Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee for the High Sheriff of the West Midlands is chaired by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Louise Bennett OBE with the Vice Chair being the Under Sheriff, Mr Greg Lowson. Membership of the Committee comprises a range of civic leaders from across the County, and includes a number of former High Sheriffs.

Under the Sheriff’s Act 1887, the incumbent High Sheriff nominates three people to become High Sheriffs in Nomination for the three subsequent years to the Privy Council.  They should only put forward names that have the approval of the County’s Nominations Committee and the Lord-Lieutenant.

The Nominations Committee is tasked with identifying individuals who meet the Eligibility criteria as set out by the Privy Council, which includes that a High Sheriff would normally live in the County of Nomination, own property in the County or be embedded in the work and life of the County. In addition the person should be of unblemished public reputation and have played a prominent part in the life of the County.

 

Chair – Louise Bennett – Vice Lord-Lieutenant, OBE

The post of Vice Lord-Lieutenant is appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant at his discretion, subject to the approval of The Sovereign. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant undertakes to assist the Lord-Lieutenant in the performance of his duties, also standing in when the Lord-Lieutenant is absent, sick or otherwise unable to act.

Louise is a fellow of the Warwickshire Colleges Group.

She was the High Sheriff of the County of the West Midlands in 2021. She also sits on the High Sheriff Association’s Council of England and Wales and is a Trustee of Crimebeat (a charity supported by the High Sheriff Association).

Louise is the former Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, a post she held from February 2003 to December 2022. Her career has spanned both the private and public sectors including working for the National Health Service and in the retail sector. She has undertaken lecturing on Masters in Business Administration and has run her own small business.

In 2007, Louise was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list for her services to business.

Louise has a 1st Class Honours Degree in Business; a Masters in Business; is a qualified Human Resource practitioner and a qualified Level IV Counsellor & Psychotherapist.

Vice Chair – Greg Lowson

Greg Lowson was appointed as the Under Sheriff of the West Midlands in 2014 and he has been retained by each successive High Sheriff of the West Midlands since then.

Greg recently retired as the Head of Pinsent Mason’s Birmingham Office after 31 years as a Partner and a 41 year legal career. He is the Chairman of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and is a Non Executive Director of Pertemps Network Group.

Bishop Michael of Birmingham

Michael Volland is the 10^th Bishop of Birmingham

He is committed to serving congregations and their leaders to see flourishing churches and schools at the heart of each community in the diocese and has been encouraging Christians to live in response to Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel, ‘Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.’ (John 15:5).

Before coming to Birmingham Michael was Principal of Ridley Hall, a Church of England college in Cambridge, which prepares men and women for Christian ministry.

Prior to his ministry in Cambridge, Michael taught mission, evangelism and church planting in Durham. Alongside this he led the East Durham Mission Project, working in several parishes in former mining communities, as well as serving as Area Dean of Easington and Chaplain to Durham Army Cadet Force. During this time Michael completed a doctorate in theology at Durham University.

Before Durham, Michael and his wife planted and led a church in Gloucester where Michael also served on the staff of Gloucester cathedral.

Michael grew up in Reading where he attended a state secondary school and spent his evenings and weekends with the Boys Brigade and Army Cadets. After completing a foundation course in Art and Design, Michael spent three years studying sculpture at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle and several years working as a practising, full-time artist. Before being ordained Michael was a youth and children’s worker, working in schools, estate communities and churches in Slough and London.

Michael is married to Rachel and together they have three children. He is a keen runner, and has participated in multiple ultramarathons, including the 100km Race to the Stones.

Acting Chief Constable of West Midlands Police – Scott Green

Scott Green joined West Midlands Police (WMP) as the Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) in April 2023 before becoming Acting Chief Constable in January 2026.

He started his police career in South Yorkshire Police in the 1990s, serving in uniform and CID at various ranks, including working for the forerunner of the National Counter Terrorism Policing network. He was subsequently appointed as an Assistant Chief Constable in Staffordshire Police with responsibility for contact, response, partnerships and neighbourhoods. In September 2021 he moved to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as part of a new chief officer team brought together to help lead GMP out of Engaged Status (often referred to as ‘Special Measures’).

