Immingham & Habrough Neighbourhood Board
The Immingham & Habrough Neighbourhood Board has been established as part of the Government’s Pride in Place programme to provide strong, locally rooted leadership for shaping the future of the area. As a place‑making, citizen‑led board, it brings together residents, community organisations, businesses, and local partners to ensure that local voices are at the heart of decision‑making. The Board exists to champion a shared vision for Immingham and Habrough, guiding investment priorities and overseeing long‑term regeneration in a way that reflects local aspirations, strengthens pride and identity, and delivers meaningful, inclusive change for the community.
About the Board
The Board will have 18 members made up of community representatives, local businesses and other organisations with an interest in the future development of Immingham & Habrough.
It will be the vehicle through which the vision and strategy for the allocation of the Pride of Place funding is defined.
The Board will meet quarterly to progress the activity relating to the Pride of Place fund.
Board documents
Board members
Chair – Andy Hopkins, Director of Operations at Immingham Town Council
Andy has 37 years’ experience in local government, working across borough and unitary councils in a wide range of services. He moved to northern Lincolnshire in 2007, joining North Lincolnshire Council. Since becoming Town Clerk at Immingham Town Council in 2018, and now Director of Operations, Andy has led projects that strengthen community identity, improve services, and enhance quality of life.
Passionate about Immingham’s future, he works collaboratively with partners including North East Lincolnshire Council, Humberside Police, schools, voluntary groups, and businesses. Together they have delivered initiatives such as a Community Café, Men in Sheds, youth angling, environmental improvements, and new recreational facilities, alongside events celebrating local heritage. A skilled and inclusive chair, Andy drives participation and practical outcomes across partnerships and boards. He led development of the Immingham Town Plan through community consultation and remains committed to securing lasting Pride of Place benefits for Immingham and Habrough.
Vice Chair – Elaine Norton, resident and Project Manager at One Voice Immingham
Elaine brings nearly 20 years of experience in community leadership, partnership working, and grassroots engagement across Immingham and Habrough. Elaine’s strengths include building trusted relationships, encouraging meaningful community participation, and ensuring local voices influence decision-making. Elaine has extensive experience in governance, project leadership, funding development, partnership collaboration, and delivering practical outcomes that reflect community priorities. Through leading One Voice and supporting wider local initiatives, Elaine has developed a strong reputation for integrity, resilience, and getting things done. Elaine is skilled at bringing people and organisations together around shared goals and remains committed to inclusive leadership that ensures all residents feel heard, valued, and represented.
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.
Superintendent Doug Blackwood, Humberside Police
Information to come
Photo to come
Cllr Karen Swinburn, North East Lincolnshire Council
Karen has extensive knowledge and experience of the Immingham and Habrough area through many years of public service and community involvement. She has served as an Immingham Town Councillor for over 20 years and has been an elected North East Lincolnshire ward councillor since 2007. Born and educated in Immingham, Karen has a strong understanding of the issues affecting residents of all ages across the community. She is also Curator of Immingham Museum and is actively involved in local regeneration discussions, including the Immingham Masterplan, community forums, stakeholder groups and council meetings relating to both Immingham and Habrough.
Cllr Blake Russell, North East Lincolnshire Council
Information to come
Photo to come
Cllr David Christie, Immingham Town Council/resident
David is an experienced communicator, campaigner, and community advocate with a strong background in public engagement, events, and local issues. Committed to the Nolan Principles of Public Life selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership with a strong belief in transparent and ethical decision-making. David is skilled in building relationships, public speaking, strategic thinking, and collaborative working to deliver positive outcomes bringing a creative, organisational, and a practical approach to problem-solving, alongside a genuine passion for supporting charities and strengthening community impact through effective governance and engagement. David was elected as Deputy Mayor for Immingham Town Council but does not see this as any conflict of interest with Pride of Place.
Cllr Dulcia Wilding, Habrough Parish Council
Information to come
Photo to come
Katie Brown, Director of Adults, Housing and Communities, NELC
Katie leads on key areas at North East Lincolnshire council that directly interface and can enhance the Pride in Place programme. This includes neighbourhood health and wellbeing, housing and the council’s role in supporting the VCSE and empowering communities.
