Communications

Alex Burrows is head of strategy at Centro, where he is responsible for establishing its lobbying function alongside developing the strategic direction for integrated transport across the West Midlands metropolitan area. A registered lobbyist with the UK Public Affairs Council, Alex has over seven years experience in the ‘dark arts’ of lobbying, working across the transport, betting and wine and spirits sectors. He led the team that secured funding for the Midlands Metro City Centre extension and is currently championing the High Speed 2 rail development programme. A board member of Colmore Business District, he is also a member of the management advisory committee for Cruse Bereavement Care and Birmingham Future’s City Centre Committee.

Mark Chambers is regional director of the Central Office of Information (COI)– the Government’s centre of marketing excellence – where he’s responsible for setting the business direction for COI in the West Midlands, providing strategic counsel to government departments and internal teams and the performance and financial management of the department. His work as an unpaid business advisor saw Mark recognised as a finalist in the Business Advisor of the Year awards 2009. Father to a young family, he is committed to helping young people at the start of their careers to develop links with the professional services sector, facilitating work placements and developing links between the public and private sectors.

Tara Tomes is the newly-appointed consumer media relations manager at NEC Group. After graduating with a First-Class degree in advertising and marketing communications, she began her PR career with Rewired PR, working on campaigns across the consumer, lifestyle and fashion sectors. As well as providing communications support for a number of charities for the homeless, she is also editor of stylebirmingham.com and organised Brum Twestival 2011. Recognised as the Midlands’ Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, she is a board member at VIVID and deputy chair of Birmingham Future’s marketing committee.