Ros Jones - CBE

Mayor of Doncaster

Ros Jones has been Mayor of Doncaster since 2013, having been re-elected for a historic fourth term in 2025.

A lifelong Doncaster resident and qualified Chartered Public Finance Accountant, Ros worked in both the public and private sector during her career before being elected as a Councillor in 2006 before being elected as the directly elected Mayor in 2013. Ros is currently a member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Since becoming elected Mayor, Ros has led Doncaster Council out of Government intervention early, and introduced wide ranging improvements, including successful policies to support the local economy, job creation, public and private sector housing developments, and education improvements.

In 2017 Ros was awarded a CBE for services to Local Government.

Her number one priority is to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, delivering jobs, investment, economic growth and opportunity for Doncaster.

Doncaster is the newest city in the North of England, with strong business sectors such as Rail, Logistics, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Green Technology.

Doncaster also has incredible potential, with a reopened airport alongside growth in cutting edge modern technology such as Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Air Vehicles and our growing Creative and Digital Sectors including plans for Film Studios and Digital Arena on our Waterfront.

Damian Allen

Chief Executive, City of Doncaster Council

Damian is City of Doncaster Council’s Chief Executive. Prior to this, he held the Council’s statutory Chief Officer role for Children (DCS) and Adults (DASS).

In 2022, Doncaster became the North’s newest City. Damian has pioneered designing and developing Regenerative approaches across ‘Team Doncaster’. This resulted in the Mayor’s publication of her 10 year borough strategy ‘Doncaster Delivering Together’ in 2021, with its mission of ‘Thriving People, Places and Planet’.

Damian’s focus is on supporting the Mayor’s ‘Great 8 Priorities, which includes, driving investment, making Doncaster the best place do business and create good jobs, developing the skills to thrive in life and work, and building transport and digital connections fit for the future. 

Lee Tillman

Executive Director for Policy, Partnerships & Investment, City of Doncaster Council

Lee leads numerous teams spanning the Chief Executives Department and has over 28 years’ experience in local government.

Lee has almost three decades of public sector experience within City of Doncaster Council, including Planning, Economic Development, Education and Skills, and Policy and Performance. As of December 2024, he serves as the Executive Director for Policy, Partnerships & Investment in the Chief Executive’s Directorate. His responsibilities encompass business growth and investment, sustainability, partnerships corporate policy, performance and transformation, data and intelligence, human resources strategy, and customer services strategy and support.

Scott Cardwell - MA BA MRTPI DipURP DipEUD

Service Director for Development and Traded Services, City of Doncaster Council

Scott leads numerous teams spanning Development Management, Planning Policy, Built and Natural Environment, Major Regeneration and Transport Infrastructure Projects, and Traded Services.

Scott has over 35 years experience in local government and has held senior management positions for Change Management, Equalities, Inward investment, Property, Strategic Housing, Corporate Policy and Performance Management. Scott is also a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Scott is very passionate about driving our economy forward and play’s an active role within Strategic Partnerships in Doncaster, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and national forums.

Jonny Bucknall

Head of Economic Development, City of Doncaster Council

Jonny is the Council’s Head of Economic Development. His role covers the delivery of Government Programmes including Town Deals for Doncaster and Stainforth and Levelling Up Fund Round 1 and 3, as well as developing the annual strategic investment plan for Doncaster.  Jonny led the development of Doncaster’s new city centre strategy with a new 2050 vision for the role the city centre will play as well as how this will be delivered spatially, along with setting the direction for delivery of future government programmes; Community Regeneration Partnership and Plan for Neighbourhoods.

Jonny played an integral role in the development of South Yorkshire’s current devolution deal, the development of the Investment Zone designation, and delivery, across Doncaster.

Alex Dochery

Investment Team Manager, Business Doncaster

Alex is the Investment Team Manager at Business Doncaster, Doncaster Council’s Economic Development arm. Business Doncaster acts as a front door for commercial developers and investors, with the team responsible for attracting inward investment into Doncaster, supporting indigenous business growth, and promoting Doncaster as the best place to live, work and invest in.

Passionate about economic development and making a difference to local communities, Alex has been in local government for ten years having entered the sector through the Local Government Association’s National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP). Before working at Business Doncaster, Alex held a joint post with City of York Council and York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (now York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority).

Victoria Clark

Sector Growth and Investment Team Leader, Business Doncaster

Victoria is the Sector Growth and Investment Team Leader at Business Doncaster, the City of Doncaster Council’s Economic Development department. Victoria’s aim is to attract inward investment into Doncaster as well as support existing businesses to develop and prosper. 

Victoria joined the City of Doncaster Council 3 years ago to help shape her home city, with over 15 years’ experience in the private sector in a variety of supply chain roles.