Barry Rourke

Barry Rourke is Chair of the new Croydon Economic Development Company CEDC) . The company includes the Croydon Enterprise programme, Croydon Business Ltd, the running of Croydon BID Company and ENVIBE.

To ensure the new EDC's credibility with Croydon's business community, and to maximise its effectiveness, it is an independent private sector-led company.

Barry Rourke has significant boardroom experience, with leadership and team working skills as well as broad business and industry knowledge, particularly in  the construction, engineering and natural resource sectors, in the UK and internationally. Barry is also a board member for Columbus Corp, a New York based acquisitions company, and is also a non-exec director of Surrey and Borders Partnership Foundation Trust. Until 2007 he was Chair of Threshold Housing Association, and from 1984-2001  a Partner at PwC.

• ENVIBE is currently part of the council, and leads work to help business become more environmentally friendly.
• The Croydon Economic Development Partnership is one of the five key partnerships that make up Croydon's Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).
• The EDC will have access to a broad range of sources of public and private sector funding, including a core grant from the Council, LEGI funding, European Regional Development Fund income as well as sponsorships and other income from the private sector.
• The EDC is a ‘not for profit limited company' building on successful partnerships between the council and the business community, it will drive and deliver a coordinated economic strategy that creates an environment for local, national and international businesses to thrive, developing wealth and opportunity for the community. This is a transformation in how Croydon promotes itself and provides a single voice to lobby for investment and growth.