About our team
Diane Southam is the Strategic Director for Place, Enterprise and Communities and has overall responsibility for delivery of the Hemel Town Centre Vision and Hemel Place Strategy, ensuring transformation of Hemel Hempstead as a place. Diane is working with a range of strategic stakeholders to attract new inward investment opportunities into the area, reinvigorate the Hemel Town Centre Vision and is overseeing the development of the Hemel Place Strategy Delivery Plan. Prior to her role at Dacorum, Diane was Head of Economic Development at the London Borough of Haringey and led on regeneration plans for North Tottenham and Broadwater Farm. She has a wealth of regeneration and economic development experience within a local government setting.
Gilly Tobin is the Interim Assistant Director for Place, Communities and Enterprise. She has over 12 years of experience ranging from heading up housing policy and strategy function for a central London borough through to working in a range of roles across regeneration and development. Gilly’s expertise includes the project management of large-scale mixed tenure housing developments, with experience in development and option appraisals, land acquisition, site assembly, resident consultation, and estate regeneration/intensification. She also specialises in affordable housing funding, strategy and policy, stock options appraisals, and programme management.
Caroline Saunders is the Head of Place and Enterprise working alongside Diane, she is responsible for the development and delivery of the Hemel Town Centre Vision, Hemel Place Strategy and Delivery Plan. Prior to this Caroline was the Head of Regeneration at Basildon Borough Council and has extensive experience in town centre regeneration and the delivery of major projects that provide a valuable contribution to transform places and enable growth.
Investors
Hemel Hempstead has always been a prime business location and the focal point is Maylands Business Park, home to over 650 businesses employing over 20,000 people.
Residents
Ever since its development as a New Town, leisure and space have been part of the design DNA of Hemel Hempstead and people are still benefitting from these initiatives today.
