The Big Debate returns as a face-to-face event at The Halls, St Andrews Plain, giving you the opportunity to engage with Norfolk MPs and business leaders. The event brings together Norfolk MPs, and local business leaders to discuss and debate key issues affecting businesses in the region, this high-profile annual policy event is a key date in the commercial calendar for the start of 2022. The topics for 2022 will be:
- People, Skills, and Wellbeing
- Transport and Infrastructure
- Growth and Innovation
- Climate Change
We are very pleased to announce our Transport and Infrastructure panellists are; Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia, Jeremy Wiggin, Norfolk County Council, James Wild, MP for North West Norfolk, Steve Royal, Network Manager, Konectbus ltd and Peter Brown, Managing Director of Jack Richards and Son. Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia A role that encompasses PR, public affairs, stakeholder relations, community engagement, integrated transport, accessibility and regional rail strategy. He has held a number of senior positions in train operating companies in East Anglia over the last 30 years. One of the architects of the East Anglian Rail Prospectus, he is a key player on the Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce, the West Anglia Main Line Taskforce and the Ely Taskforce. A committed ambassador for rail travel and its wider contribution to society, he is also a member of the National Community Rail Steering Group. Another common thread through his career is pivotal roles in customer-focused service improvements, from new and more frequent services to wi-fi facilities on trains and the introduction of new trains – including the high quality new intercity and regional trains Greater Anglia has already introduced on its Norfolk routes, as part of its network-wide fleet replacement programme. Jonathan lives in Norwich and, outside the railways, his interests include fell walking, travel, the theatre and music. Jeremy Wiggin, BSc (Hons) MSc MCIHT Jeremy is a team leader in the Major Projects transport team at Norfolk County Council focused on delivering a wide range of transport schemes, with a primary focus on Norwich. Jeremy has worked as the project lead for infrastructure projects based around walking, cycling and public transport, as well as for innovation projects using technology to improve the delivery of transport, including smart ticketing, electronic passenger information systems and personalised journey planning. Jeremy is the lead for the Transforming Cities Fund programme in Norwich and is currently engaged in bringing zero emission buses to Norwich and supporting the roll out of shared transport and micromobility modes.James was elected in December 2019 as the MP for North West Norfolk. James Wild, MP West Norfolk James Wild was elected in December 2019 as the MP for North West Norfolk. Before being elected to Parliament, James had a number of roles in the public and private sectors. He was a Special Adviser in the departments for business, energy, the Ministry of Defence and to the Prime Minister in the Number 10 Brexit Unit. Prior to his roles in government, James worked in the private sector including for a consultancy advising major international business and for a leading mobile communications company. Since being elected to Parliament, James has been a strong voice locally and in Westminster for North West Norfolk. James is a member of the Public Accounts Committee which holds the government to account for how taxpayers’ money is spent. In September 2021, he was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Conservative Party Chairman and Minister without Portfolio. Steve Royal, Network Manager at Konectbus ltd Steve has worked in the local bus industry since 1988, first for Eastern Counties buses as a customer service assistant, then in their schedules and network planning section for 10 years, before becoming Operations Manager at the Norwich depot. Steve joined Konectbus in 2006 as Operations Manager in 2006 before moving onto Network Manager in 2019 , responsible for schedules and network planning. Steve continues to work extensively with the local authority and stakeholders to ensure that our local bus services meet their needs. Peter Brown, Managing Director of Jack Richards and Son Peter Brown is Managing Director of Jack Richards and Son, the Norfolk based haulier, which is well known for its distinctive yellow and red livery. In that time the business has developed from a regional haulier with 3 sites, employing 130 people and sales of £13m to a national logistics company operating from 14 sites across the UK, employing over 700 people with sales in excess of £70 million. The business which was owned until 2019 by the Richards family is now a subsidiary of the Turners Group based in Soham. Prior to working for Jack Richards Peter was managing director of Larchlap, a manufacture of fence panels and garden sheds and of Securicor Omega Logistics based in Ipswich. Originally from Southwold in Suffolk Peter went to high school in Beccles and did a degree in Accountancy at the City of London Polytechnic. He is married with two adult children and lives in Fakenham.
