Academic experts to support region-wide business commission
An advisory panel of academic experts has been appointed to Business Commission West Midlands (BCWM), the group formed by the region’s three Chambers of Commerce.
Business Commission West Midlands was convened by the Greater Birmingham, Black Country and Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce, to forensically examine opportunities for regional businesses and identify the action needed to seize them.
The commissioners, who represent private sector businesses, will be supported by an advisory panel of experts from academic institutions across the West Midlands.
These academic experts will offer support by identifying key secondary research to inform the project, ensuring research process is robust in order to maximise the impact and influence of the commission’s findings and providing a mechanism for testing the viability of policy proposals to ensure they are consistent with the project’s overarching objectives.
The advisory panel is made up of leading academics from across the region including:
- Dr. David Paulson, Executive Dean, Business School, University College Birmingham
- Professor Nigel Driffield, Professor of International Business & Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for Regional Engagement at Warwick Business School
- Vikki Potts, Director of Business School and Head of Law School, University of Wolverhampton
- Mike Leonard, Visiting Professor, Manufacturing and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University (BCU)
- Professor Monder Ram, Aston Business School, Centre Director, Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CRÈME), Aston University
- Professor Jun Du, Professor of Economics, Economics, Finance and Entrepreneurship Department, Aston Business School, Aston University
- Professor Anne Green, Professor of Regional Economic Development, City REDI, University of Birmingham
The work of the advisory panel is co-ordinated by Raj Kandola, director of external affairs at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, who said: “I’m delighted to be working with a first-rate team of academics that have extensive experience across a range of fields but also lots of experience of either running a business or working closely with the wider business community.
“Not only will the Advisory Panel offer insightful guidance and advice on the Business Commission’s research output, it will also work closely with the Commissioners to ensure our findings reflect our original objectives and that our recommendations for local and national stakeholders are practical and robust.
“It will be fascinating to explore the themes that emerge from our initial conversations with businesses and how that will help to shape our lobbying asks of local, regional and national stakeholders.”
David Paulson (pictured), Dean of the Business School, University College Birmingham, said: “The Business School at University College Birmingham exists to serve the business community of the West Midlands and to educate the next generation of business leaders who will help to grow the region’s productivity and international competitiveness.
“My engagement with the Advisory Panel will help us to contribute to the development of regional solutions, and in turn to shape our teaching and research to meet the needs of businesses now and in the future.”
