Meet The Team

Christine Allison currently holds several non-executive positions, including Governor, Plymouth University, Chair of the South West Investment Group (SWIG), and Director of the South West Business Council. In the recent past, Christine was a fellow of the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation, Advisor to Auden Ltd, a Specialist Advisor to the HMG Treasury Select Committee, and a trustee of Devon Community Foundation.

Prior to settling back in the UK in 2010, Dr Christine Allison had 25 years of experience in international development and finance, including a substantial period with the World Bank, headquartered in Washington, DC. During this time, Christine spent periods in Africa, South Asia, and Eastern Europe, lived in Botswana and Hungary, and was involved in finance programmes in several countries. 

Christine has degrees in economics (Sussex and London) and business (Harvard) and has a particular passion for investment in human capital, start-ups and financial inclusion for individuals and SMEs. Christine blends experience obtained from an international career and working with diverse cultures, high-profile UK positions, and working locally in the South West, and has forged collaborations with private, public, and not-for-profit entities to ensure the success of initiatives.

Christine lives in East Devon and is a keen tennis player, hiker, and frequent international traveller.

Organisation: SWIG Finance

Catherine Mathews is a Partner and Board Member at employee-owned law firm, Stephens Scown LLP. Having started her career as a trainee at the Firm, she now has over 20 years’ experience as a lawyer, specialising in commercial litigation. She has been on the management board since 2019, and more recently became head of the Exeter office.

Catherine is responsible for leading the employee engagement strategy at Stephens Scown, a 300+ strong law firm based in the South West, serving regional, national, and international clients from individuals to SMEs and larger corporations. Having grown up in Cornwall, she moved to Devon to study Law at the University of Exeter and has built a strong connection with the South West business community.

With experience acting for clients operating in a wide variety of the South West’s leading industry sectors, including renewable energy, food and drink, technology, and leisure and tourism, as well as acting for a number of regional charities, her work places her at the forefront of the positive development of the region.

As an alumna at the University of Exeter, she volunteers for the Pathways to Law programme, which targets students from underrepresented backgrounds and helps them to attain university places, many of whom are the first in their family to do so. She is also a volunteer for Young Enterprise and supports the charity’s programmes and services in Devon, designed to help young people to develop the financial and enterprise skills they need to succeed in the world of work.

Organisation: Stephens Scown 

Liz is a communications professional with over 30 years’ experience, specialising in stakeholder engagement with critical infrastructure and crisis management. She provides expert advice to public and private sector, from investors, developers and project delivery as well as central, Scottish and Welsh governments and local authorities.

Currently advising critical infrastructure portfolios totalling in excess of £32bn: she has particular expertise in energy, including renewables. Projects range from district heating to energy recovery, off and onshore wind, solar and carbon capture. She also advises a separate hospital regeneration programme, focusing on education and life sciences. 

As a recent trustee of the Institution of Civil Engineers, she is passionate about engineering and encouraging more women into the profession. She is a national judge for several construction and planning awards, with specific interest in creating genuine social value. Liz is also a member of the Great Western Railway Advisory Board, SW Infrastructure Panel and Governor (UK) of the Association of Real Property and Infrastructure.

She previously chaired the Local Transport Board, BBC Audience Council (representing England) and was interim CEO of Heart of the South West LEP. She guest lectures for UCL and other institutions; she is also an expert witness for public inquiries on the impact of critical infrastructure on the tourism economy. 

She founded Coast Communications in 2005, a strategic technical communications agency based in Cornwall, London and Swansea, with a roster of national and international clients. In her (limited) spare time, Liz enjoys walking in the Black Mountains with her dogs, paddle boarding on the coast and photography

Organisation: Coast Communications

Vicky Pope had a long and varied career in the Met Office. She worked for many years on climate change. She led the development of some of the best climate models in the world and later ran the Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme, acting as the interface between scientists and government and other key stakeholders, including the media.

More recently, she was an independent member of the audit and risk assurance committee for Climate Change and Rural Affairs for the Welsh government.

