Chairmen of the Lunar Society sub Committees

Hon Alderman John Charlton, JP- Chairman Investment and Regeneration sub Committee

A dentist by profession and entered on the BDA Roll of Distinction in 2006, he is nevertheless perhaps better known in the city as a politician, serving as a Birmingham City Councillor for 15 years. Formerly Chairman of the UHB NHS Foundation Trust, he was one of the drivers behind Birmingham’s new hospital. He also holds several other positions in the city's health service provision, and is a Trustee of UHB Charities.

Professor Alan Wenban-Smith - Chairman Transport and Climate Change sub Committee

An urban economist and planner by trade, and has lived in Birmingham since 1981. From 1981-96 he was responsible for planning and transport policy for the City Council: as such he was deeply engaged in Birmingham's recovery from the decline of its manufacturing base. Since leaving the City Council Alan has practised as an independent planning consultant, working mainly for national and regional bodies across the country, specialising in joining up planning, economic and transport policies.

In a personal capacity, Alan is Visiting Professor of Planning at University of Central England, a member of the governing body of the Royal Town Planning Institute, and writes and speaks extensively on planning and transport matters. He was also Chairman (successively) of Solihull and Birmingham Health Authorities (1998-2002), and has continued his NHS connection as Chairman since its inception of MidTECH Ltd, the NHS's regional innovation organisation.

He joined the Lunar Society in 1993 and was a member of its Executive from 1996-2009 (much of this as Hon Sec, and as Vice Chairman from 2007-9). He established the LS Transport & Motor Industry Group in 1997, and convened its meetings until 2008 when it was absorbed into the Transport & Climate Change subcommittee, which he has chaired since then.

Dr Malcolm Dick - Co Chairman Heritage sub Committee

Dr Malcolm Dick began working at the University of Birmingham in 2004. within the Centre for Lifelong Learning and the School of Education, where he was a lecturer in history and heritage. Since 2007 he has been a member of staff in the School of History and Cultures. Currently, he is Director of the Centre for West Midlands History and Convenor of the MA in West Midlands History.
In the late 1990s, he was Director of Lifelong Learning and Head of Humanities and Social Sciences in a local college. Between 2000 and 2004, he managed and directed heritage projects for Birmingham City Council, and worked as an examiner for the Open College Network.
His other activities included acting as a consultant for Hindu and Muslim history projects and working on the advisory boards for the Equiano, Matthew Boulton and Birmingham: a City in the Making Projects for Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery. He has also been a National Expert Advisor for the Heritage Lottery Fund and is a member of the Heritage Committee of Birmingham Civic Society. He serves on the committees of the History of Education Society of Great Britain and the journal Midland History.
Malcolm Dick has research interests in the history of the West Midlands with special reference to the Midlands Enlightenment of the late eighteenth century, the development of Birmingham and the Black Country and the history of minority communities. Recently, he has edited books about Matthew Boulton and Joseph Priestley and written a general history of Birmingham.