Polly Bancroft Chief Executive, Grimsby Town Football Club
Polly is a senior leader with extensive experience across sport, community development and partnership working within North East Lincolnshire. As CEO of Grimsby Town Football Club and Trustee of the Grimsby Town Foundation, she leads programmes focused on health, wellbeing, education, skills and social inclusion. She brings strong connections with local stakeholders across the public, voluntary and community sectors, alongside experience securing investment and delivering projects with measurable social value. She is committed to inclusive engagement and ensuring local investment reflects community need, with a particular focus on reducing inequalities, improving outcomes and supporting sustainable place-based regeneration.
Michelle Donner, Oasis
Immingham is Michelle’s home town, her family still live there. She has over 20 years of experience in community work, and brings a strong, citizen-led approach to the Board. Michelle’s work is rooted in ensuring that community voice sits at the heart of decision-making, and in creating meaningful, long-lasting connections within places. She believes this approach is essential for sustainable and inclusive growth. In addition to her practical experience, she is currently studying a postgraduate certificate in Place Management and Leadership, which is strengthening her academic understanding and enabling Michelle to bring informed, strategic insight to her work.
Max Burnett, Associated British Ports
As Public Affairs Manager at ABP, Max leads engagement with MPs, local authorities, community groups, and regional organisations, and chairs ABP Humber’s CSR Committee, overseeing charitable funding and partnerships with grassroots organisations. He also contributes to regeneration governance as a member of the Greater Grimsby Board. Having worked in and with Immingham and Habrough for over a decade, Max understands the area’s challenges and opportunities and is committed to supporting evidence‑based, collaborative decision making that delivers long‑term benefits for the community.
Kevin Gowing, One Voice Immingham/resident
As a proud resident of Immingham and Chair of Trustees for One Voice, Kevin cares deeply about the town and the people who live there. His career has given him valuable experience in leadership, partnership working and supporting positive change, but his real passion is helping communities thrive. He believes local people should have a strong voice in shaping the future of where they live. Through Pride in Place, he aims to champion community engagement, empower local voices, and help deliver meaningful, lasting change, that benefits all residents of Immingham and Habrough.
Rev Canon Julie Donn, St Andrew’s Church
Julie has have served the community of Immingham and Habrough as the vicar for the last 11 years. She is also a trustee of the Lincoln DIocese Trust and Board of Finance. She brings a lifetime of experience of working both in the secular world (Humber Bank industries as a chemist), Government initiatives working with long term unemployed, and charitable work (working for a national animal charity as a fundraiser).
As a local person, she is passionate about bringing her knowledge and skills to continue to serve the local community in a wider capacity.
Photo to come
Emily McKenna, Lincolnshire Housing Partnership
Emily brings extensive strategic and operational leadership experience from the social housing sector through her role as Corporate Head of Risk & Assurance at Lincolnshire Housing Partnership, alongside her role as organisational sponsor for Immingham as part of the Neighbourhood Action Plan approach. She works closely with residents, local teams and partners to improve housing quality, strengthen neighbourhoods and ensure customer voice and local insight directly influence decision-making. Emily’s expertise includes governance, risk management, assurance, community engagement and collaborative partnership working. She is experienced in supporting Boards and Executive Teams, facilitating constructive challenge and translating strategy into practical outcomes. Emily brings an inclusive, evidence-led and community-focused approach centred on delivering lasting, visible improvements.
David Watson, Burt Boyden Centre/resident
David is a highly-experienced public servant and community leader with over 25 years in local government and the voluntary sector. He has a proven track record in leadership, governance, including transforming local assets into thriving community spaces. Experienced in partnership working and delivering positive outcomes for residents. Now seeking to contribute these skills to support the work of the Pride in Place board.
Malcolm Cullum, heritage representative/resident
Information to come
Jill Cunningham, resident
Jill has extensive experience in Health and Social Care Service transformation and commissioning, partnership working, and working within and alongside voluntary sector organisations.
