Meet the Team
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Andrew Burton, Chairman & Director
Andrew became Director and Chairman in October 2009. He has had a long association with the business angel community, spending seven years as secretary of YABA until 2004. That same year, he and three partners set up the Viking Fund, established to provide funding opportunities for high growth technology companies, along with the Viking Club, comprising private investors with a particular interest in technology, many of whom are also YABA members.
Andrew is keen to embrace his new role with YABA and believes one of the key challenges for the organisation now is to encourage greater reinvestment into companies in the region.
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Barbara Greaves, Manager & Company Secretary
Barbara has been involved in running YABA since 2001 and as General Manager now employs two full time staff and manages three freelance part-time Ambassadors who conduct business development activities across Yorkshire. Barbara has previously worked in home and export sales office management for various manufacturing companies in Yorkshire. Barbara has an HND in Business Studies and is a graduate member of the Institute of Export.
Barbara enjoys walking in the Lakes and Dales, skiing and cycling holidays in France.
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Charlotte Atkinson, Communications & Events Manager
Charlotte joined YABA in July 2004 to take over from Barbara as full-time administrator and became Communications & Events Manager in September 2009. Charlotte previously managed the office of an IT training company in Knaresborough before joining YABA and has worked within the business angel community for the past seven years.
Charlottes main role within the Association is to organise the YABA events which are held throughout the region as well as ensuring that the membership are kept up-to-date with the latest news from the business angel community.
Charlotte is a full member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
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David Marsh, Director
David is a founder member of YABA. Having successfully run his own businesses in bus operations and the retail motor trade and subsequently disposing of them, David entered the Business Angel arena. In June 1995 he had the original idea to form an association and became the founding chairman of YABA.
Investment and involvement in engineering, food and outsourcing businesses have proved both a rewarding and enjoyable experience (although David would admint to some stressful times as well).
David is married with a young child, and like several other members of YABA, is a keen golfer. -
Peter Ball, Director
Peter is a founder member of YABA and a qualified banker from a Lancashire farming family. He is an experienced sales and marketing professional spending 25 years and the Managing Director of an advertising, marketing and media company. He has been involved in several start-up and restructuring exercise and most favours being part of a multi-disciplined syndicate, probably stemming from his sporting background which saw county representative honours in three different sports.
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Anne Salisbury, Ambassador
Anne brings a wealth of experience to her new role as Ambassador for West Yorkshire, having previously worked for HSBC, she went on to manage West Yorkshire Ventures, and now runs her own business undertaking business development for a portfolio of professional service organisations. She currently sits on the board for Venturefest Yorkshire and is responsible for managing the event's Innovation Showcase.
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Catherine Kennedy, Ambassador
Catherine started her career on ICL's graduate marketing training programme in 1989. Since that time she has worked at Leeds based start-up, Blue Edge which was successfully acquired in a multi-million dollar deal by a US software giant in late 2001. Since that time she has worked for marketing consultancy, The Fusebox and in 2004 became an independent consultant working with small and start-up businesses across Yorkshire. Catherine has been involved in delivering a range of sales development programmes for Business Link and has previously worked with YABA, surveying angel members about non-executive directorships and mentoring. Catherine is appointed as Ambassador for South Yorkshire.
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Susanne Gilbert, Ambassador
Susanne is passionate about the development of start-ups and young companies and recently stepped down from her role as MD of York Science Park after 15 years of developing the park. She enjoys making a contribution towards creating greater awareness of the real difference a well matched business angel can make to a company's performance. Susanne began her role as YABA Ambassador in October 2009 and covers North and East Yorkshire, North & NE Lincolnshire.
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Jordana Beattie, Administrator
Jordana joined YABA in October 2009, taking over from Charlotte as full-time Administrator. Jordana graduated from Stirling University in 2008 where she studied Business Studies, focusing mainly on management and marketing. Following her degree Jordana worked as a Visual Merchandiser for a high end fashion retailer.
Jordana enjoys walking her dog, travelling and reading.
