Bishop Auckland Towns Fund

David Land (Chair)

David is a high-profile individual who has held senior positions with some of the region's larger companies. Starting out as an apprentice at Cummins Engines in Darlington, David developed his career in the automotive sector and was a main board member at Tallent Engineering (now Gestamp) with responsibility in the UK, Europe and the USA. Since leaving mainstream employment David has co-founded and now directs in two consultancies as well as holding a number of non-executive positions. He now allocates his time between managing those businesses as well as supporting many local organisations in the manufacturing and educational sectors. David was founding member of the region's first University Technical College (UTC) South Durham and now chairs their board of governors.

David is a strong and pragmatic leader, who is able to identify and understand the needs of the business. Throughout his working career, David has developed strong presentation and communication skills, while taking on new and challenging tasks. He has a positive approach to resolving situations and has a clear and transparent manner.  

David is the owner and director of Drive2Business and the director and co-founder of  IA Growth. He is also Chair of  UTC South Durham, the Engineering, Manufacturing Network (EMN) and the Stronger Town Board for Bishop Auckland. He is an advisory Board member of  Business Durham, a governor of the University of Sunderland and a Trustee of the Baker Dearing Trust.

David Land declaration of interests (PDF) [202KB]

Shaun Hope

Shaun joined the board in February 2024 after becoming Bishop Auckland College group's Principal and Chief Executive. Shaun has worked in the further education sector for over 16 years as teacher, head of school, head of student recruitment and most recently as Vice Principal of Curriculum and Standards. Shaun has held numerous board positions in the community, charity and education sectors and is currently the chairman of The PFC trust, a local charity. Shaun is a member of the Executive Council for South West Durham Training.

Jonathan Ruffer

Jonathan grew up in North Yorkshire, read English at Cambridge, qualified as a stockbroker and barrister, and then moved into the investment world, setting up Ruffer LLP in 1994.

In 2012, he purchased Jacob and His Twelve Sons, a series of paintings by Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán, as well as the 900 year-old Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland where they had been housed for more than 250 years. He saw in their acquisition a way to help reinvigorate the region and bring about real change, and established the charity The Auckland Project. The charity is actively working to transform Auckland Castle into an arts, faith and heritage destination of international significance, boosting visitor numbers, creating opportunities for employment and skills development, and serving as a catalyst for the revitalisation of Bishop Auckland.

Jonathan's hope is to be an encouragement to those who work hard for the good of others, and those who seek to work but have not had the opportunity.

Jonathan Ruffer declaration of interests (PDF) [200KB]

Edward Perry

Edward is CEO of The Auckland Project, a regeneration charity working to establish Bishop Auckland as a visitor destination through its unique collection of heritage attractions, galleries, gardens, parkland, heritage railway, hotel and restaurants.  The Auckland Project aims to attract inward investment to the town, to create a destination hub in SW Durham, to remove barriers to employment and to change lives in Bishop Auckland by putting people at the heart of everything it does.    

Born in Northumberland, Edward returned to the North East in 2021 having held senior leadership positions across the heritage and conservation sectors managing archaeological sites, museums, historic houses, rural estates, a safari park and large visitor attractions, most recently in Liverpool. 

Dehenna Davison MP

In 2019, Dehenna Davison became the first Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland since the constituency's creation in 1885. In September 2022, Dehenna became Minister for Levelling Up, focusing on social mobility and regeneration. She resigned in September 2023 due to chronic migraine.

At 13, Dehenna's dad was killed by a single punch, catalysing her journey into politics. In 2021 she founded the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on One Punch Assaults and campaigns with One Punch UK for justice and sentencing reform and continues to chair this APPG post-ministerial resignation. 

Dehenna has been a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Science and Technology committee, but due to her ministerial appointment had to resign from her position on the committee. Alongside her constituency campaigning, Dehenna is focused on improving treatment pathways for chronic migraine sufferers, and campaigning for more research funding into Invasive Lobular Cancer.

Dehenna graduated from the University of Hull in 2016, having studied British Politics and Legislative Studies. Before becoming an MP, she worked as a Research and Development Analyst for a County Durham start-up, and has previously worked in local government in a digital transformation role, in video gaming retail, and in various roles across the leisure and hospitality industries.

Dehenna Davison declaration of interests (PDF) [201KB]

Mike Matthews MBE

Mike is the former Nifco Europe Operations Officer and Managing Director of Nifco UK. Mike remains an active member of the business community. He has worked very closely with Semta, the organisation responsible for skills for the future of the UK's most advanced sectors; as well as playing a role in the development of the North East Skills Alliance for Advanced Manufacturing, a collective of champion employers, 12 local councils, Semta, business membership organisations, training providers and the National Apprenticeship Service. He became Vice President of the North East Chamber of Commerce in 2014 and stepped up to his current President role in June 2015. Mike also collaborates and supports many other initiatives from Stockton Borough Council and Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). He has formed links with schools across Teesside, as well as working with training providers and universities across the region, agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding with Teesside University's Vice Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson. Mike appeared in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June 2014, awarded an MBE for services to business in the region.

Nik Turner

Nik joined the social housing sector in 2009, having previously worked in project management, under-taking large scale developments across Newcastle city centre. She is passionate about the north east, taking an active role on the Constructing Excellence in the North East board, driving the change agenda in construction, housing and regeneration.

Nik Turner declaration of interests (PDF) [203KB]

Robert Yorke

Robert is the Managing Director of Teescraft Engineering Ltd and Chair of South Durham Enterprise Agency.  Robert is also a County Councillor for the West Auckland ward.

Robert Yorke declaration of interests (PDF) [286KB]

Cllr Mike Harker

Cllr Mike Harker was born in Bishop Auckland and after a business education, worked in manufacturing companies until joining the Civil Service in London in 1971. Employed by a U.S . Multinational Company in 1974 he enjoyed a variety of assignments to gain a broad base of business expertise and knowledge in sales and marketing, finance and strategic planning - all of which in turn  helped him improve his business skills and competence by working on mergers, joint ventures, acquisitions and contract negotiations.

Opportunities for personal development and education ( Thames Valley University, London Business School, University of Birmingham , Alabama) led to Mike specialising in Channel Management; generally operating at Board level with a range companies , who serve their customers in many different industries through their distribution networks. Their estimated turnover in 2024 now in excess of £1.75 bn.

Following retirement in 2013, Mike then specialised in working for several SME's in an advisory capacity. Focussing primarily on business growth and development activities with a variety of assignments which included relationship management ,coaching and mentoring at all levels, new product introduction, market research, credit management and key account planning.

Mike returned to Bishop Auckland 2020 and has become and ambassador for the town.  

Cllr Mike Harker has been appointed the 17^th Mayor of Bishop Auckland for the municipal year 2024-25