What is the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)?

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA for short), is chaired by the Mayor of the East Midlands and brings together our local council leaders, businesses and communities with one shared mission: To unlock opportunity, improve lives, and build a stronger, greener, and fairer East Midlands.

This is a powerful partnership, with membership made up of the directly elected Mayor and democratically elected councillors from our East Midlands partner councils of Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council – united by the belief that we achieve more together.

EMCCA is about local people shaping local decisions. Approved by the Government, it gives our region new powers and funding — known as a devolution deal — so we can take control of the things that matter most.

We look after billions in funding and work on big plans and projects that work to improve the whole region, including:

Growing the economy – Bringing in new investment, helping businesses, and creating good jobs.
Transport – Making it easier to get around by improving buses, trains, roads, and cycle routes.
Skills and adult education – Giving people the chance to learn the skills that local employers need.
Housing – Helping to build more affordable, good-quality homes, and making older homes more energy efficient.
Environment – Supporting clean energy, creating greener spaces, and helping communities live healthier lives

Find out more about our priorities

Chief Executive

Amy Harhoff

Amy Harhoff is Chief Executive and leads the organisation on it's ambitious plans for the future of the region. Working alongside Mayor Claire Ward, Amy is driving forward EMCCA’s agenda, focused on improving transport, housing, skills, employment, and climate resilience. Her leadership is rooted in collaboration and delivery, bringing together local authorities, businesses, and communities to unlock the region’s full potential. With a clear vision for inclusive growth, Amy is harnessing the East Midlands’ strengths, from world-class universities and global industries to a thriving visitor economy and rich cultural heritage. Under her leadership, EMCCA is building a more connected, skilled, and sustainable region - one with a strong identity and shared purpose. Her appointment also marks EMCCA as the only Mayoral Combined Authority led by both a female Mayor and Chief Executive - a powerful statement of inclusive and forward-looking leadership for the East Midlands. Amy’s vision is rooted in collaboration and delivery, bringing together local authorities, business, and anchor institutions to create a step change for the East Midlands. Through her leadership, EMCCA is building momentum and turning ambition into action for the benefit of the entire region.

Executive Director of Strategy and Inclusive Growth

Damien Dacey

Damien Dacey leads on skills, employment, business growth, innovation, and strategic investment. He plays a central role in shaping the region’s strategic direction and delivering the benefits of devolution. His work is key to ensuring that new powers and increased investment translate into real, long-term improvements for the people and places of the East Midlands. Driving EMCCA’s work to boost business growth, innovation, and opportunity - Damien brings together partners to create jobs, attract investment, and support a more sustainable and inclusive future for the region. He also leads efforts to address inequality and close skills gaps by investing in education, training, and employment initiatives that help residents access and progress in quality jobs. Through his leadership, the authority is laying strong foundations for long-term, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, where opportunity is available to all across the region.

Executive Director of Place

Edward Highfield

Edward Highfield leads the authority’s ambitious work across Transport, Net Zero, Spatial Planning and Housing. He plays a central role in delivering EMCCA’s mission to unlock inclusive growth and opportunity across the region. He is at the forefront of transformational programmes that will improve how people move, live, and work across the East Midlands. He is spearheading efforts to transform regional transport, improve connectivity, accelerating progress towards a cleaner and greener East Midlands and ensuring the delivery thousands of high-quality homes - laying the foundations for thriving, sustainable communities.

Executive Director for Resources

Richard Williams

Richard Williams leads the organisation’s core business functions, including finance, HR, procurement, audit, and business operations. Richard plays a key role in shaping EMCCA’s financial strategy and supporting the development of strong, effective internal systems that allow the organisation to deliver lasting impact for the region. He is also responsible for building our commercial relationships and ensuring our operations are robust, transparent, and future-focused. Richard is committed to embedding EMCCA’s values at every level of the organisation. He champions a culture where collaboration, authenticity, and accountability guide our decisions and actions. Through his leadership, EMCCA is not only delivering for the East Midlands but also becoming a great place to work—where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to make a difference.

Director of Legal, Governance and Compliance & Monitoring Officer

Sanjit Sull

Sanjit leads EMCCA's legal, governance and compliance functions, ensuring the organisation operates with integrity, transparency and in line with statutory requirements. As Monitoring Officer, she provides independent oversight, supporting the Mayor, Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team on decision-making, governance standards and risk management across the Authority.

Director of Portfolio and Corporate Affairs

Rachel Grant

Rachel leads the organisation’s corporate affairs, communications, stakeholder engagement and portfolio delivery functions. Working closely with the Mayor, Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team, Rachel ensures our priorities are clearly communicated, strategically aligned and effectively delivered. She plays a key role in ensuring clear, consistent messaging that strengthens our profile, raises the visibility of the Mayor, and highlights the East Midlands region nationally and internationally. She also builds strong relationships with government, partners and communities, supporting the successful delivery of programmes that drive growth and opportunity across the East Midlands. Rachel is passionate about championing the East Midlands, unlocking opportunities for growth, and contributing to a fairer, more prosperous future for all.

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About Us

The Mayor

Our Corporate Plan