LCR Talking Business

Katherine took up post as Chief Executive of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in June 2021.

As lead advisor to the Metro Mayor her role involves strategic engagement and close working with the City Region’s six Local Authorities, national government, partners in business, civic institutions, and the wider community.

She has responsibility for all functions of the Combined Authority, including Strategic Investment and Business Growth, Fairness and Inclusion, Employment and Skills, Culture, Transport, Housing and Homelessness.

Katherine joined the CA from Cumbria County Council, where she had been Chief Executive since 2017. Prior to this she held a number of senior posts at Warrington Borough Council and Wigan Council.

She has a proven track record in strategic change leadership, service improvement and transformation, priding herself on building strong relationships with elected members, employees, partners and stakeholders to deliver the best for communities.

David Meyerowitz is Chair of the Business and Enterprise Board and brings 40 years of high-level experience of the domestic appliance market to the role. David is the former CEO of Haier Europe for UK and Ireland, a subsidiary of Haier Smart Home – a leading global household appliance manufacturer, which owns household brands such as Hoover and Candy. Originally from London, David resides in Wirral, where he has lived for the last 30 years.

Ruth Hartnoll has the role of Deputy Chair of the Business & Enterprise Board and is a former member of the city region’s Digital and Creative sector board. Ruth is CEO of Matchstick Creative, which she co-founded in 2018. Matchstick Creative is a Liverpool-based B Corp certified creative agency, which is the marketing partner of local organisations including Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, Hemsec, the University of Liverpool and Growth Platform.

Kate spent much of her career working as an Economic Development consultant and worked extensively with local, regional and national governments to develop the evidence and economic analysis needed inform policy and strategy, with a particular focus on supporting business start-up, growth and innovation. She joined the LCRCA in 2019 and now leads the Combined Authority’s Evidence, Research and Intelligence team which is responsible for developing, maintaining and disseminating the evidence that underpins the development of LCRCA strategy, policy and investment decisions.

Rachael Baker is Managing Director of JJ Smith & Co (Woodworking Machinery) Ltd, who supply woodworking machines to customers all over the world from their base in Knowsley.  Rachael has a scientific PhD and is passionate about education and apprenticeships.  Over the past few years she has built links with a number of schools within LCR to increase awareness around careers in engineering and manufacturing, ensuring that under-represented groups get access to high quality work experience and careers information.  JJ Smith were recognised in 2024 with a King’s Award for Enterprise, reflecting their commitment to doing business in a way that benefits as many people as possible.

Simon is Chair of the Sustainability and Environmental group at Brabners and led their application to become B Corp certified in 2022. Recognised as a Better Business Pioneer, Simon is an advocate for the role of the legal sector in sustainability and regularly speaks at events focused on sustainability and the B Corp movement. He plays a leading role to help other businesses become more sustainable or even B Corps themselves.

Heather is the Owner and Co-Founder of Treaty Pie UK, Liverpool’s first dedicated dessert delivery service. This small venture quickly expanded to a team of 30 and during COVID-19, embraced the government’s Kickstart Scheme, hiring young people aged 16 to 24. This highlighted a need for employability skills and in response, they launched Beyond Bakes, a 10 week programme that blends CV writing, social media skills, baking, customer service, confidence building, and teamwork.

Utubakwu M. Ushie is the CEO, and founder of Thalasic Ltd, a digital startup revolutionizing the maritime industry with AI-powered digital solutions, Cloud computing, IoT, and Big data analytics and management. As an entrepreneur, marine engineer, and digital transformation specialist, Utubakwu leverages extensive experience in marine engineering and strategic planning to drive significant growth and innovation. He excels in vessel technical management, data analysis, digital business frameworks, and global team management. Holding a Master’s in Marine and Offshore Engineering from LJMU and several professional certifications. His core competencies in business development, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability reflect his dedication to excellence and community service. Utubakwu’ s strategic vision ensures that the maritime, energy, and manufacturing industries develop innovative business models, achieving lasting competitive advantages and increased profits in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.