• Vision King’s Lynn

Vision King’s Lynn

KING’S LYNN TOWN BOARD

The King’s Lynn Town Board is overseeing the multi-million pound investment and projects which will help King’s Lynn to realise its full potential.  This includes £25M from the Towns Fund through a Town Deal, £24M from the Levelling Up Fund for active travel projects at , and the £20M Long Term Plan for Towns funding.

Led by a chair from the private sector, the board brings together diverse expertise, experience, and knowledge, and a shared passion for the town and its long-term success.

The board takes a collaborative approach and is made up of representatives from all tiers of local authority, the Member of Parliament, local businesses, Business Improvement District, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, College of West Anglia, Norfolk Police and the community.

The investment and projects offer a once in a generation opportunity for King’s Lynn, an opportunity the board is proud to be helping King’s Lynn to realise.

James Wild

Member of Parliament for North West Norfolk

Hello, I’m James Wild and I was elected the MP for North West Norfolk in December 2019.

It’s a huge privilege to have this role and being Norfolk born and bred I am passionate about securing investment to benefit our area. And that’s what I’ve been focused on since being elected as Levelling Up to spread opportunity is as relevant in North West Norfolk as it is in the North.

We’ve got such a committed, creative, and engaged community and the Town Deal is a great opportunity to bring £25 million of investment into Lynn. It is exciting to be involved with the committed local people on the Board focused on delivering projects to boost skills, jobs, maximise our amazing history, and improve the quality of life.

In a nutshell, the aim of all this is to make Lynn an even better place to live, work, and visit.

Vicky Etheridge

Interim Chair

Hi, I’m Vicky. My role on the Town Board is to represent business interests from the commercial area of King’s Lynn town centre which makes up our Business Improvement District. As a BID, our job is to champion the town centre and its businesses, to promote it as a place to visit, shop, work and relax. We are thrilled to have a place on the Town Board and to be playing an important and active role in shaping the future of the town centre.

On a personal note, I have lived in west Norfolk for just over 20 years and have chosen to raise my children here. For me, the Town Investment Plan and the work of the Town Board can play an important part in inspiring young people to live and work in and around King’s Lynn, creating pride and a sense of connection that this is the Town to be.

BOARD MEMBERS

Alistair Beales

Cabinet Member for Business at the Borough Council

Hello, I’m Councillor Alistair Beales, Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. I was born and raised in Norfolk and have lived locally in West Norfolk since 1999 and have married and raised two children in that time. I have worked in agriculture and land management all my life, and have been in a management role on a local 3,000 acre farming and property business for the last 24 years.

I am a long-standing member of my local Parish Council and a Governor at Springwood High School. I was elected to the Borough Council in May 2023 and was previously a councillor between 2007 and 2019 holding many cabinet roles including that of Deputy Leader and was responsible for the initiation and delivery of the Council’s Major Housing Project.

Kate Blakemore

Chief Executive

I’m Kate Blakemore, the Chief Executive at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. As someone who was born in King’s Lynn, with enduring family connections to the West Norfolk area, I am passionate about working with partners, locally and nationally, to unlock the full potential of our incredible historic town for the benefit of our communities.

With a strategic background in delivering large scale, sustainable and inclusive place-based regeneration, I am committed to collaborating with my fellow Town Board members, Norfolk County Council and other partners to drive forward the exciting vision for King’s Lynn across a range of truly transformative projects.

Supported by significant national investment, these key projects will not only improve the visual aspects of our town and make the most of our unique historic assets, but crucially provide opportunities for local people and businesses too.

Carly West-Burnham

Director of Strategy and Integration

Carly West-Burnham has worked within the West Norfolk health and social care system since 2007 working in senior operational and corporate roles withing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and wider Integrated Care Systems (ICS).

A graduate of the NHS Management Training Scheme, she brings a wealth of operational, transformational and integration experience to the local System.

Carly’s portfolio includes strategy development and monitoring, embedding partnership working within the ICS including Provider collaboration and Place-Based Care development, annual planning, and health inequalities. Carly holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Stuart Dark

Chair of Norfolk County Council and County Councillor for Dersingham Division

Stuart Dark is a highly commended, retired senior police officer, who holds the Metropolitan Police’s highest operational honour. After moving to West-Norfolk with his young family Stuart entered politics, becoming both a County and Borough Councillor.

