Greater Grimsby Board
The Greater Grimsby Board has the role of a senior strategic body working in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council. It will steer and provide strategic direction to the development and implementation of place-making regeneration and the social and economic development of Grimsby and the wider borough of North East Lincolnshire.
About the Greater Grimsby Board
Specifically, it will take the role of the Town Deal Board in relation to the Towns Fund and will be the vehicle through which the vision and strategy for the town is defined. It has responsibility for producing a Town Investment Plan (TIP) which will identify projects that will drive long-term transformative change for the town.
The Board will sign off each stage of a Town Investment Plan and Town Deal ensuring diversity in its engagement with local communities and businesses.
The Greater Grimsby Board is made up of community representatives, local businesses and other organisations with an interest in the future development of the town.
The Board will meet quarterly to progress the activity relating to Grimsby’s Towns Fund.
Board documents
Board members
Chair – David Ross
David Ross is an UK-based entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known for co-founding The Carphone Warehouse Group.
Born and bred in Grimsby, David’s connection to the coastal town started with his grandfather, Carl Ross who founded one of the UK’s largest commercial fishing firms from here. David lived in Grimsby until he began his career with Arthur Andersen in 1988. He attended Uppingham School and later studied law at Nottingham University before going on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.
David is an arts philanthropist with a strong commitment to embedding diversity and inclusion at the heart of the arts. David founded the David Ross Foundation which supports a number of organisations and projects across a range of artistic fields, from music to theatre and the visual arts. He is currently the Chairman of the National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Opera House and the New Schools Network.
In addition, David established the David Ross Education Trust (DRET), with a mission to bring world-class education as well as cultural enrichment and citizenship skills to children attending its 34 Academies across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.
Deputy Chair – Chris Carr
Details to follow.
Cllr Oliver Freeston
Leader, North East Lincolnshire Council
Cllr Samuel Grice
Deputy Leader, North East Lincolnshire Council
Sharon Wroot
Chief Executive, North East Lincolnshire Council
Melanie Onn MP
Melanie is the Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Melanie was first elected as the MP for Great Grimsby in 2015 before taking her seat for the new Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes constituency in 2024. Melanie now chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kinship Care and co-chairs the APPG for Fisheries
Martin Vickers MP
Martin was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Cleethorpes in May 2010. In Parliament, Martin sits on the International Trade Committee and chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Rail and Freeports. Prior to becoming an MP, Martin served as a NEL councillor for 25 years, including six years as the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services.
Emma Toulson
Emma is Orsted’s Lead Stakeholder Advisor in the UK she is responsible for creating and developing relationships with key stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally. Her and her team deliver strategic and project level engagement and support to realise new development in offshore wind and other renewable energy generation and storage sources. Emma was a key contributor to the Offshore Wind Sector Deal.
Julie Walmsley
Role profile coming soon.
Deborah Williams
Details to follow.
Julian Free
Julian Free is responsible for People Services and Operations and the University’s Regional Engagement Strategy at University of Lincoln. This seeks to cohere engagement across education, civic institutions and employers to increase regional economic prosperity through innovation and the creation of high value jobs. The aim is to help increase local revenue to enable the development of new civic assets, which enhance the Region’s cultural capital and make it more attractive.
Jonathan Evison
Jonathan Evison is the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the Humberside Police force area, a role he was elected to in 2021. Jonathan served as a ward councillor on North Lincolnshire Council for eleven years, he was Chair of the Humberside Police and Crime Panel for six years and had other roles within the Council including Ambassador for Steel and Heavy Industry, Vice Chair of Planning, scrutiny chairs and Mayor for two years. In addition, Jonathan served his community as a Barton Town Councillor for eighteen years
