economy director at Bath and North East Somerset Council and head of economic participation at the East of England Development Agency.
He has also spent time in the charity sector developing policy to tackle childhood poverty in some of the poorest countries in the World.
John lives within the Western Gateway geography with his family.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Western Gateway Partnership as its Director. Having lived and worked in the area for the past 12 years I know what a great place it is and what fabulous opportunities there are across South Wales and Western England to power the UK’s move to Net Zero,” said John.
“I am incredibly excited to have the chance to build on the momentum the Western Gateway has already generated and work with partners to develop new opportunities for the 4.4 million people who live here”
Katherine Bennett CBE, chair of the Western Gateway Partnership said: “It is great to have John join our team as we start to build our partnership’s reputation and boost the profile of our area on the national and international stage.
“Following the announcement from Government about our three-year funding deal, we are ready to build on our potential and deliver growth and help the UK decarbonise. I’m sure our partners will join me in offering their congratulations and I look forward to working together closely in the months and weeks to come as we look to unlock £34 billion for the UK economy by 2030 and become a Green Energy Super Cluster.”
John will officially start his position in late November.
