Chair - Susie Colley

Susie spent the first half of her career in nursing, initially training at the Royal London Hospital. She then hopped on a boat taking £10 assisted passengers to Australia. There she worked at the  Royal North  Shore as a Ward Sister and then Assistant Night Superintendent in charge of Spinal injuries/neurosurgical ward/pediatric and Orthopedic wards. She then returned to the UK where she continued her nursing career with stints in at the Royal London, St Thomas's in cardiac theatres and then moved to Wales. She then took a break from Hospitals and worked as a school nurse at the  BF on the  Rhine Boys School.

Eventually moved back to UK worked at the Neurosurgical ward at the  Western General Hospital  Edinburgh before moving to London to work at the Wellington Hospital. She then moved to Devon to marry a Paignton GP and enjoyed the life of a GP’s wife until his untimely passing in 1998. Whilst married she started a medical insurance brokerage and won several national awards within the sector. She started working with the Community and became  Chair of Torre and  Upton Community Group, then Chair of the Torquay Neighborhood plan, then Chamber Chair.

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Andrew Rogers

Andrew has worked as a designer specializing in workplace interiors for 30 years. During that time he has worked on projects for companies as diverse as ASOS and the BBC,  and as well as the UK, he has worked in Holland, Croatia and Italy. 

Having recently moved to the bay, Andrew started Revisionr 6 years ago, providing a full package of services; company and building spatial analysis, office layout planning, design (interior and bespoke furniture) and product procurement.  He is excited by the new opportunities and challenges that businesses are facing in the area, and hopes to bring a creative yet practical approach to the Chambers future.

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Jackie Kelly

Having moved from Liverpool 30 years ago Jackie has worked with high profile companies including Deutsche Bank, Yellow Pages (Yell), DMGT, Greene king & Hilton. Her business knowledge is vast and incorporates media advertising, hospitality sales & marketing & business planning. Jackie has supported local & national companies increase their sales and grow their business through various markets. Her customer service is something she is well recognised by others as being exceptional. She is very passionate about Torbay and wants to support the chamber in creating a positive forum where all opinions are welcome. 

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David Black 

David on leaving college started a career in Hospitality with Scott’s Hotels, initially as Holiday Inns then the company changed to Marriott hotels. In the mid 90s transferred to Marriott International in Sales and Marketing heading up Western Europe with 11 countries and 6 offices, meant much of his time was spent travelling in Europe and the US . This led to a move for 10 years in the US, based in Denver CO running a mid-sized meetings and events company, specialising in the pharmaceutical sector, as well as building a moderate property portfolio. On returning to the UK, he came back to Marriott and then Radisson again in Sales and Marketing. It was then time to leave the corporate environment and a move to Devon, initially to assist a friend run the Imperial Hotel, until deciding to buy and run Headland View, a small Bed and Breakfast situated right on Babbacombe Downs with its breath taking views of Lyme Bay which he has done since 2016.

They say if you want something done give it to a busy person. A long career of juggling multiple projects at one time, ensures David can deal with anything that comes his way. Plus, almost 40 years of customer facing roles and running small to mid sizes businesses as well as senior roles in major corporations, means he brings a wealth of experience to the Chamber, as well as a passion to improve the Bay as a whole. 

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Georgian Marin

Originally from Romania, Georgian arrived in England in 2010 to study business at Plymouth University. His academic journey culminated in a First-Class Degree, accompanied by the distinction of being recognised as the Best Business Administration student in his promotion.

 

Georgian's professional trajectory has primarily revolved around International Language Schools, and he is currently the School Director at International House Torquay. In this capacity, he has demonstrated exemplary leadership in shaping educational initiatives and fostering a global perspective within the Torquay community.

 

With an accomplished background in business administration and a keen understanding of international dynamics, Georgian brings a valuable and diverse skill set to the Torquay Chamber of Commerce. His strategic vision aligns seamlessly with our goals for community development and growth. His commitment to fostering Torbay as a preferred destination for international visitors aligns with our collective vision for economic prosperity.

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Jacqui Nickels

My lifelong commitment to community service has been recognized through the receipt of the Bays Blue Shield Award in 2005 for my significant contributions to Torbay's Voluntary Services. I am particularly proud of my involvement in supporting young people and families affected by autism, having worked at both the national and local strategic levels to improve their lives.

In my professional and community engagements, I have honed my strengths in empathy, effective communication, and organizational skills. My drive to fulfil my responsibilities to the best of my abilities, coupled with a continual desire to learn and grow, has been pivotal to my success in all my endeavours. My diverse qualifications have equipped me with the versatile skill set needed in the world of commerce, while my personal values of empathy, integrity, and honesty have guided my interactions with clients, colleagues, and the community at large.

As owner of a successful local business I am committed to using my knowledge and passion to advocate for other taxi drivers through Torbay United Licensed Drivers Association (TULDA) and for the benefit of other local businesses and the community as a whole.

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John Kingsley-Dobson

Originally from Derbyshire, I studied Architecture at Derby College and Leicester University form here working in a practice for 9 years between 1974 to 1982. I left Architecture forming a business advertising and marketing property. A complete change of direction which culminated in a move to Christchurch and The New Forest in 1991.

 

In 1992 I began working as a freelance architectural concept artist leading to working in a variety of Countries with International Architects, landscape Architects, Master Planners and Interior Designers on worldwide hospitality and resorts projects. I still working for some of these clients 30 + years on. I am also connected to a gallery for the sale of my oil paintings in Galerie Beauchamp, Quebec City Canada. I am a member of the Society of Architectural Illustrators.

 

I have lived and worked from Torquay for 11 years so with my knowledge of Hospitality Architecture and Resorts, I hope to bring something positive to the progress of Torquay and The Chamber of Commerce

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