Executive Committee
The Society is run by its Executive Committee comprising four honorary officers and other elected members of the Society. The Committee has powers to co-opt up to three additional members. Elections take place each AGM, which is usually held in July.
The Executive until July 2020 comprises:
Deirdre LaBassiere
Chair
Deirdre LaBassiere
Deirdre LaBassiere LL.B (Hons) is a governance specialist with 18 years’ experience in legal and regulatory environments. Her vast experience includes advising, training and supporting organisations in governance, compliance, risk and assurance; more recently in data protection with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Deirdre is currently the Governance & Compliance Manager at Housing21, a leading provider of retirement housing and extra-care living for older people and is also a much sought after public-speaker and consultant.
Deirdre was an early board member of organisations such as the Black Solicitors Network, the Future Melting Pot CIC and the Birmingham Leadership Foundation and has served as Honorary Secretary of the Lunar Society. A passionate advocate for women’s rights, she currently serves on the board of Women Acting In Today's Society (W.A.I.T.S).
Dr Peter Borg-Bartolo
Vice Chair
Dr Peter Borg-Bartolo
Dr Peter Borg-Bartolo is a self-described “adopted son” of Birmingham. Originally from Malta, Peter trained in London as well as Birmingham and has been a GP in Weoley Castle since 1985.
He has a keen interest in the social, architectural and industrial heritage of Birmingham.
Peter is a firm believer in the mission of the Lunar Society and passionate about promoting a brighter future for the community and has previously served as a Lunar Society Executive Committee member.
Olwen Brown
Honorary Secretary
Olwen Brown
Olwen, a solicitor and a partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors, Birmingham, has a keen interest in how strong public services contribute to a strong democratic society, and how advances in science and technology can develop this contribution. She is also a strong advocate for women.
She is currently Vice Chair of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Chair of Writing West Midlands, a trustee of a small alms-house charity and a listening volunteer with Samaritans. Olwen was previously a member of the Society’s Executive Committee.
Mark Purcell
Honorary Treasurer
Mark Purcell
Mark’s career journey towards being one of the few remaining bespoke tailors within the Midlands has taken in, along the way, an engineering apprenticeship and road managing musicians and bands around the UK.
All of this experience to date has helped inform his interest into the history of the Midlands from a skills and craft perspective, and the industries that continue today.
Mark has previously served as an Executive Committee member of the Lunar Society.
Sir Michael Lyons
Committee Member
Sir Michael Lyons
Sir Michael Lyons is former chairman of the BBC Trust and was Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council. Educated at Stratford Grammar School, Michael then attended Middlesex University and the University of London. He worked as an economist and then served as an elected Labour councillor on Birmingham City Council between 1980 - 83. Sir Michael was knighted in 2000 for services to local government. He lives in Sutton Coldfield and has also served as the Lunar Society’s Vice-chair.
Dr Peter Mayer
Committee Member
Dr Peter Mayer
Dr Peter Mayer is a former consultant physician in geriatric and stroke medicine, and his past NHS roles include director of research and development, elderly service manager and medical staff representative.
He has been involved in the voluntary sector throughout his career, setting up the local Crossroads in 1984 and was a national trustee of Carers Trust. He is Chair of Age UK Birmingham and a Rotary International district officer.
He has been a member of the Society for more than 20 years and has served on the Executive Committee as Chairman (2011-2013); he is a former membership secretary, vice chair and honorary secretary. He is also the Society’s heritage lead.
Rt Hon Jacqui Smith
Committee Member
Rt Hon Jacqui Smith
Former Home Secretary Rt. Hon Jacqui Smith was born in Malvern, she studied PPE at Hertford College, Oxford and gained a PGCE from Worcester College of Higher Education.
Jacqui taught Economics at Arrow Vale High School in Redditch from 1986 to 1988 and at Worcester Sixth Form College, before becoming Head of Economics and GNVQ Co-ordinator at Haybridge High School, Hagley in 1990. She was also secretary of the National Organisation of Labour Students. Jacqui also served as the Lunar Society’s Chair 2017–2019 and Vice-chair 2015–2017.
She was Member of Parliament for Redditch from 1997 until 2010 and became Chair of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in December 2013.
Clive Stone
Committee Member
Clive Stone
Clive is active in a number of organisations including being CEO of LCS Professional Services, his management consultancy company founded in 2010, Chairman of Seven Trent Trust Fund, a Deputy Lieutenant for the County and a Trustee of various charities.
He previously founded Redcliffe in 1987, where he was the CEO and Chairman for 26 years. In December 2013 he sold Redcliffe which, at that time, was recognised as one of the UK’s leading independent catering services, employing 250 personnel and providing full facility management to clients throughout the Midlands. In 2016 he also sold his conference and banqueting company.
In 2006 he was awarded the Midlands Business Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors.
Nigel Webb
Committee Member
Nigel Webb
Nigel Webb has over 30 years’ experience in public sector management. Nigel was a HR director for three years, Kings Fund consultant for 10 years and Chief Executive of the Solihull Health Authority until 2002.
Recently, Nigel completed a Masters in the History of Art at the University of Birmingham.
Nigel completed a Masters in the History of Art at Birmingham University and has previously served as the Hon. Treasurer of the Lunar Society.
Frances Anderson
Co-opted Member
Frances Anderson
Frances Anderson is a partner at VWV LLP and specialises in intellectual property, technology and commercial law. She has advised a number of arts organisations both locally and nationally. She has been involved in MediaCityUK in Salford, the First Direct Arena (Leeds), the Library of Birmingham and the Cultural Olympiad. Frances also works with private sector clients and universities on research commercialisation and technology licensing.
She is currently a Guardian of the Birmingham Assay Office, a non-executive director of the BE Festival and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Stuart Guy
Committee Member
Stuart Guy
Stuart has a BSC in Chemistry, PhD in process engineering and a keen interest in sustainable systems (not theoretical, but soundly based on known science). He now runs his own environmental consultancy and enjoys the challenges that it brings.
He has organized reunions for Chemistry and Minerals Engineering, held offices of President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership in the Rotary Club of Birmingham.
Stuart is keen to involve all ages in promoting the understanding of science and to widen the appeal by encouraging appreciation of arts, history, and how science and engineering fit into all aspects of our society.
John Rainford
Co-opted Member
John Rainford
John is co-creator of Darwin Matrix App - Technology & Business Intelligence, Director of Rapid innovation for Business Development at Birmingham City University, Visiting Fellow of the University of Birmingham Business School Entrepreneurship (MBA) and Fellow of the Institute of Sales & Marketing Management.
Clarke Associates UK Limited
Communications support
Clarke Associates UK Limited
The Executive Committee is supported by Clarke Associates UK Limited, the Birmingham-based public relations, communications and marketing consultancy. The consultancy is responsible for the Society’s communications, membership development, event management, membership support and administration. The consultancy is well-known in Birmingham and the West Midlands and is led by David Clarke DL with support from Karen Stanley, Mark Binnersley and Yvonne Rush.