MAA 15th birthday dinner

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Keynote speaker

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street

Andy Street was elected as the first Mayor of the West Midlands on May 4 2017. The primary function of the role is to chair the West Midlands Combined Authority and brings with it significant powers over transport, housing, skills and jobs.

Before becoming Mayor, Andy combined a career with John Lewis, Britain’s most successful workers’ co-operative, with a host of high-profile economic development roles, working with local and national government.

Starting on the John Lewis graduate scheme, Andy rose through the ranks to become Managing Director, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the company’s history.

He was the Chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership between 2011 and 2016, helping to build the relationships that have underpinned the economic growth of the region. Additionally, he has been lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government as well as a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group.

Outside work, Andy is passionate about the arts, particularly in the West Midlands, having previously served as Vice Chairman of Performances Birmingham Limited, which is responsible for running the City’s Symphony and Town Halls.

In June 2015, Andy was awarded the CBE for services to the national economy. He was named the ‘Most Admired Leader’ of the year by business magazine, Management Today in 2014. He received the ‘President’s award’ from the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce in for his work in the region. He holds three honorary degrees, from Birmingham City University, Aston University and the University of Birmingham.

After dinner speaker

BBC TV presenter Nick Owen 

Nick Owen is the host of BBC Midlands Today, a position he has held since 1997.

Nick was one of the first faces on UK breakfast television – presenting the sport on the very first day of TV-am in 1983. Within eight weeks, he had replaced David Frost as the main anchorman and was soon joined by Anne Diamond. That was the start of a partnership that included Good Morning with Anne and Nick a decade later for BBC 1.

Nick Owen was ITV Sport’s main presenter for six years, taking over from Brian Moore in 1986. Apart from the regular weekly show, Midweek Sport Special, he also anchored the Olympics of 1988 and the World Cup of 1990.

Nick received the Baird Medal from the Royal Television Society for Services to Television and, in 2010, he was named Speaker of the Year by the National Association of Speakers Clubs.

Apart from his broadcasting life, Nick is former chairman of Luton Town Football Club and a past President of Derbyshire County Cricket Club.