March City Gathering

Paul Hassan is a social entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in business, community, and economic development in Bristol. He is currently Regional Partnership Manager for ACH serving the west of England region- with a focus on developing long-term housing sustainability and successful integration for the refugee and migrant communities ACH serve.

Marvin Rees OBE was elected Mayor of Bristol in 2016. He is a Yale World Fellow and Operation Black Vote graduate. Since 2016, he has overseen the building of over 12,500 homes, founded a city-owned housing company, and embarked on the largest council house building scheme for over 35 years. With an ambition to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and fairer city he has pioneered the award-winning One City approach. He leads Bristol’s response to both the climate and ecological emergencies and has secured £630 million for clean energy through Bristol City Leap. As a founding member of 3Ci and the Mayors Migration Council, Marvin has advocated for cities to be at the heart of tackling climate change.

Maria Kane OBE joined North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) as the new Chief Executive in April 2021. Prior to her appointment at NBT, she held the role of Chief Executive of North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, where she had been in post since December 2017. In addition to her role as Chief Executive at NBT she Chairs the Bristol Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre, the Somerset Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire Cancer Alliance and the South West Genomic Medicine Service Board.

Annabel Smith is Director of Place & Practice at the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP), a national think tank committed to the delivery of inclusive growth. She is responsible for leading the Inclusive Growth Network, working with cities and regions across the UK to build a better understanding of what inclusive growth looks like and how it works in practice, as well as informing policy at the national level.

Ines Lage is the Regional Secretary of the Trade Unions Congress.

Professor Daniela Schmidt is Professor in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, coordinating lead author for the IPCC WGII chapter on Europe and advisor for the EU Climate change risk assessment. Her work focusses on understanding vulnerability of people and nature in the context of climate change, especially in the context of coastal communities. Jointly with the UKHSA she collaborated with the South Gloucester LA on quantifying vulnerability to climate change in the context of health. Working with colleagues in the humanities, social science and law, she assesses adaptation options and aims to widen the discourse of climate change risks.

Julia Gray is Principal and Chief Executive Officer of City of Bristol College. Julia has worked in the Further Education sector for more than twenty years and has been responsible for the writing, delivery and leadership of all the different provision types in that time, from entry-level programmes to master’s degrees. Julia is passionate about Further Education and the difference it can make to the lives of the communities it serves.

Sian Webb, formerly VP at Gapsquare, a Bristol-based tech startup acquired in 2021, brings extensive expertise in using intelligent pay analytics to foster inclusive employment practices. As a professional accomplished in equality, diversity & inclusion, Sian is committed to building better workplaces and has a history of research and campaigning on gender equality. With a career spanning public, private, and non-profit sectors, Sian’s passion for equality and social justice has driven her to strengthen the fair pay agenda internationally, from India to San Francisco. 

Alex Raikes MBE DL graduated in Social Policy at Bristol University in 1991 joining award winning human rights charity, SARI (Stand Against Racism & Inequality) later in the same year. 32 years later and she is now leading SARI and is renown for being a driving force for promoting equality and tackling hatred across the region. She is a member of University of Bristol Court; was awarded an MBE for contribution to race relations in 2009; received an Honorary Doctorate from UWE and made Deputy Lieutenant in 2019, was High Sheriff of the County of City of Bristol in 2022 and received and Honorary Doctorate from Bristol University in 2023.

Margaret Simmons-Bird MBE is a former Director of Education with extensive experience working across schools to raise standards and challenging social injustice. In 2021 she was awarded an MBE for her outstanding work in closing the education gaps for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. She is an Independent Education Adviser to the SEND Improvement Board, Co-chairs the Bristol’s Education and Skills Race Equality Group and Chair of a Primary School Trust. She has extensive experience of working with schools to improve representation in the work force and challenge all forms of inequality and social injustice. She is currently working as an Executive School Improvement Lead from a Multi Academy Trust.

Professor Palie Smart is a Professor in Operations Management and currently holds the role of Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Civic Engagement at the University of Bristol. Her research is focussed on new models of innovation for sustainable business and published in world leading and internationally excellent journals including Research Policy, British Journal of Management, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, International Journal of Management Reviews, R&D Management and International Journal of Production Economics.

Victoria Matthews is Bristol Director for Business West and leads on managing the relationships that Business West holds with business and political leaders across our region, ensuring that the voice of business in Bristol is heard. Sitting on multiple boards, including chairing Bristol’s Economy & Skills Board, Victoria brings together stakeholders from across the city including public, private and third sectors such as national and local government, to champion Bristol to make this region the best place to live, learn and work.

Suzanne Rolt is CEO at Quartet Community Foundation. Suzanne has held a number of executive and non-executive roles in the cultural and charity sectors at both a local and national level. Before joining Quartet, she was CEO of St George’s Bristol concert hall where she led a transformational capital project. She has Chaired and is now a Board Director of Bristol Ideas/Bristol Cultural Development Partnership.

Stephen Peacock is the Chief Executive of the Bristol City Council.

Offers & Asks

Throughout the morning you will also hear from speakers presenting Offers & Asks to the city:

Trauma Informed Practices

Trauma Informed Practices can help organisations effectively and compassionately respond to the trauma and adversity experienced by individuals, families, communities and the workforce. ​

Offer: Learn how to take a trauma-informed approach by using our framework, joining our network, and engaging with champions​.

​Ask: Make an active commitments to embedding a trauma informed approach across your services and systems, by signing our pledge here.

Contact BNSSG.traumainformed@nhs.net with any queries.

Clean Air Zone Transport Grants

In November 2022, Bristol City Council introduced a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) to the centre of the city. One year on we were delighted to announce that the data shows that air pollution has reduced, on average, by 10 per cent across the city, with a 12 per cent reduction inside the zone and 8 per cent reduction outside of the zone. You can see the report in full detail here. Upgrading to a vehicle that meets the zones emission standards is a cost-effective alternative to paying the charge over the longer term.

Offer​: Explore a range of grants for significant financial support to help your business your business to upgrade its non-CAZ compliant vehicles here.

Ask: Consider how you can support your organisation to continue to make Bristol a cleaner, healthier city.

Bristol Legacy Foundation

Bristol Legacy Foundation is developing a unified campaign for commemoration and reparation in Bristol by delivering a commemoration site and a museum or story house to explore the lives, histories and futures of those affected by this genocide.​

Offer: Join the Bristol Legacy Foundation Launch on 15th March at the MShed Museum, you can learn more about this event and find tickets here.

Ask: Visit the Bristol Legacy Foundation website here, and consider how your organisation can support this work​.

Stands

We also have stands at the City Gathering this year. Attendees are encouraged to visit the stands during the regular refreshment breaks on floor one and two.

Bristol Women’s Voice

Bristol Women’s Voice will be using their stand to call on employers to pledge as Caring Economy Employers as well as to support the campaign. You can find out more about the campaign to Value the Caring Economy here.

Our City 2030

Our City 2030 has a stand at the City Gathering to share their work which aims to support young people from low income households to secure a median salary role by 2030. You can learn more about Our City 2030 by visiting their stand or their website here.

Baby Rhino UK

Baby Rhino UK will be using their stand at the Bristol City Gathering to share their offer to support disadvantaged young people in Bristol by providing year-round group and individual rugby coaching. You can learn more about Baby Rhino UK here.

Great Western Credit Union

Great Western Credit Union has a stand to share Money@Work which is working with employers to give their employees access to affordable loans and easy ways to save through payroll. You can learn more about Money@Work here.

Bristol Local Food Fund

Bristol Local Food Fund supports local community food projects to fight food insecurity. You can learn more about their work by visiting their stand or their website here.