Dr Quaye Botchway is an experienced Urban Planner/Public Policy Consultant with over 30 years professional experience in policy relevant research, including over 10 years in academia, 15 years in consultancy and over 6 years in the public sector. He trained as a Town Planner with specialist knowledge in local economic development and subsequently worked as a researcher for the Centre for Local Economic Development at Coventry Business School and also for Cranfield School of Management at Cranfield University where he obtained his doctorate degree. Quaye has worked on a wide range of consultancy and non-consultancy projects (including international ones) in the areas of regeneration, business competitiveness, technical assistance and regulation in the qualifications market. A strategic thinker with a passion for ensuring that high quality research makes a difference to organisations, individuals and society at large. Quaye is also a community and business leader with a track record of supporting and developing the capacity of local groups to thrive and undertake economic development activities. Until recently, he was the President of the Ghana Union Greater Birmingham, Chair of the Ghana Union Midlands and a member of the Ghana UK Diaspora Committee. He is a patron for a number of Birmingham based community and professional organisations, including Pearls Women’s Group and Ghanaian Social Workers Associations Midlands (GHASWA). His leadership qualities extends beyond the Ghanaian community. He is Chair of the Birmingham based African Business Chamber; Director of QBQ Research & Consultancy Ltd and affiliated to a number of UK Universities for teaching and research purposes. Until recently he was the Chair of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association Communities Group. In 2015 he received the Coventry University Black History Month Award for Impact on Black Minority Ethnic Communities. Also in 2023, he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.