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Leadership Team

Amy Harhoff

Amy Harhoff - Chief Executive

Amy Harhoff is Chief Executive and leads the organisation as it sets out an ambitious vision for the future of the region. Working alongside Mayor Claire Ward, Amy is driving forward EMCCA’s ambitious 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.

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Damien Dacey - Executive Director of Strategy and Inclusive Growth

Damien Dacey is the Executive Director of Strategy and Inclusive Growth, leading 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.

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Edward Highfield - Executive Director of Place

Edward Highfield is the Executive Director of Place and leads the authority’s ambitious work across Transport, Net Zero, Spatial Panning 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. Edward works closely with Mayor Claire Ward, Chief Executive Amy Harhoff, and partners across the region to turn ambition into delivery - ensuring that people, businesses, and places benefit from the region’s full potential. to unlock investment, tackle regional challenges and to deliver real and lasting impact for the region.

richard

Richard Williams - Executive Director for Resources

Richard Williams is the Executive Director of Resources, leading 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. By aligning Resources with purpose, Richard ensures we stay true to our values: lifting the region, working together, making an impact, and always staying human.

Jodie

Jodie Townsend - Monitoring Officer

As Monitoring Officer, Jodie is statutorily responsible for governance reporting to the Combined County Authority on any illegality or maladministration, this includes supporting our Board to ensure proper oversight of the organisation’s activities and compliance with our legal and regulatory obligations. Jodie has over 20 years’ experience working in governance, the past seven years of which have been in Combined Authorities. During this time, he has delivered a number of successful governance transformation projects, as well as acting as the Monitoring Officer at District Council, City Council and Combined Authority level.

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