FOUNDERS
The London Academy for economic development was founded in 2008 by four people with expert backgrounds in economic and enterprise development.
Liz Mackie
Liz Mackie has worked in economic development in the public, voluntary and private sectors for over 15 years, including as economic development officer for the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth. Liz has worked in economic development consultancy since 1997 when she joined Greater London Enterprise as director of European and Economic Development Consultancy Services. She left Greater London Enterprise to establish the Gilfillan Partnership economic development consultancy company in 2001.
Liz’s extensive practitioner experience is backed up by a First Class degree in Sociology (University of York) and a Masters degree in Race and Ethnic Studies (University of Warwick, MA awarded with distinction). Liz is currently studying for an MSc in Social Research Methods at City University.
Liz is a Member of the Institution of Economic Development and a member of the Social Research Association.
Ruth Djang
Ruth Djang BSc, FCCA is a Co-Director of ABI Associates Limited, one of UK’s foremost business support companies, which promotes and facilitates enterprise and business development among ethnic minority communities.
She is a leading entrepreneur, who tirelessly promotes the case for and addresses the challenges and opportunities facing ethnic minority businesses in the UK. Of Ghanaian origin, Ruth has developed and implemented cutting edge business support programmes on behalf of mainstream agencies such as DTI, Learning and Skills Council, Business Links, Local Authorities, European Union and Regional Development Agencies.
Together with the ABI team, she has successfully managed a number of projects including: Working Broadband GB, e-Start for Business, Faith in Business, Knowledge Centre on Black & Minority Ethnic Businesses, the Breakout Project (a UK national pilot for ethnic minority growth SMEs) and Changing Futures.
Ruth is also the Director of Faith in Business Limited, Changing Futures Limited and the Small Business Incubator Company Limited which owns the Grange Building.
Colin Gilfillan
Colin’s career has spanned many different roles in economic development, including working in the private office of a government minister, working in an employment office in Dortmund (Germany), managing a team of staff delivering business advice to disadvantaged people in London and working for the Local Government International Bureau, all in addition to his 12 years working as a successful economic development consultant in across Europe.
Colin has evaluated projects and national programmes such as the European Social Fund and the EQUAL GB programme and he has undertaken a wide range of research assignments across the EU and in the middle east. He has co-ordinated many transnational, interregional and cross border projects.
His areas of expertise are in employment policy, enterprise, entrepreneurship education and business support, particularly for disadvantaged communities and people. In addition to having advised UK Government departments and other agencies on employment and enterprise issues, Colin also has extensive experience of raising funding from the EU and many other sources.
Colin is passionate about the value of continuing professional development as a tool to support economic development practitioners to really make a difference across the world.
Vijay Amin
Vijay is the Managing Director of ABi Associates Limited with over 25 years experience in business and enterprise development. He co- established ABi Associates Ltd on 1995 to provide sound, pragmatic and practical economic development solutions to UK’s mainstream regeneration and business support agencies.
Since its inception, ABi Associates has developed cutting edge programmes in the economic regeneration field. It has designed and managed EU funded programmes such as Equal’s Working Broadband, (supporting individuals and businesses to take advantage of the new and emerging technology), Bollywood Brent (encouraging self employment and micro supply chain development in the entertainment and film sectors), Diversity Production Network (supporting diverse and entrepreneurial talent in maximising their potential both economically and creativity) and enterprise element of the Creative Grid for London (bringing together the strategic pan London partnership between major private sector companies and leading organisations working to deliver an integrated programme to simultaneously advance London’s creative economy and promote enterprise and social inclusion).
Vijay has co-written best practice guides and tool kits in the retail, food and the film broadcasting and media sectors. He is also the Director of Faith in Business Limited, Changing Futures Limited and the Small Business Incubator Company Limited which owns the Grange Building.
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