Skip to content Skip to main navigation

Steering Group Membership

The Steering Group is comprised of key local service providers, stakeholders and local representatives to provide strategic guidance and input to develop a vision for Oxford, identify key partnership priorities to meet that vision and to champion the development and implementation of action plans.

Core members are drawn from statutory services (Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, National Health Service, Thames Valley Police). Further members are invited representatives of key organisations and partnerships who have a significant contribution to make in delivering the vision for Oxford. 

Each member of the Steering Group is responsible for representing their organisation and the other partnerships and networks of which they are members. They are also expected to take forward the work of the Oxford Strategic Partnership in their own organisations and other partnerships and networks.

  • Paul James (Chair)
    Chief Executive, River Learning Trust
  • Gillian Aitken
    Registrar, University of Oxford
  • Professor Alex Betts
    University Local and Global Engagement Officer, Oxford University
  • Cllr Susan Brown
    Leader, Oxford City Council
  • Cllr Neil Fawcett
    Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, Oxfordshire County Council
  • Ian Green
    Chair, Oxford Civic Society
  • Caroline Green
    Chief Executive, Oxford City Council
  • Brendan Hattam
    Chair of Town Team and General Manager of Westgate and Castle Quarter, Land Securities
  • Emily Lewis- Edwards
    Co-Chief  Executive, Community First Oxfordshire
  • Jeremy Long
    Chair OxLEP
  • Bruce Riddell
    Superintendent, Thames Valley Police
  • Professor Simonetta Manfredi
    Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange, Oxford Brookes University
  • David Munday
    Deputy Director of Public Health, Oxfordshire County Council
  • Frank Nigriello
    Director of Corporate Affairs, Unipart Group
  • Peter Nolan
    Chairman and founder of OcQuila Therapeutics
  • Bruce Riddell
    Superintendent, Thames Valley Police
  • Robin Rogers
    Programme Director - Partnerships and Delivery, Oxfordshire County Council
  • Samantha Shepherd
    Deputy Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Oxford Uiveristy Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Cllr Dr Christopher Smowton
    Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Oxford City Council 
  • Richard Venables
    Director, VSL and Partners (and OxLEP Representative)
  • Mish Tullar
    Head of Corporate Strategy, Oxford City Council

The Steering Group may also co-opt other individuals from time to time to fill identified gaps. The Oxford Strategic Partnership will review Steering Group membership on an on-going basis, which may alter according to specific priorities. Any changes will be based on the principle that the group is focused on the agreed strategic intention rather than aiming for representation of particular groups or interests.

Frequency of meetings will be agreed by the group and from 2019 became quarterly. The total number of members is to be agreed by the group.

Role of Steering Group Members

  • To act as champions for the vision and each of the priority themes agreed by the Partnership;
  • To provide senior level representation of their organisation on the Partnership and to ensure implementation of partnership priorities within their organization;
  • To develop open and accountable partnership working with a city-wide perspective and link to county wide thematic partnerships and other groups;
  • To have an inclusive outlook for all citizens, residents, and workers especially those experiencing inequalities of access or outcomes;
  • To apply the principles of sustainability, and the need to balance environmental, social and economic concerns to achieve long-term improvements in quality of life;
  • To represent and promote the wider interests of the city at a county, regional, national, and international level;
  • To exert influence across a range of organisations and sectors to shape resource planning and deliver agreed outcomes in partnership with the community;
  • To provide a co-ordinated route for channelling new funding and development opportunities into the city.