Slough Chamber Council

The 2010 – 2011 Council is:

Vice President – Justin Neal, Commercial Property and Equity Partner (Harris Cartier)
Background: Justin has worked in the Thames Valley and London for over 18 years and currently is the commercial property and equity partner at the legal firm of Harris Cartier LLP. He is also the founding President of the Chambers’ Property Group and Vice President of the Slough Chamber Council of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group.

Paul Lewis, regional director (SEGRO Thames Valley)
Background: Paul qualified as a Chartered Surveyor with Vail Williams, spending 10 years with the firm initially undertaking commercial agency work before specialising in Landlord and Tenant and valuation. Paul joined SEGRO in 2000 initially as an Asset Surveyor on the Slough Trading Estate, but then moved onto a variety of roles including Regional Manager of their South West portfolio, Corporate Acquisitions Manager and Business Development Manager. Paul rejoined the Slough Trading Estate team in October 2008 as Regional Manager and is now Regional Director for SEGRO’s Thames Valley Industrial portfolio with responsibility for its 7 million sq ft of accommodation and 400 customers.

Rafiq Chohan, Assistant Director, Economic Development & Inclusion (Slough Borough Council)
Background: As well as his current role with the Slough Borough Council Rafiq is also the vice chair of the Chief Economic Development Officers Society. He is also responsible for the Council’s Community Cohesion activity and the Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) programme. He is a member of the local government associations’ Cohesion & Equality Advisory Group and has recently been appointed on the Board of the National Business Link Strategy Group.

John Devine, Business Watch Manager (SEGRO)
Background: John joined SEGRO in 1994 with a brief to reduce crime on the Trading Estate by working closely with all the Agencies, which included the Police, Council and Security Companies. This has proved to be a very successful venture with crime now reduced by almost 90% in the last 10 years. John now also advises the PLCs on security related matters throughout the UK. Prior to joining SEGRO, John was a regular police officer since 1964, serving throughout Central London in different ranks until eventually ending up at Buckingham Palace as acting superintendent in 1992. He was second in command of Security of all Royal Palaces in England and Scotland until retirement in September 1994.
In his leisure time, John likes to play Golf – a pursuit he only took up four years ago. John also used to play cricket for Stanmore in the Middlesex Championship League, but now follows it mainly from the arm chair.

Jonathan Moughton, Regional Audit Partner (Haines Watts)
Background: Jonathan is regional audit partner for the Slough and London offices of Haines Watts. Highly experienced with a focus on providing high quality advice to privately owned businesses, he has served clients across a variety of business sectors in the region for over 12 years.

Dion Scherer, Director (Campsie Commercial)
Background: Fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; and the director of Campsie Commercial, Dion has worked in the area for 30 years. He specialises in professional property work and commercial estate. Dion is a Member of Slough Chamber Council. Married with 2 sons, and depressingly a season ticket holder at QPR.

Nazar Lodhi, Proprietor (Furnival Lodge)
Background: Nazar has lived in the UK since 1966. He is currently the proprietor of Furnival lodge, 4 star Guest accommodation and a director of ACME Construction and Maintenance Ltd. He is also the Chairman of Future Foundation which is designed to promote harmony in the town and a member of the police consultative committee. Previously he has served as a local councilor of Slough Borough Council. Nazar is married and has two grand children (Maha and Adam).

Trevor Lambert, Head of Communications and Marketing (Slough Borough Council)
Background: Trevor is responsible for the council’s communications with residents, businesses, staff and other stakeholders. He is also chair of the Proud to be Slough group which is working to change the perceptions of Slough regionally, nationally and internationally.

Pat Davies, Partner (BP Collins)
Background: Newest addition to the Chamber Council is Property Solicitor Pat Davies. Pat is a Partner in Gerrards Cross Solicitors B.P. Collins and has worked in the area for many years. She has a particular interest in Banking Property Investment and Commercial leases and represents both commercial and private clients active in Slough and the surrounding district.

Nancy Lalor, Head of Work Based Learning (East Berkshire Education Partnership)
/NancyLalor.JPG Background: Nancy has lived most her life in Slough and now lives in Windsor, as the head of work based learning for East Berkshire EBP she feels very passionately about the role the organisation has within the local community and the impact that local business can have in helping to develop the workforce of tomorrow. Nancy has worked within the charity sector now for 20 years, spending 14 years as a debt counsellor with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Jeffrey Smith BSc FCA CTA, Managing Partner (Eacotts Chartered Accountants)Background: Jeffrey advises businesses and individuals on the creation, accumulation and maintenance of their wealth, primarily by mitigating taxation but also, by invitation, commercially.
He is a Registered Auditor, Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, he promotes exceptional professional expertise throughout the firm.

Murad Sheikh, Director (Targ8 Limited)
Background: Murad is part of ‘Proud to be Slough’ as and is very passionate about helping local community, charities and businesses. He has lived in Slough for over 35 years and Murad is an experienced Learning and Development specialist.. He is an active member of Slough Business Community Partnership and is a keen contributor to the intellectual growth of young community members. Murad also actively supports Apprenticeship programmes plus is working with the Job centre for work trials and the East Berkshire Business Education Partnership for work placements. Murad runs and owns Targ8 Limited; specialising in provision of IT services such as support, accessories and IT skills courses.

Jo Wright, Head of Business (Kinnarps) Background: Jo Wright has lived and worked in Slough for over 30 years and is currently Head of Local Business for Kinnarps. Jo has worked for Natwest, British Airways, Comdisco, M-Group and Ceridian. She served as a school governor for 7 years and has helped with various community groups.

Mike Grieshaber, Sole Proprietor (MLG Associates)
Background: Mike Grieshaber is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner and recently set up his own practice, MLG Associates providing trusted commercial advice to owner managed businesses that are facing financial difficulties. Mike has worked in the insolvency profession for over 25 years in both large and small organisations and has a wide range of experience advising clients across a wide range of industry and commercial sectors.

In his spare time Mike indulges his passion for rock and blues music attending many events in Europe and the USA. He is a keen golfer, if not very good and enjoys lazy weekends walking in the countryside with his girlfriend and her dog.

To contact any of the Chamber Council Members, simply email slough@thamesvalleychamber.co.uk