In his time as the portfolio lead for Norfolk’s ‘Childrens’ Services’ Stuart oversaw that department’s rapid improvement and a programme of significant capital investment to build new mainstream and special educational needs schools across the county.

Stuart led the Borough’s response to COVID and later as the Borough’s Leader worked closely with officers, partners and the Towns Board on the development of its projects.

Stuart is proud to be a resident of West-Norfolk and as the County Council’s representative on the board is particularly interested in the projects raising aspirations and creating opportunities and those which celebrate the area’s rich history.

Laura Dunn

Founder and Managing Director

Hello, I’m Laura Dunn, Founder and Managing Director of KL Magazine, a prestigious, glossy lifestyle publication packed full of high-quality editorial features and stunning photography, celebrating the best of our beautiful county.

KL Magazine’s strapline is ‘Showcasing Norfolk’ and I’m incredibly passionate about this. As both a lifelong resident of West Norfolk and a local business owner, I’m delighted to be part of the Vision Kings Lynn board and excited for the opportunities that the investment in King’s Lynn brings to our community.

I have spent 20 years working closely with hundreds of local businesses, supporting their growth as well as celebrating the achievements of individuals, organisations and communities across West Norfolk. This has given me an exceptional insight into the challenges, aspirations and opportunities many face; I feel I bring to the board not one voice but a collective voice of our community.

Nova Fairbank

Chief Executive

I have over 27 years’ experience of working at Board level.  I spent a number of years overseas working for an oilfield services and general trading company and spent time working in commercial property development and the construction sector in West Yorkshire.

I joined Norfolk Chambers in 2010 and have helped shape policy engagement – my remit being to engage, influence and lobby on behalf of the Norfolk business community.   I worked closely with the previous Chief Executive to develop and drive the first five years of a 10- year plan to transform and modernise the Chambers.

In 2022, I was appointed as Chief Executive of Norfolk Chambers to complete the 10-year plan, by developing and delivering five years of sustainable growth.  Together with my customer-centric, amazing team, we have an ongoing mission to connect, support and give voice to every business in Norfolk.

Kerry Heathcote

Deputy CEO

Hello. I’m Kerry Heathcote, Deputy Chief Executive and Vice Principal Curriculum and Quality at the College of West Anglia (CWA), having relocated from Edinburgh to King’s Lynn to take up the role in June 2022.

I have over thirty years’ experience working in educational and custodial settings, twenty of which have been spent in leadership roles. I am a passionate advocate of inclusive lifelong learning and raising individual aspirations for all.

My activity with several charitable organisations across the town to date, as a resident, voluntary trustee, and volunteer practitioner, has provided me with a fantastic foundation on which to help drive forward our social and economic prosperity. I am delighted and honoured to have joined the Town Board.

Deborah Heneghan

Borough Councillor for St Margaret’s with St Nicholas Ward

I am one of the councillors for St Margaret’s with St Nicolas Ward.

After my children grew up, I moved here with my husband, having previously lived in London.

I love King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and feel privileged to live here.  I like to spend my spare time enjoying all this area has to offer – from visiting our wonderful beaches and countryside to enjoying the heritage and festivals in King’s Lynn.  I want King’s Lynn to be the best place for everyone to live, work and play.  It has a rich heritage which I want to protect and promote to attract tourists and be enjoyed by those who live here.  Whilst it is important to protect our past we must also look to the future and give our young people the best opportunities in education and employment.

I look forward to working with the Town Board and making King’s Lynn an even better place to live.

Sonia Humphreys

District Commander Superintendent KLWN and Breckland for Norfolk Constabulary

My Policing career started in Kings Lynn in 2001 and despite many roles and postings around the County of Norfolk I was delighted to return to my roots in 2023 as the District Commander for King’s Lynn, West Norfolk and Breckland.

I have dedicated many years of my service to understanding and tackling the complexities of County Lines drug dealing and its associated violence and exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults. Prior to my latest posting I have held both Operational and Strategic Roles in tackling Serious and Organised Crime, the vast portfolio of Community Safety and the Partnership work that it entails, including Chair of Serious Violence Duty Programme Group, Force Drug Lead, Safer Schools, Youth Justice Board member and extensive work with Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Partnerships.

