Solihull Economic Update

Cllr Karen Grinsell

Council Leader, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Karen has been a Councillor since 2012 and was elected as the first female Deputy Leader of Solihull Council in 2019. She is also the Cabinet Member for Children and Education as well as the Lead Member for Corporate Parenting and Armed Forces Champion. Before this Karen was the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health, and Communities & Partnerships.

Nick Barton

Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham Airport

Nick Barton took up the appointment of Chief Executive Officer at Birmingham Airport in January 2019, having joined the airport at an exciting time in its history following the announcement of the ambitious draft Master Plan. Although it was on hold due to the impact of COVID-19 on air travel, the airport’s long-term plans include upgrading and expanding capacity of the terminal operations, aircraft stands and support facilities, combined with achieving net zero by 2033.

Nick has a long track-record as a successful leader, with extensive experience in the airports sector. He was previously Chief Executive at London Luton Airport, Managing Director of London Stansted and CEO of Aberdeen International Airport and is also Deputy Chair of the Airport Operators Association (the national voice of the UK’s airport industry).

Antoinette Farrell-Jones

People Director, Birmingham Airport

Antoinette Farrell-Jones joined Birmingham Airport as People Director in 2018 with over 30 years’ experience in Aviation. A dynamic People Director, commercially focused, and possessing both operational and HR experience. Antoinette is responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the human resources function as she understands the businesses challenges and consequently ensures that the people strategies are simple, effective and forward-thinking.  She is committed to creating diversity and inclusion in the workplace so all employees can be their true selves at work. 

Antoinette sits on the Solihull Employment Skills Board, and the West Midlands Employer Alliance. 

David Mitchelmore

Senior Project Manager, HS2

Senior Project Manager for the Automated People Mover (APM). He brings 11 years’ experience working on civils projects within the railway industry and joined HS2 in 2018 predominantly working on the SCSjv London Tunnels contracts. He has held numerous delivery roles, starting out as a London Underground Graduate working on the Northern Line Extension and Bond Street Station Upgrade projects.  David is responsible for leading the HS2 APM delivery as part of the client team that will deliver both one of the best-connected railway stations and the first brand new intercity terminus to be built in Britain since the 19th Century and both will see significant wider regional benefits.

Ian Taylor

Managing Director, NEC Group

With over 20 years of experience, Ian has a wealth of knowledge in the events industry and leads the UK’s leading exhibition venue, the NEC.

He joined the NEC Group in 2014 as NEC Venue Sales Director and oversaw the commercial transformation of the exhibition business. By 2020, Ian had become Managing Director for Conventions and Exhibitions.

Prior to this, he was Commercial Director for Marketing Birmingham (now West Midlands Growth Company) and Newcastle Gateshead, driving the cities’ visitor economies, and Head of Conference and Events at Emap.

Tony Elvin

General Manager, Touchwood Solihull

Former Solihull Chamber President and General Manager at the award-winning Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull, Tony has a rich and varied hospitality and leisure background working in and operating health clubs, bars, restaurants, family entertainment centres and hotels. He also runs his own events business, The Wine Events Company, hosting tastings, pop ups, collaborations and dinners across the region.

Tony is an active ambassador for the region. Whilst sitting on the Solihull Chamber Exec Team, he is also Deputy Chair for Solihull BID, Deputy Chair for the Solihull Tourism Steering Group, Head Judge for the Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards, The Birmingham Awards and sits on various boards within the region.