Harry Jones

Harry Jones is an experienced professional currently serving as the Freeports Programme Director at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in the UK.2 With a career spanning 18 years, he has established himself as a major project leader specializing in the design and delivery of complex, high-profile economic development projects and programmes.23

Career Highlights

Harry's expertise extends across various aspects of economic and urban development:

• Economic Development: He has worked on economic development initiatives at city, regional, and national levels across six different countries.
• Urban Development: As the Urban Development portfolio lead at Palladium, he managed projects worth over £25 million across four countries, leading a team of 40 staff.
• International Experience: Harry has demonstrated his ability to deliver impactful results in challenging contexts, notably through his acclaimed Economic Policy Incubator programme in Nepal.

Current Role and Responsibilities

As the Freeports Programme Director, Harry Jones plays a crucial role in the UK government's 'levelling up' agenda:

• He oversees the Freeports programme, which aims to create jobs, increase trade and investment, boost innovation, and promote localised net zero transitions in deprived areas across the UK.1
• His work involves collaborating with various government departments and external partners to design and implement Freeport policies.1
• Under his leadership, the programme has achieved significant milestones, including the establishment of the UK's first Freeports in Plymouth, Solent, and Teesside.1

Skills and Expertise

Harry Jones possesses a diverse skill set that includes:

• Project management
• Strategic planning
• Leadership and team management
• Policy analysis
• Change management
• Community engagement
• Thought leadership

His expertise in complex systems, program design, and monitoring and evaluation has been instrumental in driving the success of the Freeports programme and other major projects.3