The Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Gemma Goddard and Rob Facer to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Representing over 60,000 businesses and nearly 240,000 employees across the county, the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in championing the interests of the region’s business community, influencing local and national decision-makers and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Rob Facer brings a wealth of experience to the Board. Based in Peterborough with long-standing ties to the Cambridgeshire area, Rob is Chairman and Founder of Barnack Estates UK Ltd, a regional property development, investment, and main contracting firm, now operating as an Employee Ownership Trust. With more than 40 years of experience across sectors including storage and logistics, confectionery retail, and industrial property construction, Rob has led teams that have developed over four million square feet of high-quality employment space across the Eastern Region. He is also a director of several businesses and has a proven track record as an entrepreneur. Rob has been involved with the Chamber for more than 15 years and is passionate about supporting regional economic development.
“I am delighted to join the Chamber Board and support the outstanding work it does to represent and promote our local business community,” Rob commented. “I hope to contribute my experience in business growth and regional development to help shape a thriving and sustainable future for Cambridgeshire.”
In addition to his professional achievements, Rob served in the Reserve Army for 18 years, completing an operational tour as a Lieutenant Colonel and acting as a Squadron Commander. His military career equipped him with strategic leadership and management skills that he has successfully applied in business.
Rob is also an accomplished mountaineer, a qualified Winter Mountain Leader who has climbed in Scotland, the Alps, the Arctic, and the Himalayas. His achievements include summiting Mont Blanc four times and a solo ascent of the Matterhorn. He is a passionate advocate for youth development, supporting a number of charities and mentoring young people.
Gemma Goddard is a Partner in the Commercial Real Estate Team at Birketts LLP, based in the firm’s Cambridge office, where she co-leads the team. She joined Birketts in 2018, having trained and practised at a leading Magic Circle law firm in London for the preceding decade, and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to embed herself in the local community. She has amassed a varied client base and this, together with Gemma’s experience across a number of sectors, provides her with real insight into a broad range of topics both locally and across the wider country, from development, financing and asset management to strategic land projects, renewables and responsible, sustainable, stewardship of land.
Alongside her insights from the commercial real estate world, she brings additional skillsets in management, driving engagement and investment in a tech-enabled future and, having lived for much of her childhood in Germany, an international outlook.
Gemma commented: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce and look forward to supporting CEO Charlotte Horobin and the team with their exciting, ambitious and forward-thinking work for the region.”
Faye Holland, Chair of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce Board, welcomed these appointments: “Rob’s breadth of experience and deep roots in the Cambridgeshire business community make him an invaluable addition to our Board. His leadership across multiple sectors, combined with his long-standing commitment to regional growth, will be instrumental as we continue to support our members and drive forward the business agenda across the county.
“I am equally delighted to welcome Gemma Goddard to the Board. Gemma brings extensive legal and commercial expertise, together with a deep understanding of the local economy and a national perspective gained through her decade at a leading law firm in London.
“We are thrilled to have both Rob and Gemma join us as we continue to champion the success and growth of businesses across Cambridgeshire.”