NWBLT Announces New Representatives from Lancaster University and Peel
The North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) is pleased to announce that Professor Steve Decent, Vice Chancellor at Lancaster University and Lisa Marsh, Associate Director at Peel Land Group have joined the organisation.
Professor Steve Decent joined Lancaster University as Vice-Chancellor in January 2026, bringing extensive experience in higher education leadership, research, and academic collaboration.
Having graduated with a BSc in Mathematics at Brunel University and a PhD at the University of
St Andrews, Steve moved to the University of Birmingham as a Research Fellow in 1995, rising to become the Head of School of Mathematics. He then moved to the University of Dundee as Vice-Principal, before joining Lancaster University in 2014 as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research. He served as Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Manchester Metropolitan University before becoming Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in 2023.
Steve is a long standing champion of Lancashire and the North West whose expertise and experience of research collaboration with business will be an invaluable asset to the NWBLT.
Also joining NWBLT is Lisa Marsh, Associate Director, Partnerships at Peel Land Group. After her degree in Economics Lisa started her career in Lancashire and Cumbria, working for the public sector on brownfield regeneration schemes and business support packages. In 2010 she joined the private sector working for Peel, leading on external engagement and collaboration with the public sector to unlock and accelerate large scale housing, commercial and infrastructure projects across the North of England. As part of the Senior Leadership team for Peel Land Group Lisa leads on funding and stakeholder engagement across the group, supporting both land and community projects and sector led developments such as the clean energy development- Protos, Cheshire.
Originally from Lancashire, Lisa is passionate about the North West and the opportunities regeneration creates from the delivery of much needed new homes and job creation as well and the importance of sustainable development to improve quality of life.
Welcoming the appointments, NWBLT chair Chris Woodroofe said:
‘As long-standing members of the NWBLT we are delighted to welcome new representatives from both Peel Land Group and Lancaster University. Both Steve and Lisa bring a passion for our region, of investing for the long term to unlock its potential, and a strong focus on innovation as a driver of future prosperity. We look forward to working with them to support NWBLT’s objective; to make the North West the best place to live, learn, work and to do good business’.