Honorary & Board members

Ben became the First Secretary at the British High Commission in Dares Salaam, Tanzania before being posted to Accra, Ghana. In 1981, he became Assistant Secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry before he was posted as the Commercial Counsellor at the British Embassy in Beijing, China. Ben was appointed Director at the Department of Trade and Industry before leaving the Civil Service in 1995 to pursue a business career in Wirral.

Still very much attracted to political life, Ben joined the Labour Party in 1996. Within nine months, he was elected a member of Parliament, representing Wirral-South after successfully winning the by-election in 1997.

Following the election of the Labour government in 1997, Ben Chapman became the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. However, in 1999 he returned to his old stomping ground as a Director at the Department of Trade and Industry.

In 1995, the Prime Minister appointed Ben to the Intelligence and Security Committee, which oversees the intelligence agencies. He is also Chairman of the Parliamentary China and Vietnam Groups.

His parliamentary career is both diverse and distinguished. His many contributions at the House of Lords see him active across Home Affairs, Social & Consumer Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defence & Development Policy, as well as being a member of the European Union Select Committee.

David was Senior Partner of Beachcroft Wansbroughs, Solicitors from 1996-2005 and is now Chairman of the Financial Services Division of Beachcroft LLP, specialising in insurance and financial services. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and was the first independent Chairman of its Professional Standards Board. Lord Hunt was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 Insurance Times Awards.

David has enjoyed a successful career in public life. He first came to public prominence as Chairman of the British Youth Council and then President of the Atlantic Association of Young Political Leaders. He was elected Member of Parliament for Wirral in 1976 and went on to spend 21 years as an MP. In 1979, he became a member of Margaret Thatcher’s first administration, serving as Parliamentary Private Secretary to John Nott. He then served as a Whip until the Prime Minster appointed him as Coal Secretary during the coal strike.

In 1990, David joined Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales. Reappointed in that position by John Major, he then became Secretary of State for Employment in 1993 and then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1994-1995. He joined the House of Lords in 1997. In his capacity as an Officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance and Financial Services, he is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. He also takes a leading role in the legislative process and has worked on the Compensation Act (2006), the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act (2007) and, most recently, the Legal Services Act (2007).

Since 1980, Ro has carried out extensive and remunerated work in the health sector, serving as Chair and President of two local charities. She was also a member of Wirral Community Health Council and was appointed Chair of the Wirral District Health Authority.

Since 2002, Ro has jointly owned and managed a small tourism business based on Anglesey and is a Director of a further two limited companies. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Birkenhead and The Institute of Leadership and Management.

He has won numerous awards and was recognised by KPMG, who named his as one of their top five leaders in the North West. He was also named in the Under 35 North West Insider magazine listings. Asif joined forces with Juliet Rhodes to become the CEO for The Contact Company in May 1996. Together with Juliet, he has taken the firm from strength to strength, winning several prestigious contracts with blue chip organisations.

Andrew started his career at Metal Box, before moving to ICI in 1985. Andrew stayed with ICI for 21 years, where he worked in a variety of challenging roles in engineering and commercial functions. In 1999, he moved to became Site Director for the Uniqema plant at Bromsborough, which had previously been owned by Unilever.

Uniqema manufactures fatty acids and glycerine as well as a range of derivative products. In September 2006, Uniqema was purchased by Croda International, one the UK’s most successful international chemical companies. Andrew has been an active member of WiN since 1999, becoming a Director in 2001.

She is also a member of the College’s Senior Executive Team, responsible for managing a large College of Education with an annual turnover of £23m. The College’s role within Wirral is to provide education and training at all levels. This involves the development of business and community partnerships aimed at enhancing the economic prosperity of young people, adults and employers through the provision of high quality, work-related education and training.

Sue has been an active member of WiN for many years. She works with the local authority and local business leaders from the private and public sector to promote Wirral and help make it a better place to live, learn and work.

In 2001, Alison rejoined Percy Hughes & Roberts. She is both a partner and Practice Director. In her position as Practice Director, Alison runs the practice where she is responsible for personnel, IT, marketing, training and quality standards & compliance.

Alison is a member of the management committee of Wirral Woman & Children’s Aid, which is the local refuge for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.