Speakers

Margaret Fay OBE

Chairman, One NorthEast

Margaret Fay OBE is Chairman of One NorthEast, the regional development agency for North East England.

She heads One NorthEast’s Board which is ultimately responsible for the agency’s activities, its strategic leadership and direction.

Margaret is highly respected nationally for her 22 years with Tyne Tees Television, where she rose from her first job in the accounts department in 1981 to head up the company as managing director in 1997.

During her time at Tyne Tees TV, Margaret was known for her open and direct style, delivering against objectives and, in addition to the various posts she held, continuing to specialise in human resources and industrial relations issues.

Margaret joined One NorthEast in 2003 after retiring from Tyne Tees TV and was recently re-appointed by the Government to chair One NorthEast until the end of 2009.

Born in South Shields, Margaret still lives in the town, has spent her entire career in the region and is a passionate advocate for North East England.

Margaret has led the Agency through a sustained period of development during which time One NorthEast has taken on responsibility for leading the development of tourism in the region, establishing the streamlined and more sharply focused Business Link North East and championing job creation, such as supporting the creation of up to 1,000 jobs by GE Money in an extended call centre operation at Cobalt Park, North Tyneside.

Margaret was awarded the OBE in June 2004 for services to broadcasting and an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration in July 2004 from Sunderland University for her services to Broadcasting, Business and Regional Life.