Board Members
Connected Coast



He was recently past Vice Chair of the Lincoln College Group and is currently Interim Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership. He additionally is also Chair the Employment and Skills Board for the LEP, is a member of the Investment and European Funding Committees and also a member of the University of Lincoln International Business School's Advisory Board. His personal passions are all things Welsh sport especially Rugby as well as a bit of cycling to keep at least partially fit! He loves spending time with his family and loves the County and is encouraged by both its growth and continued potential.


In the 2015-2017 Parliament, Matt was a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee, and Co-Chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on Broadband and Digital Communication and Pictfor (The Parliamentary Internet, Communications and Technology Forum).
In January 2018, Matt was appointed PPS to the Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, having previously served as her PPS in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from June 2017. Between April 2019 and July 2019 Matt served as an Assistant Government Whip, before being appointed as a minister in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. As Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Digital and Broadband, this portfolio covers digital and tech policy, online harms and security, digital infrastructure and digital skills.

In November 2017 Victoria was appointed to the Home Office, as Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability. At the start of 2018, the centenary year of some women gaining the right to vote, Victoria was made Minister for Women in addition to her duties in the Home Office.
Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Victoria practiced as a criminal barrister specialising in prosecuting serious organised crime.






The introduction of the NHS Lincolnshire CCG on 1 April 2020, following the merger of the four CCGs, led to Sandra being appointed Chief Operating Officer for East Locality and Executive Lead for reducing health inequalities.
She is passionate about improving care and better outcomes for people of Lincolnshire building on the great work undertaken so far and recognises the significance of her role in addressing health inequalities, specifically for the East Coast.

She joined the NHS in Hertfordshire in 2002, after a career in the commercial and charity sectors. Her NHS work has involved leading on strategic planning and implementing change across the county. Jacqui led the development of the New QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City from inception to financial close, a project which involved significant stakeholder engagement in a politically challenging environment. All of these changes have been made in the context of developing sustainable integrated services which involve social care and the voluntary sector, in order to deliver the best possible outcomes for all.


Steve runs his own training company that delivers Assessor and Internal Quality Assurance qualifications across the UK from its centre in Boston, Manchester, Birmingham and London. He also runs a consultancy service for organisations working in or about to enter the FE sector. Prior to this Steve spent 10 years as an Area Manager for a London based Housing Association. The Housing association specialist in housing and support for those with mental health, drug or alcohol problems. Steve sits on a number of different boards including the Lincolnshire Coastal Destination Bid and Skegness Trading Company and is a trustee of two local charities; East Lindsey Information Technology Centre (First College) and Skegness Sports Association. He is also a member of the Gibraltar Point Advisor Committee. In his spare time, Steve likes to get some sleep.

Colin lives on his family farm, where he grew up in the Village of Orby, close to the Lincolnshire coast and is married to Vanessa. He studied Politics and Economic History in London and then went into the Entertainment Industry where he has had a hugely successful career as an Agent, Manager and Promoter of major International events for nearly 35 years. The company he founded in 1992 (Planet 7 Entertainment Ltd) continues to provide event services internationally and he has proudly worked with such stars as Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie & Andrea Boccelli. He has also coordinated major events such as Miss World and the IIFA Awards and produced musical theatre events such as Mama Mia, Chicago and the Sound of Music in the Middle East.
He is a passionate advocate for stronger International relationships to aid economic growth and has been a champion of stronger ties between Hunan and Lincolnshire since he took office in 2013. He believes in a strong interconnected World based on mutual relationships and is a strong advocate for China and India been central to a successful global economic model for the future. He also believes emerging markets will drive a successful global economy and sees his country as Global Britain, trading and working in partnership across the globe.


Although she started her current college role in the midst of the pandemic (yes,… that was interesting…), Claire has worked quickly to build strong, purposeful partnerships with businesses in Boston and its surrounds, to secure mutually beneficial opportunities, such as the Town Deal, made possible from effective collaboration.

In his younger years he was a bass guitarist and singer in a local rock band and in 1980 successfully went on to hone his skills as a Comedian and After Dinner Speaker. He was honoured to be asked to join the Grand Order of Water Rats of which he is a proud member.
Sid owns and runs a Family owned Recycling Company based in Skegness, which has been established since 1884. He is a serving ELDC Councillor (9 years) and a member of Skegness Town Council (9 years). He is also Chairman of the BID Board, a member of the Skegness chamber of trade and a member of his local PPG (Patient Participation Group]. He is part of our local Hospital Watch and a member of the Skegness Twinning Association.



Caroline's expertise lies in community development and involvement, urban regeneration and community development/support. Lincolnshire YMCA has been supporting communities across Lincolnshire for the past 150 years and the current portfolio consists of supported and emergency accommodation, community based child and youth services, training & skills development programmes and physical & mental wellbeing support services.
Institute of Directors - Winner Third Sector Director of the Year (East Midlands) 2019.
Regional Finalist - Forward Ladies Public Sector Award 2019.

John’s role at the University is to support the VC and DVCs in developing the external engagement of the University, working with partners in industry, FE, and community organisations. On behalf of the University, John is a Director of Investors in Lincoln, Lincoln BIG, the Lincoln Science Park, and LEAP. Alongside working at the University, John works as a coach and mentor.
In addition, John is Chair of the Lincoln Engineering Breakfast, the organisers of Spark, the Chair of Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Services, a YMCA Trustee, and a Parish Councillor.
John has lived in Lincolnshire for 30 years, having grown up in Essex; he is married with 2 adult children.



Chris is a yellow belly born in Grantham. He lived for eleven years in Skegness in the 1980/90’s and returned to the coast on his ostensible retirement thirteen years ago. He is based in the Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea Groups of Parishes which he loves. He is a trustee, board member or committee member of a number of local groups.
Before his ordination at the age of 33 Chris was a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. He was a partner in the large Lincolnshire firm of Duncan and Toplis.
Chris is passionate about the Lincolnshire coast and walks his black Labrador for at least five miles on the beach most morning but twice a week Chris runs for 10K whilst the dog walks beside him!. Chris enjoys singing, acting in musicals and directing large scale outdoor Passion Plays and Nativity Plays. He also enjoys being the ship’s Chaplain on cruises!


With Duncan & Toplis Paul initially worked as a manager in their Newark on Trent office before coming to Skegness in 2013. Since coming to Skegness he has become involved in many local groups including becoming a Director of two local charities, treasurer and now Chair of Skegness Area Business Chamber.
As a long time fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland Paul has worked with hundreds of businesses over the years and is passionate about supporting owner managed businesses navigate their challenges and take advantage of their opportunities. Through his involvement with clients, charities and business groups he has developed a strong belief in the importance of working together to make the most out of the opportunities and resources at our disposal to have the most positive impact on our community.
Married with three children Paul spends his free time with his family who enjoy nothing more than spending days on the coast enjoying the simple pleasures of our coast and all the things a trip to the seaside with a young family entails.