Institute of Directors North West
Director of the Year Awards 2010

Tony Attard
Founder and Chief Executive, Panaz Limited

Tony Attard is the founder and Chief Executive of Panaz Limited, specialist in the design and manufacture of flame retardant fabrics for the international hospitality, leisure, commercial and healthcare sectors. Under his direction, Panaz has gained two Queen’s Awards in recent years in the Export Achievement and Enterprise categories: formed in 1986, the company today exports to 46 different countries, operating worldwide through subsidiary companies in Europe and the USA and a global network of agents and representatives.

Immediate past-Chairman of the British Contract Furnishing & Design Association (BCFA), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Associate of the Institute of Textiles and a Member of the Institute of Management, Tony Attard has received an Outstanding Alumnus award from Manchester University together with accolades from the Design Council and the DTI in recognition of his contribution to the development of design in the contract sector. Mr Attard is a Freeman of the City of London, sits on the Board of Creative Lancashire and the General Assembly of Manchester University, and was named Lancashire Director of the Year 2006 by the Institute of Directors. He is also currently the BCFA spokesman on design and export matters.

Steve Purdham
CEO & Founder Investor, We7 Ltd

Steve is CEO and founder investor in We7, the new ad funded Music phenomenon. He has a passion for music, but apart from early days as a DJ, his real success to date has been in the computer industry, an industry he has been in since age 14 (when PC’s were science fiction).

Prior to We7, Steve was Co-Founder and CEO of SurfControl, where he developed the company’s vision and architecture. He took the company public on AIM, EASDAQ and the London Main market from which he generated hyper-growth creating a successful global operation with profitable revenues exceeding $100m. SurfControl was sold for almost $450m in 2007. Steve has been recognised by many prestigious business awards including IOD Director of the Year.

Ann Jordan
Chair, IoD North West

Ann has her own marketing business specialising in strategic planning in the private healthcare sector. She is also director of the family's independent North West builder’s merchant group. She has served as a Regional Director of the highly successful 'NO' campaign from 2001-2004.

Her memberships include the Westminster Dining Club, London and The St. James's Club, Manchester, where she serves on the Committee. She is a Founder member of the Childline Northwest Business Committee.

In 2004 she was appointed Chairman of the IoD in Manchester and in 2005 was made Vice-Chairman of the North West region. She is on the Council of the Institute of Directors, London, is Chair of the North West Region, is an IoD Non-executive Director and Fellow of the RSA.

Professor Cary Cooper CBE
Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, Lancaster University

Cary L. Cooper is Distinguished Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health, and Pro Vice Chancellor at Lancaster University. He is the author/editor of over 120 books, has written over 400 scholarly articles for academic journals, and is a frequent contributor to newspapers, TV and radio. He is Founding Editor of the Journal of Organizational Behavior and Editor-in-Chief of the medical journal Stress & Health. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, The Royal Society of Arts, The Royal Society of Medicine, The Royal Society of Health, British Academy of Management and an Academician of the Academy for the Social Sciences. In 2001, Cary was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Professor Cooper has been an adviser to two UN agencies; the World Health Organisation and ILO; published a major report for the EU’s European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Work Conditions, produced a scientific review for the WHO/ILO, and was special adviser to the Defense Committee of the House of Commons on their Duty of Care enquiry (2004-05).

Professor Cooper is President of the Institute of Welfare, President of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, National Ambassador of The Samaritans, Patron of the National Phobic Society and Patron of the National Bullying Helpline.

Liz Russell
Founder & MD,
EnviroSystems UK Ltd

Many years in agricultural sales and marketing inspired Liz to start Greenlands Nutrition Ltd in 1996. Offering independent advice, products and solutions her “can do” attitude led to many innovations which solve common farming problems.

EnviroSystems was founded in the crisis Foot and Mouth year, 2001, to research and develop EnviroBed as a better animal bedding alternative. The price, quality and absorbency meant within 3 years it gained a Queens Award for innovation. Now used across the UK, Ireland and Europe EnviroBed joins four other unique products providing environmental solutions as well as successful profitable businesses.

Cathy Garner
Chief Executive, Manchester: Knowledge Capital

Dr Cathy Garner is currently Chief Executive of Manchester: Knowledge Capital – a city-wide partnership driving innovation and knowledge-based growth for the benefit of the citizens of Manchester. She has a background in international knowledge transfer, extensive experience of urban dynamics and regeneration, education and knowledge-based business development.

Gary Houghton
Partner, Baker Tilly

Gary is a Corporate Finance Partner and heads up the Corporate Finance team in Baker Tilly's Manchester office. Gary has a wide range of Corporate Finance experience gained over the past twenty years. He specialises in advising AIM Companies and is Head of Capital Markets for the North of England and Scotland. He has acted as Treasurer to the IOD North West Region for the last six years.