The Fund Managers

Avison Young manages the Low Carbon Fund.

Nicola Rigby

Avison Young Manchester Director

Nicola leads the Avison Young Regeneration offer across the North West, having worked for GVA for 14 years. Nicola has advised both public and private sector clients on funding and finance including Regional Growth Fund, European Regional Development Fund, JESSICA funding, and Growing Places Fund across the north of England. Key clients include Wirral Council, Lancaster City Council, and Torus. Nicola was identified within the Insider Top 100 most Influential Women in the North West in 2016 and recognised again in 2017.

Alastair Carmichael

Avison Young Principal

Alastair's focus is on structuring finance for real estate transactions. His clients range from small developers looking for debt, through to institutional funds and central government looking to deliver large scale regeneration. Alastair specialises in the financial structuring of joint ventures, forward funding and portfolio appraisal, and is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to give real estate investment advice.

Stuart Howie

Avison Young Principal

Stuart leads Avison Young’s regeneration business. He has over 20 years’ economic development experience, advising both public and private sector clients on a wide range of PPPs. Stuart specialises in commercial and financial advice, and is recognised for his pragmatic approach. Clients include local and combined authorities, development agencies, city regions, government departments, funders and developers.

The Board

Eamonn Boylan

CEX of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Eamonn Boylan began his career in the housing sector, rising to Assistant Director with Manchester Housing in 1995, then becoming Executive Director of Housingand Operational Services with Sheffield City Council in 1997.

He joined Manchester City Council in 1999 and rose to become Deputy Chief Executive, leaving in 2008 to join the Housing and Communities Agency (HCA) as Deputy Chief Executive. He became Chief Executive of Stockport MBC in 2010. As part of this role he led on housing, planning and investment within Greater Manchester. In 2017, Eamonn Boylan became the first GMCA full time Chief Executive.

Theresa Grant

CEX of Trafford Council

Theresa Grant has been Chief Executive at Trafford Council since 2011 and is the Lead Chief Executive for the Employment & Skills portfolio for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority region, as well as the Lead for GM Procurement Hub. She is a career public servant with 39 years' experience in Local Government in both Ireland and the UK.

Theresa is a graduate of the Masters of Business Administration programme at Manchester Metropolitan University and is also a Trustee of the Irish World Heritage Centre Charity in Manchester, a Board member of the Halle, a Non-Executive Director of John Laing Infrastructure Fund Board and a Director of Greater Manchester Carbon UDF (GP) Ltd.
Theresa is a dynamic, forward thinking leader with a passion for delivering strategic change and innovation through creativity and collaboration.

Dr Carolyn Wilkins

CEX of Oldham Council

Carolyn is currently the Chief Executive at Oldham Council where she has taken forward a significant programme of growth and reform through the Co-operative agenda.

She undertakes the lead chief executive role for Greater Manchester on a range of issues including City Green, which includes Environment and Green Spaces, Climate Change and Air Quality. She is also leading the development of a Greater Manchester Leadership and Workforce Development Framework and lead chief executive for Population Health. She is the Clerk to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority. In addition, she is the Chair of the Oldham Maggie's Fundraising Board and is currently a panel member on an independent inquiry into Civil Society.