Sara Wilde (Chair), Trinity Mirror North West

As Regional Managing Director for Trinity Mirror in the North West, Sara is responsible for publishing interests across Merseyside, North Wales, Huddersfield and Cheshire, spanning 70 newspaper titles and 5 online sites. Sara also sits on The Mersey Partnership main board and chairs the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park board.

Pat Hackett (Deputy Chair), Wirral MBC

Pat is Wirral MBC Labour Councillor for New Brighton, Wirral Cabinet Member and Portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration and Community Planning on Wirral.

Barbara Mace, Liverpool CC

Cllr Barbara Mace has been an elected member of Liverpool City Council for eight years. Last year she was appointed Assistant Executive Member for Regeneration and lead member for the City Centre.

Lord Ronnie Fearn, Sefton MBC

Lord Fearn is Sefton MBC Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Councillor for Norwood (Southport). He is also Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Tourism.

Rob Polhill, Halton BC

Rob is Halton BC Labour Councillor for Halton ward, Executive Member for Planning, Transportation & Development.

Andrew Needham, Cheshire CC

Cllr Needham was first elected onto Cheshire County Council in 1997 and is currently the Executive Director for Environment, Economy, Rural Affairs & Waste.

Ian Higby, Mersey Maritime

Ian is the Managing Director of ACL UK Ltd and Chairman of Mersey Maritime Ltd.

Walter Menzies, Mersey Basin Campaign

As well as his role as Chief Executive of the Mersey Basin Campaign and the Mersey Basin Business Foundation, Walter is Trustee of Healthy Waterways Trust, a member of the UK Sustainable Development Commission and was formerly Chief Executive of Sustainability Northwest. He also sits on the Board of ENWORKS, the Advisory Board of the Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures and the Sustainable Development Advisory Panel of United Utilities plc.

Professor Peter Batey, University of Liverpool

Peter is Lever Professor of Town and Regional Planning and Dean of the Faculty of Social and Environmental Studies at the University of Liverpool. He also Chairs the Mersey Estuary Forum, the Mersey Estuary Strategy and Alt 2000+ (part of the Mersey Basin Campaign).

Alan Stillwell, Merseytravel

Director of Operations with Merseytravel, the Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Executive, Alan’s responsibilities range across rail and bus services; the management and operation of Mersey Ferries; facilities management (bus and rail stations, bus stops and shelters, etc.); and the development and delivery of transport infrastructure projects.

Lorraine Rogers, The Mersey Partnership

Lorraine is a Trustee of National Museums Liverpool, one of the largest museums services in the world with over 1.6 million visitors a year to eight galleries and museums. Lorraine has been a Director of Radio City in Liverpool, the biggest commercial radio station outside London, since 2000 and is a Director of City Talk, a brand new radio station for Liverpool that will launch in 2008. At the beginning of 2007, Lorraine was appointed Chair of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. In August 2007, Lorraine was appointed Chief Executive of The Mersey Partnership and has become Non Executive Chair at Tranmere Rovers to make time for this new full time role. The Mersey Partnership is a public/private organisation with almost 500 members and is responsible for economic policy, tourism and inward investment for the Liverpool City region. She is a Director of The Football League and member of the Football Association Council.