Executive

Who we are and what we do

The Exec is a small group of people who have a specific role in the management of CRAG. These roles include: chair, secretary, membership secretary and treasurer. Two other Exec officers are also elected.

The Exec may also co-opt non-voting members onto the Exec to ensure that there is appropriate representation of all residents’ associations in the community.

There are at least six Exec meetings each year.

Mike worked in the energy industry full-time for 42 years – mainly with Shell and Danish company Orsted. This embraced the marketing, sales and distribution of most renewables and carbon-based energy products, spanning strategic planning to front-line management – including Chair, MD and other directorship roles. Mike was also actively involved in a number of energy industry organisations and frequently a public speaker on energy matters. Locally, this involved managing the road tanker fleet at Stanlow from 1988 to 1992.

Mike is now the chair of a number of company boards in the environmental, UK energy and leisure sectors. Mike is also a Freeman of the City of London.

Locally, Mike played rugby for Chester rugby club from 1988 to 2000, sang with the St Cecilia singers from 1988 to 2000 and is also involved with residents’ associations and local charities.

Andrew has lived in Chester with his family for eleven years and has been active within Curzon Park Residents’ Association for much of that time.

During his career Andrew has worked at a senior level in local government, healthcare, probation services, management consultancy and most recently the charity sector where he is Chief Commercial Officer for a large Northwest charity. Andrew is a qualified accountant and in the 1990s worked on several successful regeneration projects across Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

Andrew occasionally gives talks on local history and has been the quizmaster for our last two CRAG conferences.

John lives within the city walls and is chair of the 1761 Building RTM Company Limited.

He is a Cestrian and has been active in city affairs for the past three decades. John is a retired chartered engineer and management consultant, with a lifetime business experience in the energy and technology sectors. John has worked extensively in both the UK and overseas where he has held senior board and academic positions.

His local public service record includes chair of governors West Cheshire College, independent member CWaC Ethics and Standards committee, director Sustainable Blacon Ltd, member CBI, member Chester City Leaders Forum, member Chester Race Company Liaison committee.

John brings his management and corporate governance experience to the group.

Born in Chester, Vanessa attended Upton County High School.

She originally trained and practiced as a commercial litigation lawyer working for global law firm DWF, and then in-house at Whitbread plc.

In 1996 Vanessa embarked on a career change in public relations and in 2003 co-founded PR consultancy Crush Communications, which had offices in Manchester and London. Her business represented clients as diverse as London Fashion Week, Manchester City Football Club, radio stations XFM and Key 103, the online bank Smile, and the international architecture practice, HKR Architects. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

In 2008, Vanessa returned to Chester after marrying and moving to live within the city walls. She and her husband, Clive, founded White Friars Residents’ Association (WFRA) in 2012, of which she’s also secretary. She also sits on various community liaison committees for Chester Racecourse, the University of Chester and the Purple Flag Steering Group.

Vanessa has a particular interest in Chester’s heritage and tourism offering and for the past seven years has opened her Grade ll* listed home to visitors for the annual September event, Heritage Open Days.

Pauline is a Chartered Fellow of CIPD (FCIPD) with over 25 years Employment Law and Generalist Human Resource experience in industry.

She is a Director of Eclipse Executive Limited who is based in Chester. The Company offer employment law advice and support across a range of organisations nationally and internationally.

Pauline is a member of Westminster Park Residents Association and has close links with the business in Chester. She is passionate about the City and its community.

Summer is an undergraduate at the University of Chester studying International Tourism Management and Marketing Management. She completed a very rewarding year serving as Vice President of Student Life 2024/25, representing the university students. During her term, Summer became involved in wider community projects, including representing student interests at CRAG meetings, Purple Flag, Street Angels, councillor catch ups, and working with student sustainability outreach representatives.

Summer was a speaker at the Chester Festival of Ideas in July and has been a key member of the CRAG 25 conference organising team. Summer has undertaken freelance work for a range of organisations across Chester, supporting their marketing and promotional activities. Whilst also having a range of volunteering experience within the city including as a current street angel volunteer, a CRAG Exec member and Chester Universities TMI Student Ambassador.