Chester Business Club sponsored a number of delegate places at the CRAG Conference 2024 for Sixth Form students from Chester Schools including Upton High School, Queens Park High and Blacon High School. The students actively participated throughout the day, culminating with a photograph with the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Razia Daniels, and Club Chair Jan Chillery.
Jan said, “The Chester Residents Association Group has produced a superb conference attended by over 150 residents, businesspeople, Councillors and students. It was packed-full of interesting and informative presentations and panel discussions. The Chester Business Club is proud to support the next generation in their development as citizens and businesspeople by sponsoring student delegate places at this Conference.”
The Conference was introduced by Ian O’Doherty, Chair, Chester Race Company Ltd, and Mike Hogg, chair of CRAG.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Eunice Simmons, Vice Chancellor, University of Chester, on the topic of “Chester on the Move”.
Cllr Richard Beacham, CWaC Deputy Chair, delivered an update on the Chester One City Plan.
A session on River Culture was chaired and moderated by Chester Business Club Chair, Jan Chillery, who previously served as Secretary of Chester Regatta for over 20 years. The River Culture panel were Emily Payne, River Quality Liaison Manager, Welsh Water; Peter Powell, CEO, Welsh Dee Trust;
and Dr Namrata Bhattacharya-Mis.
“Unlocking the Best in Art & Culture” session was chaired and moderated by Kathy McArdle CWaC Executive Director of Place and Growth. The panellists were Suzie Henderson, Creative Director, Storyhouse; Bense Burnett, Trustee of the Storyhouse and Leader of the Chester One City Plan “Experiencing” group; Paul Newman, Archives Manager, CWaC; and Dave Southern, Chair, Chester Buskers Association
Cllr Katrina Kerr, CWaC Leader’s Champion for History and Heritage chaired and moderated the session on “Our City Landmarks, their Goals & Heritage”. The panellists were Tony Barton, Architect and Heritage Consultant; Andy Farrell, Leader of the Chester One City Plan “Making” group; Dr Niall McFadyen, Chair CHASE; and Ted Comer, Clerk of Works, Chester Cathedral.
The highly successful Conference ended with a Delegates’ Roundtable, an interactive discussion in groups producing useful feedback and perspectives for the panellists and Councillors.
Reminder: There will be a Club Members’ Supper on “Intergenerational Boardroom Diversity” on Tuesday 19 November at Mercure Hotel, facilitated by Alison Blackler, workplace culture coach. Members are encouraged to bring someone from a different generation to encourage discussion about this important topic. Further information on our events page Events – Chester Business Club.
