The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership has announced the appointment of Professor Emma Hunt as vice chair.
Professor Hunt is vice-chancellor and chief executive of Falmouth University and was appointed to the LEP board in March last year because of her sector experience in the digital and creative industries.
Her appointment as vice chair follows the death in May of LEP chair Mark Duddridge.
Because the Government is due to publish guidance soon on plans to integrate LEPs with local authorities as part of its devolution agenda, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP has decided not to appoint an external chair, which could take some time, but to appoint a vice chair internally, in line with its constitution.
Professor Hunt will continue to drive the LEP’s focus on key strategic priorities including clean energy, technology metals, agrifood, creative industries and employment and skills. She will also ensure a strong voice for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the Great South West pan-regional partnership.
Speaking about her appointment, which was ratified by the LEP board this week, Professor Hunt said: “We were all deeply shocked by the loss of Mark Duddridge in May and he would want us to take forward the priorities that he and the LEP spent many years shaping and championing.
“The best way to honour that legacy is to continue our work driving the economic strategy for our area and securing the position of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as a leader in the transition to a low carbon economy.
“As regional economic development continues to be reshaped by government, it is vital to maintain strong public and private sector partnerships that can underpinned our region’s success and continued growth.”
