Mentor
Mike Parker CBE
Overview
Mike Parker CBE is an experienced international business leader whose career spans global industry, energy, higher education, public service and safety. He is currently Chair of the Board of Governors at Liverpool John Moores University and Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), where he combines deep operational experience with a long-standing commitment to safety, learning and social impact. He also serves on the Board of UCEA (Universities & Colleges Employers Association), chairing its Health & Safety Committee, and Chairs the Alliance Manchester Business School MBA Advisory Committee and previously sat on the School’s Advisory Board.
Mike spent 34 years with The Dow Chemical Company, based in the US, UK, Switzerland and Hong Kong. He joined in 1968 and rose through a series of commercial and leadership roles to become President and CEO in Midland, Michigan, and a member of the company’s Board of Directors from 1995 to 2003. He subsequently became Group Chief Executive of British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), leading a complex nuclear technology and manufacturing business through a period of significant industry, regulatory and political change between 2003 and 2009.
Alongside his executive roles, Mike has held a wide range of non-executive and advisory appointments across listed companies, public bodies and charities. His previous quoted company directorships include Senior Independent Director roles at Invensys, Laird and PV Crystalox Solar, and board membership at SNC-Lavalin in Canada. He has been a Non-Executive Director of Sublimity Therapeutics. He served on the Management Board of the Metropolitan Police advising the force on organisational change and strategy. He was Trustee and Honorary Secretary of the Energy Institute. In Liverpool, he created and chaired the city’s economic development agency, Liverpool Vision. He chaired the national charity Street League, which uses sport to re-engage young people who are not in education, employment or training.
Mike brings deep cross-sector expertise in:
• Global chemicals, energy & nuclear industries – senior leadership and CEO roles at Dow and BNFL.
• Health, safety & risk management – chairing RoSPA and UCEA’s Health & Safety Committee, with a long-standing focus on operational safety and culture.
• Public sector, policing & civic regeneration – advisory and board roles with the Metropolitan Police, Liverpool Vision and national charities.
• Education – governance roles at Liverpool John Moores University and at Alliance Manchester Business School.
Mike was awarded a CBE in 2009 for services to the energy industry and, in 2014, was made a Citizen of Honour by the City of Liverpool in recognition of his contribution to the city’s economic and civic life.
PDF Profile
Download PDFMajor Career Roles
Dow Chemical Company
President & CEO
British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL)
Group CEO
Sellafield Ltd
Chair
United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Ltd
Chair
Invensys plc
Senior Independent Director
Laird plc
Senior Independent Director
PV Crystalox Solar plc
Senior Independent Director
AtkinsRéalis Group Inc (formerly SNC-Lavalin)
Non-Executive Director
Sublimity Therapeutics Ltd
Non-Executive Director
Tianhe Chemicals Group Ltd
Non-Executive Director
Other Career Highlights
Liverpool Vision Ltd
Chair
Street League
Chair
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
Chair
Liverpool John Moores University
Chair
Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA)
Director
Metropolitan Police
Member of the Management Board
Energy Institute
Trustee and Honorary Secretary
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