I look forward to bringing to the Town Deal Board my knowledge and expertise gained through Policing and Partnerships so that residents and visitors alike can experience this wonderful part of the County whilst feeling safe and secure.

Rik Martin

CEO

Hello, I am Rik Martin, Chief Executive Officer at Community Action Norfolk (CAN) where I have been for the last eleven years.

CAN is an independent charity providing infrastructure support for communities and charities across Norfolk. For many years we have had a special relationship with the west where we have provided additional support and an essential link between grassroots needs and strategic issues.

I am pleased to be part of the Town Board helping to ensure the voluntary and community sectors are represented, engaged and informed.

I have more than 35 years’ experience, working in the voluntary, community and statutory sectors, supporting communities across Norfolk.

I have a strong interest in asset-based community development – an approach that builds on the assets that are found in the community and mobilizes individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to realise and develop their strengths. In addition, I was the county’s Aspirations Coordinator for five years, managed Community Technology Centres, won a national training award for developing basic skills support in Industry, written City & Guild courses and am a published author of children’s poetry.

Kirsty MacLeod

Commercial Marketing Manager

Hi, I’m Kirsty and I work at Foster and Gamko as the Commercial Marketing Manager, specialising in commercial strategy, European growth programmes and initiatives.

Having previously lived across UK and Europe, I settled in King’s Lynn after university, and now live on a nearby arable farm.

My energetic and proactive nature drives me to provide a positive contribution to society. Within my time at Foster, I’ve advocated for diversity and inclusion, establishing employee resource groups that span the 45,000 personnel of our parent company.

I am a Trustee of Calais Light, a volunteer led charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers. We deploy teams to N. France who deliver lifesaving aid and generate societal integration opportunities in the UK through education, community activities and commerce partnerships.

Joining the board gives me an opportunity to contribute skills, experience, and energy to securing the future prosperity of King’s Lynn and its residence.

Harrison McNaught

Maintenance Manager

Hello, I am Harrison McNaught and I am the Maintenance Manager for Mars Food UK formerly Masterfoods, which has been a proud and active member of the Kings Lynn business community for the past 60 years.

I was born and have grown up in Kings Lynn for my entire life.  I attended KES High School and on completion of my A-levels undertook an apprenticeship with Mars Food which was complimented with academic training at the College of West Anglia.

I am delighted to be a member of the Town Board and I am extremely passionate about driving forward the opportunities that the £25 million funding presents to Kings Lynn.

I am keen to ensure that the grant leaves a long-lasting positive legacy for the town and future opportunities for growth and investment in the area I am privileged to call home.

Simon Ring

Cabinet Member for Marketing, Events and Tourism at the Borough Council

Hi, I’m Simon Ring.

I moved to King’s Lynn in 1968 when I was two and, apart from 9 months in St Albans, this wonderful place has been my home ever since. I have been married for 36 years and have two sons and three grandsons. I was educated at West Winch CP and KES, where I later became a governor and am proud to have been Chair both there and at North Wootton CP.

I spent my entire working life in Financial Services and I grew a business from nothing to employing 52 staff and managing over £400m of clients’ investments. I sold that business in February 2020 and have spent three years in retirement.

I entered local politics in 2023 when I was elected to the council to represent the Ward I have lived in since 1988 and was then asked to become a cabinet member.  Heritage, Leisure and Culture are key areas of my portfolio and I am excited to see where the Town Deal projects and other work we are doing at the borough can take this all too secret part of the UK. We all need to shout about how wonderful a place this is.

Graham Slater

Quality, Environment Health & Safety Manager

Hello, I am Graham Slater the Quality, Environment Health & Safety (QEHS) manager at SKF Cooper Roller Bearings, which has had a manufacturing facility in King’s Lynn since 1894, Joining the company myself in 1995.

I have lived in king’s Lynn for over 50 years, attending the local schools and starting my working career as a mechanic, before moving into manufacturing.

As a Senior Management Team member, I have experience of looking at strategic projects, but also delivering many short-term projects.

I have an eye for detail and a questioning nature, with good problem-solving experience. Coming from a mostly manufacturing background I will bring a different view to the team, but also with the aim of continued success and growth of King’s Lynn.