Prof Vicky Pope has a particular interest in the environment and improving access to science and maths education. She is Chair of the Devon Wildlife Trust, In2scienceUK (a social mobility charity promoting STEM careers) and MEI (A charity that improves Maths Education for all). She was the founding editor of ‘Climate Resilience and Sustainability’ for the Royal Meteorological Society.

She is a Trustee of BRE Trust (Building Research Establishment). She is also the National Labs lead for the Association of Research Innovation and Technology Organisations (AIRTO).

Organisation: Devon Wildlife Trust and MEI

Jabo Butera is an accomplished entrepreneur with a remarkable track record of initiating and managing successful businesses over a span of 15 years. With a solid foundation in law, holding a prestigious LLB degree from the National University of Rwanda, Jabo has seamlessly merged his legal acumen with a passion for entrepreneurship.

Throughout his career, Jabo has demonstrated a unique blend of legal expertise and business acumen that has propelled him to the forefront of the business world. His journey has been marked by a series of successful ventures across various industries, solidifying his reputation as a visionary and results-driven entrepreneur.

In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Jabo Butera has been an active participant in the region’s business landscape. He has lent his expertise and leadership to prestigious boards, including the Devon Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Business Council. His strategic insights and commitment to the economic growth of the region have made him a sought-after voice in the business community.

Jabo’s ability to navigate the complexities of law, coupled with his relentless entrepreneurial spirit, has not only driven his own business successes but has also positively impacted the broader business ecosystem. His dedication to excellence, coupled with his unwavering commitment to the community, sets him apart as a true luminary in the world of business and law.

As he continues to innovate and lead, Jabo Butera remains an inspiring figure for aspiring entrepreneurs and a catalyst for positive change in the business world. His journey stands as a testament to the power of vision, education, and unwavering dedication in the pursuit of success.

Organisation: Diversity Business Incubator

Laurence Frewin has served as Principal and CEO of South Devon College since 2019, following nine years as Vice Principal for Corporate Services. In that role, he provided strategic leadership across all professional services functions and spearheaded the development of a transformative Estates Strategy, resulting in approximately £60 million of investment to create state-of-the-art facilities that support outstanding teaching and learning.

Laurence brings a wealth of experience in strategic leadership and management, with a background spanning the private sector, particularly banking and finance, as well as primary, secondary, and further education. His cross-sector expertise has been instrumental in driving the College’s growth and innovation.

Under his leadership, South Devon College has seen significant expansion, with turnover increasing from £30 million in 2019 to £39 million in 2025, and projections indicating growth to £45 million by 2030. He has positioned the College as a key institution in the South West, aligning its curriculum and partnerships with regional and national skills priorities in sectors such as Health and Care, Marine, Photonics, Clean Energy and Cyber Security. Apprenticeship provision has grown by over 20% during his tenure, now supporting around 1,100 apprentices.

The College has earned national recognition for its excellence and inclusivity. It recently received an “Outstanding” rating for its Education Programmes for Young People and is one of only 27 institutions in the UK to achieve Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold overall, including Gold in both Student Experience and Student Outcomes. In 2024, the College was named Sustainability Institution of the Year at the EAUC Green Gown Awards and in February 2025, the Office for Students bestowed the College with the Power to Award Degrees indefinitely.

Laurence is a prominent advocate for sustainability, social mobility and economic development. He was recently co-chair of the Board of Trustee Directors at EAUC (The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education) influencing sustainability practices across further and higher education sector in the UK and Republic of Ireland. He also serves as a non-executive director of the South West Business Council and previously held a similar role with the Torbay Economic Development Company in South Devon. He is Chair of the Skills & Employment Advisory Group for the Devon & Torbay Combined County Authority. He also sits on various national strategy and advisory boards with the Association of Colleges.

Outside of his professional life, Laurence enjoys running, cycling, and participating in amateur theatre. He lives in Brixham, Devon, with his wife and is the proud father of three adult children.

Organisation: South Devon College

Martin qualified with KPMG in 2006, before moving into the energy industry. Martin worked in various finance and commercial roles within RWE nPower before moving to Infinis Energy Plc, helping list the business on the London Stock Exchange.

