Governance
Meet our Board Directors
Dr Steve Ball (Co-Chair)
I am the Chair of Birmingham LGBT and Birmingham Pride Community Foundation.
I was Artistic Director of Language Alive Theatre in Education (1986-2000); Head of Arts for Birmingham City Council (2001-2003); Associate Director at the Birmingham REP (2003-2021) and Director of Birmingham Arts School (2022-2024).
I have been a Director of Southside BID since 2023 and have a keen interest in developing Southside's cultural offer.
Jon Gilchrist MBE (Co-Chair)
Jon is Artistic Director and CEO of Birmingham Hippodrome, one the West Midlands’ largest cultural organisations, reaching over one million people a year through on and off-stage programmes of work, with a specialism in new musical theatre development.
He was recently appointed to the Creative Industries Council and he is a Member of Arts Council England’s National Council.
Jon was awarded an MBE for his services to theatre in the King’s New Year Honours 2026.
Wei Du (Director)
I am extremely honoured to be involved in Southside BID, connecting communities and businesses inclusively. I have a proven track record of successful restaurant management as managing director. I am deeply involved within the community and have led several fundraising projects to showcase Chinese culture. For my day to day work, I am involved with the Ivy Lounge Restaurant and I am also a trustee and active member of the Birmingham Chinatowns Lions Club and served as vice president for over 3 terms.
Wei is also described as a pioneer, the first within the Chinese community to improve social mobility by partnering with local special needs school in Birmingham by providing work placements and opportunities for learners with learning disabilities. Wei is keen to continue his career journey and support young people within the region to gain valuable experience, training and employment opportunities so that they can generalise skills in a functional manner and promote the local labour market.
James Wong (Director)
James Wong is Managing Director of Chung Ying Restaurant Group and a leading figure in Birmingham's Chinese community and Southside district.
As a Director of Southside District BID and Chair of the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee, he plays a central role in cultural events, community engagement and championing Birmingham Chinatown on both a national and international stage.
James is also Founder of the Midlands Chinese Federation (MCF) and the East & Southeast Asian Business Club, connecting businesses, cultural organisations and communities across the Midlands and beyond. He serves as Patron of the Chinese Community Centre Birmingham, Governor of the Overseas Chinese Association School, and an affiliate member of Lions International — supporting charitable, educational and cultural initiatives across the community.
Working closely with businesses, charities and public sector partners, James is committed to regeneration, tourism and deepening ties between Birmingham and East and Southeast Asian communities worldwide.
Steve Cross (Director)
My focus is to represent the community. I’ve lived in the Southside area for over 15 years and own property in the area. I’m a Chairman of iLand Apartments where I work with our Board of Directors, who also own apartments in iLand, to manage the development for the benefit of owners and residents. We focus on ensuring that we provide a community environment that is wholly inclusive. I also own a business in the area.
Heather Hoskins(Director)
Heather is General Manager at Birmingham Conference and Events Centre & Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre. Heather has worked in Southside for three years but has worked in and around Birmingham for many years at the Copthorne at Merry Hill and Birmingham, and the Village hotels in Walsall and Solihull.
Heather describes her leadership style in three words: flamboyant, feisty and faithful - bringing energy, passion and loyalty to her team and the industry she loves. She hopes to bring equal energy and vitality to Southside and our community.
Dr Tom Goodman BEM (Director)
Tom is an award-winning, nationally-recognised technologist, community leader, and former academic, living in (and loving) the District since 2022.
He’s keen to bring his expertise to help to improve the local area, attract diverse new businesses, and strengthen Southside's soul as the cultural heart of the city.
Gene Chin (Director)
Gene is an Administration and Compliance Manager at an accountancy firm, dedicated to driving effective governance and supporting business growth.
Passionate about cultural engagement, she strives to help Southside thrive by fostering inclusivity, celebrating diversity, and encouraging collaboration that strengthens both local businesses and the wider community.
Kelly-Marie Tipper BSc MSc (Director)
Kelly is the Pub Manager at The Dragon Inn (J D Wetherspoon) and has over 11 years’ experience in Southside, with a demonstrated record of delivering sustained improvements in business performance and customer experience.
She is dedicated to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all, with a particular focus on ensuring women and vulnerable individuals feel confident and secure when visiting the area.
Actively engaged in community efforts, she works to drive positive change for businesses and customers, supporting the continued growth and success of the local area.
Luke Gallimore (Director)
Luke is an experienced hospitality leader with over 15 years’ experience across city‑centre and destination hotel operations.
As General Manager of Radisson Blu Birmingham, he brings strong expertise in financial governance, safety and compliance, stakeholder partnership and people development, with a focus on delivering sustainable commercial performance.
Yanbo Yang (Director)
Yanbo Yang is Director of Boing Group and Vice Chairman of Birmingham Chinatown Business Association.
With over 10 years of experience in hospitality, he operates multiple businesses in Birmingham’s Chinatown and is committed to supporting its development, strengthening the local business community, and enhancing the area’s cultural identity and vibrancy.
Lawrence Barton DL (Director)
A successful entrepreneur and businessman, Lawrence is a senior director of a family-owned business portfolio that spans several sectors, ranging from skills and apprenticeships to hospitality and manufacturing.
He is also a passionate community leader. He has been appointed to a number of notable leadership positions, including festival director of Birmingham Pride and leadership commissioner for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA),
In recognition of his community activism, in March 2020 Lawrence was appointed to be a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the region, John Crabtree OBE.
Han Liu (Director)
Han Liu has spent more than two decades shaping the West Midlands’ Chinese food scene. Born in Beijing, he moved to the UK in 2000 before settling in Birmingham, where he introduced one of the country’s first mainland Chinese restaurants with the launch of Han Dynasty in Coventry in 2004.
Expanding to Birmingham’s Station Street in 2007, Han Dynasty became both a landmark restaurant and a training ground for a generation of regional chefs and restaurateurs, helping popularise regional Chinese cuisines long before they entered the mainstream.
Today, Han focuses on food halls, most notably Han Dynasty Food Hall on Bromsgrove Street, where he continues to champion emerging talent and showcase the breadth of regional Chinese cooking in Birmingham.
Southside BID is a democratically elected, private, not-for-profit company. The company is governed by a Board of Directors who serve on a voluntary basis, setting the strategy for the company and providing oversight to its activities. The Board is composed of individuals working in local businesses, organisations and stakeholders from key sectors, including hospitality, property, and residents, representing both large and small enterprises. Representatives from Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police also sit on our Board as key public sector partners. See above for our current Board Directors.
How can I become a Board Director?
Our Director appointment Policy can be found here. When we are recruiting for new Directors, we will contact businesses within the District. Please keep an eye on our website for these opportunities.
How can I keep up to date with your activity
The easiest way to stay up to date is to join our newsletter. You can join our mailing list by using the form at the bottom of this page.
Levy paying businesses can also request a copy of our Board minutes and our register of interests. If you would like a copy of our latest set of minutes, please email Southside BID.
Procurement
Southside BID needs to be agile and adaptable in the way it procures products and services. You can review our procurement principles here.