Acting CC Green is an experienced Public Order Gold Commander, Multi-Agency Gold Incident Commander (MAGIC), and Specialist Strategic Firearms Commander. He is also the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for Alcohol and Licensing.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Process Engineering and Fuel Technology from the University of Sheffield and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Leicester – his master’s dissertation studied the impact on police training of the Sir William Macpherson Report into the death of Stephen Lawrence.

Acting CC Green is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). He has previously been a Non-Executive Director of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, a governor of 3 schools, a Trustee of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, and a Trustee of Sheffield Futures – a charity which supports young people and adults to achieve their full potential in learning, employment and life to achieve a better future

Henrietta Brealey 

Andrew Connors

Andrew has recently retired after a long career at Lloyds Bank where most recently he was Managing Director, Head of Public and Third Sector and Head of Midlands Region in the Corporate and Institutional Banking Division.

He has been actively involved in promoting and supporting the West Midlands region in various capacities since re-locating with his family in 2008, including having had a long association with The Birmingham Hippodrome where he has been on the Board of Trustees since 2019

 

Rosie Ginday MBE

Helen Higson

Helen is Professor of Higher Education Learning and Management at Aston University.  Helen’s role at the University has encompassed a number of senior positions, including Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor for 10 years.  She is currently Deputy Dean of Aston Business School.

Her career in education has spanned over 40 years and she is a National Teaching Fellow (NTF), a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) and a Fellow of the Society of Higher Education (SRHE). She was awarded the OBE in 2011 for services to Higher Education.

Helen is also Chair of Navitas UK, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) Education Committee, and a member of the Winchester College Governing Body.

Helen is a trained Executive Coach and works in the areas of intercultural and employability competence development.

Martin Levermore MBE DL

Martin is Visiting Professor for Health, Education and Life Science at Birmingham City University as well as being the founder and business development director of Medical Devices Technology Limited, a specialist company for the supply of NHS medical devices and services.

Previous positions include, Royal Army Ordnance Corp Ammunition Technician, Export Manager at J.C. International Commodities S.A., Trade Finance Manager for North African Desk of Banesto. He has also worked with Monroe Business Development Consultancy and Pintos Global Services Limited, and was vice-chair of Nehemiah Housing Association..

Currently Martin holds various positions including National Lay-leader for the Church of God Prophecy, Joint Non-Executive Director to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Walsall NHS Trust and Chair to both Trusts Charities, Chair of Medilink West Midlands, Patron of the National Caribbean Monument Charity and Walsall Community Association, Trustee to INVICTUS Games 2027, executive committee member of Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce, Chair of HDRUK BIP, adviser to CRUK Research Data Advisory Board, Chair of West Midlands’ Regional Research Delivery Network, WMCA Life science Champion and committee member to the Association of Jamaican Nationals Birmingham.

Wade Lyn CBE, CD DL

Wade came to Britain from Jamaica to join his parents when he was seven years old. He helped in the family business, a service and petrol station, while still at school.  He graduated in  1986 with a BA in Education specialising in Craft, Design & Technology, and started his working life in the catering industry in Wolverhampton.  In 1989 he set up Cleone Foods Ltd, in Birmingham, which is now the largest manufacturer of Jamaican patties in the UK.  He has played a big part in bringing Caribbean foods into the mainstream.  He willingly shares his experience, mentoring new businesses and supporting those who wish to develop and grow.

In November 2013 Wade was appointed by the Government of Jamaica as Honorary Consul for Jamaica for the North.  This is an important role as Birmingham has the largest Jamaican community in the UK outside London.

Wade has held many positions in the West Midlands which include Director of Greets Green Partnership, Regional Director Business in the Community, Chairman of the 12/8 Group and Board member of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP. He was High Sheriff of the West Midlands in 2023-24.

In 2013 Wade was made a CBE, which was followed in 2000 with the award of Commander in the Office of Distinction by the Government of Jamaica.

David Moorcroft OBE DL

David is a partner in pointfourone LLP and an experienced sports consultant.

Previously, David was Chief Executive of UK Athletics Ltd, the governing body for athletics in the UK.  He took the organisation from a failing organisation to the most commercially successful athletics governing body in the world.

David was a middle and long distance runner, competing in three Olympic Games and was the World record holder for the 5,000 metres for many years.

David is Chair of Parkrun UK Ltd and was High Sheriff for West Midlands in 2022/23.

He received the OBE in 1998 for services to British sport.

