Mark Lynam

Mark joined Wakefield Council in 2021 as Corporate Director for Regeneration and Economic Growth. He has responsibility for Economic Growth and Skills, Planning, Transport and Highways and Arts, Culture and Leisure, serving the District’s 340,000 residents. Wakefield is part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority which is one of the UK’s biggest economic areas outside London.

Prior to joining Wakefield, Mark was Director of Transport, Housing and Infrastructure at Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority since joining in 2016. He supported the directly elected Mayor in delivering a transport capital programme of over £200m which underpinned the region’s objectives for inclusive economic growth. He was also responsible for leading the development of South Yorkshire’s housing, infrastructure, net zero and transport policy agenda.

Mark’s professional background is in economic development, regeneration and policy. Between 2013 and 2016 he was the Head of Economic Development at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council where he reshaped the authority’s economic strategy and led on a number of major regeneration projects. Mark’s other career roles include heading up Nottingham City Council’s major economic programmes work, which involved leading the negotiation of the authority’s first City Deal and the Government’s flagship Enterprise Zone.

Mark is a member and former board director of the Institute of Economic Development (IED), alongside his membership of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).

Mark returns as a judge for the second year.