Dr Sarah Green OBE
Photo by: NGI
BTA Board member
Dr Sarah Green OBE was appointed as a member of the VisitEngland Advisory Board in September 2025.
She has been Chief Executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) since 2020 and is responsible for leading the organisation, which promotes Newcastle, Gateshead and the wider region as a place to visit and invest.
Sarah’s leadership has seen NGI become one of England’s first accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships and secured a £2.8 million boost from UK Government to lead England’s first Destination Development Partnership Pilot (DDP).
As a member of the government’s Visitor Economy Advisory Council and chair of the Visitor Economy Regional Growth Taskforce, Sarah has been a leading voice representing the country’s visitor economy. She continuously advocates for greater representation for the visitor economy in national and regional economic strategies and champions the potential of the regional visitor economy to drive investment, skills, jobs and regeneration.
Sarah has worked for over twenty years in economic development and devolution including as CBI Director of Regions and Nations, bringing together industry and government to drive economic growth and innovation. Sarah started her career as a lawyer with Clifford Chance in London, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Alongside her legal qualifications, Sarah’s academic achievements include an MSC in Urban Regeneration, an MBA and most recently, a doctorate from Durham University for her PhD assessing the social impact of small businesses in rural communities.
Sarah is an elected member of the Council of the National Trust, an independent advisory board member at North East Museums and chairs the Ryder Architecture Employee Owned Trust Board.