Zach Stanford

Operations Manager

I’m Zach, and I’m proud to call King’s Lynn my lifelong home. Starting as an apprentice at Palm Paper, I’ve worked my way up to become Operations Manager, with the company sponsoring my studies for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering. My journey demonstrates that it’s possible to achieve success while staying rooted in the community where you grew up.

Beyond my professional life, I enjoy being part of King’s Lynn’s vibrant arts scene. I’m actively involved in local amateur dramatics and love performing at community events as part of a band, especially at the Guildhall Arts Centre.

Serving on the King’s Lynn Town Board allows me to give back to this incredible town. I’m committed to making King’s Lynn an even better place to live and work, helping others to achieve their dreams without having to leave our wonderful community.

Chris Starkie

Director of Growth and Investment at Norfolk County Council

Hello, I am Chris Starkie, Director of Growth and Investment at Norfolk County Council.

I lead a team responsible for supporting economic growth, from the development of new infrastructure, to ensuring businesses and residents have access to the right skills and wider support they need to grow.

Previous roles have included CEO of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, CEO of Shaping Norfolk’s Future and more than a decade as a journalist in newspapers, television and radio.

The Town Board provides a great opportunity to bring partners together from the public, private, voluntary and education sectors to work together to make King’s Lynn a great place to live, work and learn.

Dr Jane Steen

Bishop of Lynn

Hello, I’m Revd Dr Jane Steen, Bishop of Lynn. I am passionate about west Norfolk and the aim to raise skills and aspiration.

As I go round different churches and community groups, I see first-hand what people have to cope with and I hear their stories and their hopes.

People here have so many gifts and our young people are bright and creative with so much to offer. We have lively faith communities, great voluntary work and excellent, often, innovative businesses.

I want to see a Multi-User Community Hub offering a wide range of educational opportunities in welcoming and hospitable community spaces, to enable everyone in King’s Lynn and the wider area to flourish.

I am honoured to be part of making that happen.

Andrew Stevenson

Partner

Hello, I’m Andrew Stevenson, solicitor and now partner at Hawkins Ryan, a firm that has served King’s Lynn & West Norfolk for over a century.

My family and I moved to west Norfolk 10 years ago to give our children the chance to grow up in a beautiful part of the country. Now that my children are growing up, I want to help ensure that King’s Lynn and west Norfolk remains a wonderful place to work, live and enjoy.

Being a member of the Town Board allows me, and the firm, to try to be as good for the town as it has been for us.

I bring to the board the skills that I have learned, and continue to work on, as a solicitor. These are building relationships with people, the importance of providing value, issue spotting, being dependable, disciplined and willing to do whatever is needed to achieve the goals of the board.

Ultimately, I consider myself lucky to have been given the opportunity to be part of a Board that will make King’s Lynn and west Norfolk even better.

Adam Taylor

Executive Director and CEO

Hello, I’m Adam Taylor and I’m the CEO of the cultural charitable trust that runs The Garage in Norwich and The Workshop in King’s Lynn. My organisation has a focus on working with people who face challenging circumstances and we use cultural participation and performance with a vision to change people’s lives through art.

I am a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, a theatre producer and have contributed to life across the county by being on the Executive Board for Norfolk Music Hub, steering group for Nelson Spirit Emerging Leaders Programme and House Theatre’s small scale touring group.

I hope to bring an alternative perspective to the board which captures the exciting cultural opportunities the town could offer.

Sarah Taylor

Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner

’Before being elected as PCC in May 2024, my 20+ years in transport and engineering led to a national role in road safety. As an advocate for the Safe System approach to preventing road deaths and serious injuries, I have worked with a range of partners across the UK to make our roads safer. I am keen to bring a similarly preventative and proactive focus to crime and policing in Norfolk as Police and Crime Commissioner.

In addition to my work as PCC, I am Chair of trustees for a local charity which provides services for people with learning disabilities across Norfolk. Away from work, I have a love of theatre and film with a particular fondness for the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange. I am passionate about the natural world and our wildlife, and will find any excuse to go for a walk or to introduce the young people in my life to Norfolk’s flora and fauna.

Your Town Board is championing pride in our historic town by harnessing its strengths to create opportunities for people and businesses to thrive.