A Chartered Town Planner by profession, George has spent the last thirty years working on complex housing and regeneration programmes across the North East of England and in Scotland. For the past fourteen years, George led the delivery of a broad range of front line Council services as the Corporate Director for Regeneration and Environment at South Tyneside Council including almost two years as the Head of Paid Service, leading the Authority through the Covid pandemic, and putting in place the framework for recovery and growth. George recently took up a new role with the North of Tyne Combined Authority as part of the senior executive team managing the process of transition to the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority.  George’s specific responsibilities at the Combined Authority include the development of Portfolio policy, governance and delivery planning alongside the integration of key overarching themes such as low carbon, digital and health and wellbeing.  This involves close collaboration with the constituent local authorities, the creation and nurturing of strategic partnerships and ongoing dialogue with Government Departments. All of this with the clear objective of ensuring that the new Combined Authority hits the ground running in May 2024 and is delivering on its vision and ambition to improve lives. Hailing from the North West of Ireland, George is now very settled in the North East of England and enjoys spending time with his family and watching Sunderland Football Club.