Our Team
Sharon Smith
Chief Executive
Sharon has been Chief Executive of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce since 1 April 2017. Previously, she worked at the Chamber for 10 years and was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in 2014.
Before this, Sharon spent 13 years working for Business Link in Herefordshire and seven years working for a Manufacturing company in Hereford. She also achieved an MBA from the University of Worcester in 2009.
Sharon is passionate about supporting local businesses, building on the success of the Chamber and strengthening its partnership with businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Directors
Robert Elliot
Directors
Director of Business Engagement & Development
Tanya Cunningham
Directors
Director of Finance & Corporate Services
Dawn Hardman
Director
Director of HR
Business Engagement
Marie Ganderton
Sales and Customer Service Manager
Adriana Geary
Strategic Account Manager
Ash Williams
Business Engagement Executive, North Worcestershire
Annie Pagan
Account Executive, North Worcestershire
Elizabeth Hardman
Business Engagement Executive, Herefordshire
Beth Ingham
Account Executive, Herefordshire
Oliver Trevitt
Business Engagement Executive, South Worcestershire
Annmarie Newman
Account Executive, South Worcestershire
Simon Helmer
Energy & Resource Efficiency Advisor
Lauren Ashford
Business Engagement Advisor
International Trade
Alison Avery
International Trade
International Trade Advisior & Team Manager
Naomi Steemson
International Trade
International Trade Advisor
Nick Corley
International Trade
International Trade Advisor
Gail Dendy de Santos
International Trade
International Trade Advisor
Awlhad Miah
International Trade
International Trade Advisor
Emma Harris
International Trade
Export Documentation Advisor
Leanne Wańczyk
International Trade
Export Documentation Advisor
Paul Tomkins
International Trade
Specialist Adviser – Tech & Digital Sector
Kayla Ball
International Trade
International Trade Advisor
Events & Training
Olivia Williams
Events & Training
Events & Training Manager
Yasmin Bent
Events & Training
Senior Events Co-ordinator
Hayley Giles
Events & Training
Events Co-ordinator
Amanda Swingewood
Events & Training
Training Co-ordinator
Sharon Dunkley
Events & Training
Events & Training Assistant
Marketing & Communications
Georgia Williams
Marketing & Communications
Marketing & Communications Manager
Human Resources
Emma Forrest
HR Executive
Steve Collins
Executive Assistant
Corporate Services
Jenny Madzarevic
Corporate Services
Senior Finance Executive
Boogie Kucharska-Hodgkins
Corporate Services
Finance Executive
Pauline Griffiths
Corporate Services
Credit Controller
Julie Weston
Corporate Services
Quality Executive
Tracie Knight
Corporate Services
Premises & IT Executive
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Our Board
The Chamber is a private, not for profit, membership organisation with a board made up of five people who determine the strategy and regularly review activity and progress.
Mike Forrester
Chairman
Mike has experience of starting and running a local small business through to working for an International, multi billion pound, PLC. Having had one spell on the Chamber board previously, he welcomes the opportunity to return as Chair. Supporting the Chamber and its many members from sole trader start-ups, through established SMEs and larger businesses with a base in Herefordshire or Worcestershire. The two counties have some fabulous businesses, many of whom keep a low profile. It’s a real buzz to help those companies build their profile, network with new contacts and potentially do business together. As the 7th largest Chamber of Commerce, it’s important we represent ourselves when possible within the Midlands Chambers of Commerce and at the British Chamber of Commerce – flying the flag for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Sharon Smith
Chief Executive
Sharon has been Chief Executive of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce since 1 April 2017. Previously, she worked at the Chamber for 10 years and was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in 2014. Before this, Sharon spent 13 years working for Business Link in Herefordshire and seven years working for a Manufacturing company in Hereford. She also achieved an MBA from the University of Worcester in 2009.
Sharon is passionate about supporting local businesses, building on the success of the Chamber and strengthening its partnership with businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Ben Mannion
President
After graduating with a degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge, Ben started his recruitment career with a national agency in Birmingham before joining Hewett Recruitment in 2009. Becoming a Director in 2013, Ben’s role sees him work closely with client’s CEOs / MDs, HR Teams and Hiring Managers, designing bespoke recruitment solutions and SLAs to ensure compliance with legislation and delivery of KPIs.
Outside of his role with Hewett Recruitment, Ben is also Chair of the Worcestershire LEP’s Connecting Schools & Business Board, as well as sitting on the main Employment & Skills Board, the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Prince’s Trust Committee, the ReWyre Board and is also a Worcestershire Ambassador.
Chris Walklett
Chair of the Worcestershire Area Council and Vice President, Worcestershire
Creative and connected, Chris is a growth-orientated partner with an international focus, responsible for Bishop Fleming’s West Midlands based tax team. His background includes roles in practice and in industry with multi-national organisations such as EasyJet. In addition to working with clients directly across a number of areas, Chris has worked with clients across a number of technology sectors, including several years working in Cambridge, is heavily involved with Malvern Hills Science Park in his role as Strategic Finance Director and is an Advisory board member and founder of Worcestershire’s BetaDen Tech Incubator. He is also the Director of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, working with the rest of the board to successfully tender for the award of the UK Government’s 5G test-bed, based at Malvern Hills Science Park.
Mark Smith
Chair of the Herefordshire Area Council and Vice President, Herefordshire
Mark is an experienced banker and has worked for Lloyds Banking Group for 36 years, across a range of retail, commercial, risk, and operational management roles. Currently, Relationship Director with primary responsibility for 60 SME clients, typically with annual sales of £10-£25M and/or debt requirements of c£2M+ within the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Area.
For more information about our Membership packages
Get in touch with our membership team.