Steve Gawthorpe is a Chartered surveyor, currently Area Director North East for English Partnerships, with over 33 years experience in the field of regeneration. He has been involved in a range of regeneration projects, including the award-winning Grainger Town Initiative, Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside City Challenge as both practitioner and serving as a Director on the Boards of these bodies. Currently Director of Sunderland ARC and Tees Valley Regeneration URC Boards as well as the South East Northumberland and North Tyneside Regeneration Initiative (SENNTRi) and is a Steering Group Member of the Regional Centre of Excellence (IGNITE).