Meet the Business Ambassadors

Meet your business ambassadors - experts in their fields, here to help.

Jessica Williams, Just Williams

Jessica is a Non-Executive Director, entrepreneur, and Founder of the B Corp-certified businesses Just Williams - The SME Agency.

A strategic leader with expertise in sales, marketing, ESG, and customer engagement, she has over 15 years of board-level experience and was the youngest ever NED appointed to a UK Building Society board. With additional regional board experience through Teesside University International Business School Board and the Tees Valley Combined Authority Business Engagement Board, she is an advocate for the small business community.

A passionate mentor and vocal supporter of the Better Business Act, she champions purpose-led business as a force for good across the North East. A B-Local Board member and Chair of the Stockton Business Board - Jessica is a champion for change. Currently studying a Doctorate at Durham University Business School and having launched a community foundation raising £50,000 in the past few years through her various challenges from climbing Mont Blanc to 13 marathons and ultra marathons in the last few years. Adventure, Purpose and Community driven Growth are always on her agenda.

Alexander Ferris, ARC Stockton

Alexander is an award-winning Welsh theatre director and creative leader with extensive experience across major UK theatres, including Sherman Cymru, Theatre Royal Plymouth, and London's Old Vic. As Director of Old Vic New Voices, he championed emerging artists and launched innovative projects such as The Old Vic Workrooms and the 250-member Community Company. His work earned the RSPH Award for Innovation in Arts & Health Practice in 2012.

At Leeds Playhouse, Alexander led the acclaimed Creative Engagement programme, oversaw Burberry Inspire initiatives, and helped secure the Playhouse's status as the world's first Theatre of Sanctuary. Recognized in The Stage 100 for his pandemic response, he has directed and produced over 50 new plays, focusing on socially engaged theatre rooted in lived experience. Co-Founder of The Working Party and Co-Chair of Open Door, Alexander is currently Chief Executive & Creative Director at ARC Stockton.

Bill Scott, Wilton Engineering

Dr Bill Scott OBE DL is Chief Executive of Wilton Group which has achieved unparalleled success specialising in designing, manufacturing, coating and loading out large, complicated structures for the Offshore Oil & Gas, Subsea, Marine, Decommissioning, Offshore Wind and more latterly the defence Industry.

His achievements include turnover growth from £600k to £85m; acquisition of an engineering design company; acquisition of combined site facilities totalling 112 acres; led £16m Private Equity deal; fastest growing NE company 2010 and 2011. He also created the companies Apprentice Academy in 2022 which he is hugely proud of.

He was awarded an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours 2019 for services to Engineering, services to the Offshore Wind Sector and services to the community on Teesside. Bill is passionate about all things to do with engineering and coating, creating opportunities for apprentices, equal rights for women, workplace health & safety and supporting local charities.

Christine McKie, PX Group

Christine is the Managing Director of px's Energy Solutions business, focusing on helping large industrial companies develop and deliver energy strategies that support their business goals.

A proud resident of Stockton-on-Tees, Christine is passionate about the area and its business community. px's Energy Solutions division provides economical, sustainable, and secure technical and commercial energy solutions to businesses nationwide.

Collaboration is one of Christine's core business values, and she is committed to understanding the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses. As a senior female leader within px, she is an active member of the px Women's Network, where she works to inspire and empower younger female colleagues to thrive in the energy industry.

Outside of work, Christine serves as a Governor at All Saints Academy in Ingleby Barwick and as Treasurer of a local athletics club, supporting young people across the Borough to reach their full potential.

Dean Benson, Visualsoft

Dr Dean Benson is a techie with a long record of building and growing digital businesses and is recognised as a positive disrupter in the sector. He is the remaining Founder of Visualsoft, the tech enabled ecommerce agency he started in 1998, which he led for more than two decades before securing private equity investment in 2020. He continues to sit on the board and help guide its strategic direction.

Dean is also the co founder of Pulse Reviews, a fast growing platform that brings online reviews, analysis and growth insight together in one place. Pulse gives businesses a clear view of customer sentiment and turns it into practical action that helps them grow faster and scale with confidence. He also works across several other ventures in different industries.

Known for modern leadership, Dean introduced flexible working early and was one of the first in the UK to bring in unlimited holidays, creating an award winning culture built on trust, autonomy and putting people first. Dean was awarded a Doctorate of Science from Teesside University where he now serves as a governor supporting skills, entrepreneurship and digital development. He is committed to giving back to his industry and the region, with a strong focus on supporting underprivileged schools and tackling digital poverty.

Lee Bramley, Ward Hadaway

Lee is the Executive Partner for the Teesside Office of Ward Hadaway, a UK Top 100 law firm, serving local, national and international clients from Teesside and other offices in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.

Lee has more than 20 years' experience in commercial law and was Managing Partner of The Endeavour Partnership prior to the firm's merger with Ward Hadaway in July 2025.

He is now tasked with developing a strategy for the growth of the firm's Teesside office alongside his role as a lawyer specialising in insolvency.

Lee became a Trustee of The Teesside Charity in 2016, being elected to the chair of trustees in 2019 before retiring from the role in 2025 after serving the maximum period allowed as a Trustee.

Matt Wilson, Navigator Terminals UK

Matt is the Head of New Energy Markets at Navigator Terminals. He is a Chemical Engineer by background and brings over 15 years technical and commercial experience in the energy and syngas markets. Matt joined Navigator Terminals from Johnson Matthey in 2021 to lead the development of projects aligned to the CCUS, SAF, Hydrogen and Ammonia markets. Matt is co-Chair of the DESNZ/CCSA Non-Pipeline Transport CO2 working group, and sits on several industry Net Zero councils.

He has strong technical background and relationship management skills, with a track record of developing diverse business opportunities and financial delivery in challenging markets. Matt has experience in operating globally, with a strong sensitivity to multicultural issues, whilst maintaining the highest integrity and ethical standards.

Mike Poole, Michael Poole Property Consultants

Mike Poole is the Chairman of Michael Poole Property Consultants which was formed in 1994 and now operates from 9 branches across Teesside involved in the sale and management of residential property across the region.

Sworn in as a Justice of the Peace for Cleveland Commission Area in 1998, and former Bench Chair and former Chair of Lord Chancellors Advisory Committee for Cleveland Magistrates Court, Mike has a wealth of experience in working locally in Stockton-on-Tees and the Tees Valley area. He is currently Sitting as a Presiding Justice on Adult Crime.

Mike was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of County Durham in 2014 and appointed as Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 2021, and is involved in supporting disadvantaged families and individuals through Charity involvement partnerships.

Paula McMahon, Sir Robert McAlpine

Paula McMahon works for Sir Robert McAlpine and represents the Construction industry on this group.

Locally Paula holds roles including Chair of the Stockton-on-Tees Business Climate Coalition, an Honorary Professor of Teesside University, Trustee of the High Tide Foundation and founding Chair of Engineering Together. She also holds many other national and international positions including being Trustee for the Women's Engineering Society and Head of Professional Conduct and Ethics for the Institution of Civil Engineers. Paula is passionate about women succeeding in the engineering industry and the business sector of Stockton-on-Tees.