Jonathan, an experienced manager with 25+ years in business development. Prior to joining Sage he led a number of enterprise agencies focused on increasing enterprise and entrepreneurship across the North East of England. Jonathan currently leads product marketing for Sage's cloud-based accounting solutions. His expertise spans B2B, Retail, and Consultancy sectors. Passionate about entrepreneurship and creating growth opportunities, Jonathan excels at driving innovation in the software industry. His ability to balance big-picture strategy with effective team leadership makes him a valuable asset in technology and business solutions.

Sarah joined Northumbria University as Director of Business Partnerships in early 2024. Building on experience over twenty years supporting the growth and development of businesses in the North East, including through her most recent role as CBI Regional Director, Sarah’s aim is to identify, initiate and catalyse opportunities for the University to collaborate with organisations across the UK, connecting and facilitating engagement for mutual benefit.

May James is a business advisor, strategy consultant for SMEs and passionate keynote speaker. With a clientele spanning five continents, May excels in sustainably scaling organisations and their teams, while assisting CEO’s to successfully align their business design with their broader life goals. In 2022, she won North East Young Business Woman of the Year and in 2023 was listed on the prestigious Northern Power Awards Future List, as well as winning Rising Star at the North East Business Awards in 2023. She is an annual delegate for UN Women UK at the CSW, for her contributions to gender equality in the workplace and entrepreneurship. May also hosts the Honest Business Podcast and runs a fashion recycling business.

A public servant who has immersed himself in the life of the North East region, Nitin is currently a Lay Member of Council at Newcastle University; Chair of Governors at Bridgewater Primary School; Chair of Haven Tyneside; Governor of Studio West; Trustee of Newcastle Cathedral; Advisory Board Member of the Newcastle Health Innovation Partners; Development Board Member of the Marie Curie Hospice, Past President of Tyneside Rotary and a Member of Tyne Tees Television Diversity Panel. Previous non-executive roles include Vice Chair of Your Homes Newcastle and Vice Chair of Connected Voice. Nitin was winner of the Tees Valley BME Achievement Award in 2014 for his services to housing, awarded Director of the Year for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in 2020 by the Institute of Directors for Yorkshire and the North East and winner of Asian Business Connexion's Public Service Award in 2022.

Ranked by leading independent law guide Chambers & Partners as an ‘Eminent Practitioner’, Hugh has over four decades of experience advising on corporate law. As Muckle LLP Senior Partner, he has played a vital part in the firm’s development since he joined in 1985. Alongside his transactional work as a corporate lawyer, Hugh has led the development of the firm’s award-winning Corporate Social Responsibility and, more latterly, Environmental, Social and Governance work. Hugh firmly believes that business in general, and Muckle LLP in particular, should use its success to be a “force for good” in the wider North East community.

Graeme Whitfield is editor of The Journal and business editor for Reach in the North East, covering The Journal, The Chronicle, The Gazette and their websites, as well as overseeing North East content for the BusinessLive site. He has worked at Reach since 1998 and has previously held roles including news editor and Northumberland editor.