Triple Play: Colmore BID Appoints a Trio of Talent to the Board

L-R: Alex Tross, Alison Kilby, Joanna Lee-Mills, Hannah Voogd and Nicola Fleet-Milne

Colmore Business District (BID) has appointed three distinguished female leaders to its Board of Directors.

This historic addition marks a significant milestone in the organisations’ ongoing commitment to support levy-paying businesses and deliver the goals outlined in the BID4 Business Plan 2024-2029.

The newly appointed Board members bring a wealth of experience, expertise and a fresh perspective that will undoubtedly enhance the strategic direction and impact of the BID.

Joanna Lee-Mills, Partner, Head of Social Housing Development and Deputy Head of Office (Birmingham) at Shakespeare Martineau is the first addition to the Board. With a background in real estate, her expertise encompasses all aspects of affordable housing development, including portfolio/large scale acquisitions and sales.

Dedicated to promoting underrepresented communities, Joanna is regularly engaged locally on initiatives that seek to overcome regional and sector challenges, and has worked closely with the Birmingham business community, local government and supporting organisations.  She has a passion for mentoring emerging leaders and young professionals and has been on Colmore BID’s Community Building Working Group since 2022.

The second appointment to the Board of Directors is Alison Kilby, Associate Director, and Midlands Workplace Advisory Lead at Arup.  Alison spearheaded the relocation of the firms third largest global office from Solihull into the Business District at the end of 2023. This included the delivery of social value activity as part of the firm’s commitment to support local communities during the move, which she seeks to continue through this new position.   She brings to the board over 20 years of experience in the built environment, applying global expertise to guide delivery of local construction projects and sustainable building design to the benefit the ongoing work of the BID.

Hannah Voogd is a Development Manager at HBD and marks the third appointment to the Colmore BID board. Her previous experience includes roles at Savills and JLL. Within her current role, Hannah is leading on various high-profile schemes to support regeneration and development in the Midlands, ensuring growth within our local communities.   Hannah’s ongoing commitment to Colmore BID has seen her involvement in the Community Building working group evolve into leading the New Professionals Working Group. She is dedicated to providing career development opportunities for young professionals in the District.

Nicola Fleet-Milne, Chair of Colmore BID said: “We are so excited to welcome Joanna, Alison and Hannah and expand our fantastic Board of Directors. Their diverse experience and insights will be invaluable as we continue to drive forward our mission to enhance the economic vitality and quality of working and visiting our District.

“The appointments reflect the BID’s ongoing efforts to ensure that its leadership is representative of the diverse community it serves. The inclusion of these accomplished women aligns with our strategic goals of fostering inclusive growth and innovation as we enter our BID4 term.”

Colmore BID is a professional services Business Improvement District established in 2009 covering a specific geography in the city core. Since its inception, the BID has carried out many success projects, including award winning public realm schemes on Cornwall Street and Colmore Row, Community Support services and the Colmore Food Festival.

Recognised as one of the leading BIDs in the country through initiatives focused on providing value and quality to levy-payers, Colmore BID works to create a thriving environment for businesses, residents, and visitors.

For more information, please visit colmorebusinessdistrict.com.