West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Abi Swales is a Project Lead at West Yorkshire Combined Authority as of October 2023, following a role as Work Experience Project Development Lead at Leeds City College from June 2019 to October 2023. Previously, Abi held positions in revenue and estimating at CFS, and served as a Business and Community Leader at The South Leeds Academy from January 2012 to August 2017. Other roles include UQT Psychology and Sociology teacher at Garforth Academy, Administrator at Leeds City Council, and Nominee Administrator at Redmayne-Bentley LLP. Abi began a professional career as Customer Service Officer at GE. Abi holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Criminology from Leeds Beckett University and completed GCSE's and A Levels at Garforth Academy.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
The Combined Authority (CA) has two major delivery committees: the Investment Committee and the Transport Committee. Other committees have been set up to ensure probity through careful scrutiny of decisions and processes, and strict governance and audit. The CA is responsible for the £1 billion west Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund, and works closely with business in the region through the Leeds City Region LEP to ensure that business and the regional economy is at the heart of the decisions taken. Future strategic groups will be set up to deliver on individual aims, for example on quality public transport. And while the leadership of the CA is from council leaders, local politicians and the public sector, representatives from other partners – including the private sector, other public sector agencies and the voluntary sector – are key to its success.