KEVIN PARKES - WHO AM I
Co-founder of What If… with over 30 years of senior management experience in local government.
Originally with a planning background, Kevin had spells at various councils including Hartlepool, Durham and latterly Middlesbrough where he spent c 17 years mainly as Executive Director for Place, leading on Middlesbrough’s economic regeneration.
Middlesbrough was identified by the Financial Times as one of the top 10 small cities for economic growth in Europe, 2018.
Since joining the Whatifgroup Kevin has been engaged in:
- Developing the visions and funding strategies for the
Middlesbrough Historic Quarter and the Gateshead Old
Town Hall; - Fund raising for GB Bank and other projects;
- The development of a new housing association for the Church
of England; - Strategic site development opportunities;
- Identification of opportunities for STACK and applications for funding;
- Development of the town centre strategy for Wallsend;
- Funding applications;
- Development of funding application for a community centre;
- Professional witness opposing a waste incinerator planning application.
Considerable experience at Board level, including Derwentside Homes, Leisureworks; Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art; and Teesside’s Digital City.
Responsible for an extensive corporate portfolio including; Environment; Transport; Regeneration; Planning; Transport; Public Health; Communities; Community Safety; Licensing; Culture; Leisure; Estates.
what makes us different