Calum Nisbet DL

Calum is the CEO of The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, leading a 70-strong team supporting individuals with poor mental health, working with key providers of clinical services across local authorities and the NHS.  A strong believer in collaboration, building partnerships and fostering a supportive business environment Calum is also Chair of the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association Regional Employment Engagement Group and member of the Sandwell Together Partnership.

Previous roles include Commercial Director at Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Regional Director West Midlands, Institute of Directors.

Calum is also a Director at Windsor Academy Trust, Trustee of Heart of England Community Foundation and a Director of West Bromwich Business Improvement District.

Nuru Mohhamed

Shaykh Nuru Mohammed has a BA in Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism, and has completed an MA in Islamic Studies. He is a qualified civil and commercial Mediator and currently the resident Imam at KSIMC of Birmingham, UK. He is an advocate of interfaith understanding, peaceful coexistence and social Justice.

Jat Sharma CBE DL

Midlands-born Jatinder Sharma is Principal and Chief Executive of Walsall College, having previously held a number of senior positions in both private and public sectors.

Walsall College employs over 850 people, delivering technical and vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and higher education to a community of more than 11,000 students. Training is delivered from campuses across Walsall as well as locations in Cannock and King’s Norton, Birmingham, in addition to online learning and on-the-job training with employers.

Jatinder is a passionate champion of the vital role that skills and training play in the development of the West Midlands economy and the ongoing regeneration of Walsall and the Black Country.

The College works closely with more than 1,000 employers, the Black Country LEP and West Midlands Combined Authority, to ensure that its students develop the qualifications, attributes, work experience and work-related skills to match the region’s growing employment sectors now and in the future.

Jatinder was awarded a CBE in 2023 New Year Honours for his services to Further Education. He is a board member of the Association of Colleges, Black Country Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Walsall Proud Partnership.  He also represents further education on the Department for Education Principals’ Reference Group

Mark Smith

Having moved to the West Midlands in 1975 and been educated at King Edwards Aston, Mark joined PwC in 1985 and was the Midlands Regional Chairman for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and COO for the UK Assurance business, prior to retiring from PwC in 2021. During his business career Mark was a member of the CBI Midlands Council and the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Mark was the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee for the West Midlands Combined Authority from 2021 – 2025 and is a Non executive Director of Castings PLC, an Engineering company based in Brownhills.

Mark has served on the Board of the Birmingham Hippodrome and The Royal Shakespeare Company and is currently a Trustee at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and a major supporter of many Arts organisations in the West Midlands.

Mark was the High Sheriff of the West Midlands for 2025 -2026

Ann Tonks

Ann Tonks is the managing Director of an independent business which has run dining / drinking venues in Birmingham City including Chapter in Edgbaston.

Ann was the Deputy Chair of the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust from 2014 – 2023

Carmen Watson DL

Carmen is the Chairperson of Pertemps Network Group.  She has over 30 years experience in recruitment and is responsible for promoting and delivering best practice in the field of attraction, recruitment and retention of talent on behalf of clients ranging from SMEs to blue chip organisations, servicing both the public and private sectors across the UK.

She is a strong advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is a member of the Business in the Community Race for Opportunity Leadership Team.

Carmen received an Honorary Doctorate from Aston University in 2021 and is a Doctor of Business Administration.

Carmen was appointed as the High Sheriff of the West Midlands for 2026-27

Doug Wright MBE DL

Doug was the Chief Executive Officer of one of McDonald’s largest franchised organisations, which operated twenty-six restaurants across the West Midlands and employed nearly 3,000 people. He began his career with McDonald’s as a cleaner the day before he left school in 1981 and went on to become a franchisee in 2002. What began as an aspiration to own two restaurants grew into a business contributing more than £50m annually to the regional economy. He retired from McDonald’s in August 2025 after a 44-year career.

Throughout his career, Doug received numerous awards, including McDonald’s Global Franchisee of the Year in 2016, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Midlands) in 2019, and Honorary Doctorates from both Birmingham City University and Aston University. Doug served as High Sheriff of the West Midlands (2024–2025).

Inspired by his own health challenges at a young age, Doug has always dedicated significant time to charitable work. He chaired Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham for six years, raising over £10m to support families with children in hospital, and in 2023 became Chairman of the national charity Kids’ Village. He continues to mentor entrepreneurs and support community organisations.

Awarded MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022, Doug was High Sheriff of the West Midlands for 2024- 25