Breathing life & light into historic buildings to generate community space, science & creative labs, exhibition & performance spaceHeritage Lab was set up to unlock the potential of historic buildings and community assets.Ramsgate is one of the only Heritage Action Zones in the country and is home to over 450 listed buildings. Many of them are in a state of poor repair, empty or underused; yet they could represent a powerful tool in the regeneration process.Complementing other regeneration initiatives, we will use our skills and expertise, and those of our partners and community; to bring Ramsgate’s heritage buildings and community assets back into sustainable use, creating high quality community space, workspace and jobs and enhance pride in our town.We believe this will help to reinforce a sense of community, rejuvenate the local economy and provide a catalyst for improvements to the wider area. Over time we aim to revitalise the overall quality of the built environment and boost health and wellbeing among Ramsgate’s residents through the uses of the new spaces created.

Responsible for Economic Development, regeneration, heritage, planning, building control, enforcement, housing, licensing, tourism, leisure, events, museums, community safetyKey Achievements: • Secured over £6M in external grant funding for housing and cultural programmes• Completed the £2M renovation of the iconic Sunshine café and Menagerie cages on time and on budget • Completed penultimate phase of the £2.5M Dalby Square Townscape Heritage Initiative scheme• Established Thanet’s marketing profile as ‘fastest growing in UK’• Secured funding and support from one of world’s largest investors • Key broker for investor interest in public estate leading to £30M+ private sector investment• Delivered 15% cash releasing efficiency savings• Reduced sickness absence by one third• Improved compliance and governance• Council lead for team to secure the Turner Prize 2019 for Margate • Secured multiple awards for services and personnel• Led £28M housing intervention programme and examplar housing service• Improved staff morale, organisational and district reputation• Established multiple MOUs and partnership agreements• Prepared & published an Economic growth strategy and developed a new board to oversee its progress• Secured a new Theatre operator with innovative commissioning • Led the review of contract to turn £600K p.a. deficit into a £250K surplus• Established one of UK’s first Heritage Action Zones• Established a new business support service

Reporting to 10 Chief Execs and Vice Chancellors, led the integration of NHS, Local Authority and Academic Institutions across Leeds to provide better, simpler and cheaper care, more efficient and effective use of £2Bn revenue, increased research opportunities and greater investment from national and international private sector heath partners. Rob played a lead role in the integration agenda in a number of ways including:-Conceptualised, established and led the strategic governance arrangements for the city. -Authored and programme directed, city wide Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy-Co-led development of the Leeds Academic Health Partnership across the 10 Leeds focused NHS, LA and Academic institutions securing £10M in first 6 months-Thought leader and founder member of the Leeds Innovation Health Hub-Established and led the Integrated Commissioning Executive responsible for integrating c. £2Bn revenue-Conceptualised and Chaired Leeds' City wide Health Communications and Engagement Group-Played a lead role in developing the strategic NHS Digital approach for Leeds-Led Key Account Management for private sector health companies [Leeds, UK and Global]-Developed citywide partnership governance to improve decision making transparency and efficiency-Developed draft proposals for Health Devolution-Conceptualised and established Executive level Formal Learning Network for Greater Manchester, London and Leeds with the Kings Fund-Raised the city’s profile through various national and international channels-Recognised by Health Service Journal and Local Government Chronicle as one of UK’s top Integrators