Meet the new members of your team

One of the things that sets us apart is that when you’re working with Community Ventures, we become an extension of your team. We want to work with you long-term, and we’re as engaged in your project as you are. 

Meet our Board and Executive Team.

Board Director

Jo Barnes

Jo is the Managing Director of Sewell Estates, a Group of companies based in Yorkshire with a range of interests spanning construction, facilities management, property investment/development and consultancy services. Jo joined the Community Ventures Board in 2021 following Sewell Group’s investment in the business.

Board Director

Dave Leedham

Dave is the Developments Director for Sewell Investments, part of the wider Sewell Group, which operates across the north of England in estates consultancy, property investment, construction and facilities management. Dave joined the Community Ventures Board in 2021 following Sewell Group’s investment in the business.

Chief Executive

Emma Bolton

Emma is an expert in public sector estates strategy, with extensive experience at leading diverse, multidisciplinary estates-focused teams across local authorities and the NHS. A Fellow of the RICS, Emma pairs this with her town planning degree to give her a unique view across estates strategies.

Director of Consultancy

Jonathan Turner

Jonathan is a qualified Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years’ experience in the property industry, specialising in strategy in the health and social care industry. He’s worked across both public and private sectors, and is an expert in creating estates strategies and ensuring built asset optimisation.

Development Director

Dean Spencer

Dean has experience in both the commercial and development sides of Community Ventures, with specialist interests in property development, cost management, estates consultancy and corporate acquisitions and disposals. He brings his essential skills into our pipeline of property development in primary care, and manages a team of specialist development and project managers.

Director of Operations

Peter Jones

Peter manages a wide-range of estate-related projects in support of the NHS and local authorities. His career started with a 28-year spell in the Forces, serving internationally in command, operational, training and logistic roles. Peter moved into the LIFT and healthcare property sector, overseeing the delivery or management of over £200m worth of primary care facilities.

Business Support Manager and Company Secretary

Vicky Jagger-Strangeway

Having joined the company in 2004, Vicky’s been an integral part of the team ever since. She brings her legal background to Community Ventures, providing executive level support to the CEO and directors of the business. Her areas of expertise include corporate and board governance, quality and process management, events and marketing, and office and contract management.

Associate Director of Consultancy

Louise English

Qualified Chartered Commercial Property Surveyor, Louise, is responsibile for client engagement and partnership working across the region, business development, and overseeing the management and operational effectiveness of two LIFT Company portfolios (Community Ventures Leeds and Durham & Tees Community Ventures).

Associate Director of Consultancy

Dayle Lynch

Dayle joined the team in 2023 after 20 years in the public sector, 19 of which were with Leeds City Council. As Associate Director, she's responsibile for developing partnerships across the area, as well as acting as General Manager for three LIFT Companies (Doncaster, Barnsley & Bradford).

Associate Director of Operations

John Watson

Better Business Cases Registered Practitioner, John, has previous experience in estates management in Primary Care Trusts and NHS Property Services, and his expertise in strategy work, community provision and government sector gives him a huge amount of knowledge to lead the consultancy team.

Associate Director of Consultancy

Nicola Gundill

AMPG International Better Business Case Practitioner, Nic, leads on the delivery of projects and works with the regional Associate Directors to support the management of local relationships. Her expertise is vast, from project management and programme development to report writing for the health, local government, public and private sectors.

Associate Director of Developments

Scott Clarkson

Scott’s work at Community Ventures sees him developing and managing projects of varying size and complexities, from inception through to delivery. He is an AMPG International Better Business Case Practitioner, with vast experience across the public and private sectors, with over 18 years' experience specifially in the Health sector.

Associate Director of Consultancy

Greg Salisbury

Greg has worked both nationally and internationally with experience in project, programme, and portfolio management engagements across the following industries: real estate, infrastructure, health, nuclear, defence, energy, and the public sector. Greg speciality lies in real estate strategies and business cases for organisations with large portfolios.

Contact us

If you’d like to speak to us about a project you’d like us to get involved with, then get in touch.

Community Ventures