THE Cardiff Capital Region has announced the appointment of its business council’s board.

The business council, which is chaired by Neil Brierley, is responsible for engaging with all businesses and articulating their needs, providing a strong voice for business to guide both the design and delivery of significant economic development and regeneration activities across the south east Wales region.

The members, either elected to serve the bodies they represent, or appointed against a key set of skills, are: Chairman Neil Brierley, operations director for Wales and South West, Faithful+Gould; Ann Beynon, senior advisor on Welsh affairs, Severn Trent Water, representing the Confederation of British Industry; Katy Chamberlain – chief executive, Business in Focus; Huw Lewis, finance director and company secretary, Cardiff Airport; Heather Myers, director, South Wales Chamber of Commerce; Jo Rees, lawyer and partner, Blake Morgan; Grant Santos, CEO, Educ8 Group, representing the Federation of Small Businesses; Richard Selby, co-founder, Pro Steel Engineering; Paul Webber, director, Arup; Karen Wenborn, head of retention and sales Cardiff, SSE Plc; and Huw Williams, deputy vice chancellor strategic resources, University of South Wales.

The role of the board members is to drive the business of the council, identify key areas of intervention, support the CCR Economic Growth Partnership in the delivery of its strategic plan, provide comprehensive advice, challenge and scrutiny, and ensure that business has a strong voice.