New Chair and Deputy Chair for REDA

13th November 2024

Stantec’s Scott Witchalls has been appointed as the new Chair of REDA, Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency. A long-standing member of REDA’s Board, Scott has been joined in the Agency’s leadership roles by the Leader of Reading Borough Council, Councillor Liz Terry, as Deputy Chair.

About Scott

Scott Witchalls is Director, Transport and Infrastructure at Stantec and is based in the Reading offices of this globally leading force in sustainable planning, engineering, architecture and environmental consulting. He succeeds Adam Jacobs as Chair and brings with him over 40 years of experience of development and infrastructure master planning throughout the UK and Europe with a focus on sustainable development strategy and implementation.  Amongst his many national and international projects, locally he has helped deliver Reading station area regeneration, Christchurch Bridge, Green Park and the Thames Valley Smart Cities Cluster.

About Liz

Councillor Liz Terry is Leader of Reading Borough Council and has been a Councillor locally since 2012. She has also worked across local government in a variety of officer roles as well as leading Berkshire Women's Aid for seven years. Liz has expertise in many areas of the local authority’s core areas of work, having led Council work streams on neighbourhoods, children's services, corporate services and resources. Liz is a key figure, representing Reading on the Berkshire Prosperity Board, driving the economic growth agenda across Berkshire.

The REDA Board reflects the diversity of Reading’s key sectors and stakeholders and with the new Chair/Deputy Chair in place, REDA and Reading will be well placed to benefit from the many opportunities that public-private partnership working and understanding can bring. 

Scott and Liz will lead REDA’s work on its mission to boost business and enhance the visitor experience in Reading by delivering the Business Improvement District Plans to create a better town centre, supporting business growth and skills including a programme of support to the rapidly growing film, TV studio and production hubs in and around Reading, promoting Reading as a place to do business, continuing REDA’s tourism work stream, helping reduce Reading’s carbon footprint and refreshing the Reading 2050 Vision.

Scott Witchalls said: “Reading has great strengths such as our talented workforce, great connectivity, surrounding environment and attractions, and it is undoubtedly an attractive place to live and work. However, we still need to enhance the business offer in Reading by working with the Council and other stakeholders to make the best use of our collective resources, find the right solutions and leverage external funding to make doing business here as easy and attractive as possible. The REDA priorities will keep us focused on ensuring Reading remains the pre-eminent place to do business in the region, while our Reading 2050 Vision provides the inspiration to deliver for Reading in the longer term as a smart and sustainable city of the future.”

Councillor Liz Terry said: “As Deputy Chair of REDA, I am keen to understand more about how our fantastic local economy works and how as a partnership we can fine tune it.  Equally, I want to encourage businesses to support their local communities and make the most of the talent base among local residents and in our schools, college and University.  I also want to see Reading play a key role in the growth agenda across Berkshire, supporting a diverse economy including our town centre and visitor and destination economy through to our knowledge based, digital and technology-based businesses. Our partnership with the private sector through REDA is a real benefit in this respect, helping develop strategies, identify business needs and deliver solutions.”

Nigel Horton-Baker, Chief Executive of REDA, said: “With their considerable experience and complementary backgrounds, Scott and Liz make a great team to lead REDA. I’m really looking forward to working with them to fly the flag for Reading and delivering on our five-year priorities to boost business and enhance the visitor experience in a way that improves the quality of life for all in the Reading region.”