Richard Paker is the recently elected Labour and Co-operative Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Richard previously provided strategy, policy and governance advice to the public and private sector. As a partner at PwC he helped broker the deal, working with council leaders, that led to the creation of the West Midlands Combined Authority in 2016. He remains passionate about devolution and is currently working on policy interventions that will improve opportunity, fairness, diversity and inclusion across the West Midlands.