Martin moved back to the South West of England, working for companies including Babcock International Plc, Rittal and Wildanet, as CFO or Finance Director.

Martin has previously also been active within the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), being President for the South West during 2018-2019 and is a former member of the main Governing Council. Martin lives in Cornwall with his wife and two children. In his spare time Martin is an avid reader of history, a legacy of his university studies.

Organisation: Ocean Fish Group

Claire has over thirty years’ experience working across the public and private sectors in a diverse range of development roles, all with a key focus on place transformation, performance and delivery. With a demonstrable track record in nationally significant and complex regeneration projects, Claire has been able to create the conditions to attract investment, transform places and uplift opportunities for communities. Known for a pro-growth, pro-business approach, Claire has led and delivered considerable economic restructuring both in Reading and more recently in Bridgwater and has left a legacy that evidences track record and celebrates sustained economic growth.

Formally Chief Planning Officer for Sedgemoor District Council, Claire led the public sector response to Hinkley Point C from strategy through negotiation, consenting to implementation.  Claire has provided strategic advice on Sizewell C and has operated as the Director of Planning for the Salamanca Group for 5 years, re-imaging the planning and regeneration strategy to create the Gravity project, securing the Tata/ Agratas gigafactory into the UK.

Claire has established Real Growth Ltd in 2024 providing independent advisory services to unlock transformational projects from concept to delivery. Currently engaged in Dorset as a Strategic Project Director leading the Dorset Clean Energy Super Cluster, a programme of emerging NSIPs to establish a new destination for international investment. Claire has provided advice to public sector clients to attract investment and improve economic prospects and to private sector clients on overcoming barriers to investment to unlock delivery.

National economic development Leader of the Year in 2024, and a Women of Influence in 2025, Claire continues to champion planning system improvement to make a real difference.

Claire is currently a NED for Dorset Innovation Park, which has a strong focus on defence with huge, untapped potential for growth. 

Ceasing her role as a main board Governor of University College Somerset, Claire has taken up the SWBC role with a clear focus on the SW playing a strong role in UK security, resilience and championing economic restructuring and investment management to ensure long-term economic success for communities.

Organisation: Real Growth

Andrew Burns was appointed Fleet Commander in September 2021 and commanded all operational arms of the Royal Navy (Surface Flotilla, Submarine Flotilla, Fleet Air Arm, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary). This included their generation for task and operational effectiveness.  He was the Chief Naval Warfare Officer and the Gender Advocate for the Royal Navy.

Andrew joined the Royal Navy in 1989 as a University Cadet.

He has been privileged to command the mine countermeasures vessel HMS Berkeley, the frigate HMS SOMERSET and the amphibious assault ship HMS BULWARK. He was appointed OBE in 2015. Promoted to Commodore, he commanded the Amphibious Task Group, which included a period in command of the US Fifth Fleet Combined Task Force 50 as the Principal Warfighting Commander. More recently, he was Commander United Kingdom Strike Force, the Royal Navy’s deployable 2* operational commander, and Rear Admiral Surface Ships, the head of the Surface Flotilla Fighting Arm.

Shore appointments have included: the National Contingent Headquarters for Operation TELIC; the Multinational Force Headquarters (Baghdad); Directorates of Special Forces and Strategic Plans in the Ministry of Defence; Commander Sea Training; Joint Forces Command as the Principal Staff Officer to the Commander; Assistant Chief of Staff Ships in NCHQ; and latterly, Director Develop, responsible for the future design and capability of the Royal Navy. He was appointed CB in 2021.

He has attended the Royal College of Defence Studies as an Associate Member and is a graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (MA in Defence Studies, King’s College London and the Higher Command and Staff Course. He has been a Visiting Research Fellow at the Changing Character of War Programme, Pembroke College, University of Oxford. He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Science from the University of Plymouth and is a graduate of the US Combined Forces Maritime Component Commanders Course and the UK/US Rising Leaders Course. He is an alumnus of the London and Oxford University Said Business Schools.