Beverley Nielsen
Beverley worked for Birmingham City University for sixteen years in a variety of roles including Visiting Tutor, MA Design Management, Business Development Manager for Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Director of Employer Engagement, Director of Corporate Affairs, and before leaving she was Associate Professor at both the Centre for Brexit Studies and the Institute for Design, Economic Acceleration and Sustainability (IDEAS).
Prior to working at the University, Beverley spent a decade in business as Director of the FTSE-250 company, AGA Rangemaster plc and Managing Director of subsidiary retail business, Fired Earth. She worked for over a decade to promote business developing policy and networking with government and stakeholders whilst at the CBI as European Policy Advisor in London and Brussels, Assistant Director, CBI North West and Director of CBI West Midlands.
Her early research at the CBI covered the impact of non-tariff barriers on British business and was published in a report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities (1983) with other reports covering productivity, competitiveness, infrastructure and skills.
Beverley served as Chief Executive of the Heart of England Tourist Board for a period and through these roles developed a strong interest in place-based economic growth. She has written extensively about regional economic development, as well as producing case studies on corporate cultural transformations.
In her personal capacity, Beverley was first elected as a Councillor in Worcestershire in 2009 and has served as a County and District Councillor with her roles including Economic Development and Environment Portfolio Holder. She is regularly involved in campaigning and fundraising, including Chairing the campaign to save Malvern Hills College raising over £1m. She is Chairman of Boundless Outdoors, promoting the advantages to young people of outdoor activities and Ultra Light Rail Partners Ltd promoting affordable, sustainable rail-based transport. She serves as a trustee on Malvern Cube Projects supporting young people, ProAge, promoting age inclusivity in the workplace and Malvern Hills Community Land Trust advocating the development of local community-led affordable housing.