News Release : 19 April 2001

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY AND SEEDA STRENGTHEN EUROPEAN TEAM

The South East of England is continuing to strengthen its representation in Europe with the appointment of a new Regional Policy Officer. Barry Wheatley, a specialist in economic development and EU funding, has joined the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and South East England Regional Assembly's Europe Team on secondment from Oxford Brookes University.

Based at South East England House in Brussels, Mr Wheatley will be responsible for representing and promoting the interests of the South East within Europe, as well as guiding SEEDA and the Regional Assembly on EU policy and legislation.

Mr Wheatley has worked for Oxford Brookes since 1990, where he spearheaded the University's European strategy and, more recently, business development. During this time he has been the Chair of the Oxfordshire County Council's European Committee, Vice-Chair of Oxford in Europe and Chair of the Oxfordshire Business Information Network. Mr Wheatley has also been closely involved in various spin-out companies including the highly successful biotechnology business Oxford Bio-Innovation Ltd (of which he was Managing Director) and RUDI, the world's leading internet based information resource on urban design (www.rudi.net).

An engineer by background, his range of expertise includes all aspects of EU funding, especially science & technology and research, as well as enterprise and business start-up and development, strategic planning, contracts and technology transfer.

Chief Executive of SEEDA, Anthony Dunnett, commented: "I am delighted to welcome Barry to SEEDA's Europe Team and wish him well in his new task - giving the South East of England a higher profile in Europe and making sure the interests of the region are communicated effectively to the EU's policy makers."

Regional Assembly Chief Executive, Paul Bevan, said: "We are very pleased that Barry has joined us, bringing valuable skill and experience to this important new role which will ensure that the South East punches its weight in Europe." South East England House was established last year by a partnership of local authorities, SEEDA and the Regional Assembly, to provide the region with permanent representation in Europe and to enable the South East to exert its influence with the EU institutions in Brussels.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
   
   
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

Copyright © 2004 SEERA Limited. All rights reserved.