Our Team
Dave Humphries
CEO
Dave moved to Portsmouth in 1992 when, having joined Hampshire Constabulary he was posted to Fratton Police Station. Following thirty-years police service, almost two thirds of which was served in Portsmouth, Dave retired from the force early in 2022 as a Chief Inspector. During his time in the police Dave’s roles have included Custody manager for Portsmouth, Neighbourhood Inspector for Waterlooville, Chief Inspector for Portsmouth South and Head of Hampshire Local Policing Support as well as Project Manager for several programmes.
On leaving the police Dave worked for CASCAIDr, a specialist adult social care legal support charity and has also supported local carers through work with another charity, Carers Together Hampshire.
Dave was born and grew up in Salisbury and is a keen Pompey supporter. He held a season ticket for several years, until he found he was policing more games than watching. In his spare time Dave is a keen photographer & runs a small wedding photography business.
Dave is married to Karen, has a daughter Matilda, step-children Mollie and Joe, and a mad chocolate labrador Ruby. Joe has a severe learning disability and requires full time care. Dave says caring for Joe has its challenges but also keeps him grounded and reminds him of what is important in life.
Dave says thirty years police service and his work in respect of learning disability have given him a strong focus on making a difference for others. Dave is excited to be joining Shaping Portsmouth as CEO and to continue making a difference as well as helping to make Portsmouth the UK’s number one waterfront city in which to invest, live, learn, work & visit.
Steff Jones
Operations Manager
Steff grew up in Wales but has called Portsmouth ‘Home’ for the past two decades. He has a 20-year background in Events and Hospitality management in the city since originally moving here for his degree in 1999, studying for a BA in History and Politics at The University of Portsmouth. Before this, Steff qualified in his ESOL Certificate in teaching to speakers of other languages, at The University of Cambridge.
Steff brings a diverse background in Operations and Infrastructure event management, running large-scale public events and festivals. With a strong background in Hospitality, he has been successful in both startup and turnaround management roles.
Steff is a keen cyclist and can often be found out and about on the roads, trails, and gravel of the South Coast and further afield. Working up to taking a cycling tour of Northern Italy!
Steff has worked with local partners and companies such as Victorious Festival, Cafe Henry Ltd, The Belle Isle Southsea and Chichester.
Steff joined us in May 2023, bringing a wealth of experience to lead Shaping Portsmouth’s events department. Leading from the front with all event planning and delivery for every confirmed event. Ensuring all event processes are in place for the whole team to follow and execute whilst pushing the benchmark for our current success in past events.
Marian Glover
Business Pillar Lead
Marian has recently completed her master’s degree in Digital Business Management at the University of Portsmouth as an international student from Nigeria, graduating in July 2023. Prior to her time in Portsmouth, Marian obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and International Studies in Nigeria.
Marian’s decision to study in the UK Stems from her recognition of its global standing as one of the world’s leading destinations for higher education. She was particularly drawn to the UK’s diverse and multicultural society, which fosters a vibrant and inclusive learning environment. The University of Portsmouth captured her interest due to its Industry-relevant curriculum, strong Industry connections, state-of-the-art technology facilities, and its location near the seaside—a reminder of her hometown, Lagos, Nigeria. Her time spent in Portsmouth has nurtured a deep affection for the city.
Her professional background includes a wide range of experience in marketing, local government, retail and the police force, in Nigeria and America. These diverse experiences have equipped her with valuable skills and a well-rounded perspective.
Marian has already achieved significant success in her career, having been promoted to the role of Business & Marketing Pillar Lead, only 7 months after joining the organisation.
She looks forward to putting her previous experiences to use in this new role, as well as all the new and exciting opportunities, experiences, and connections that await her in the future.
In her spare time, Marian enjoys going for walks along the seafront, exploring different destinations, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends. With a huge love for fashion, technology, business, and social media, Marian gives a vibrant new energy to our already talented team.
Suzan Win Latt
Education & Community Pillar Lead
Born and raised in Burma (Myanmar), Suzan is an international student, currently pursuing Master in Construction Project Management at the University of Portsmouth. She takes pride in calling the city her second home as Portsmouth gave her a significant breakthrough in her educational and professional career growth. Being an outstanding achiever awardee, she held her bachelor degree in Civil Engineering also from the University of Portsmouth.
Suzan has experience in diverse management sectors especially relating to human resource management, task planning and organizing events. She has worked for many international communities, contributing as a middle ground communicator, facilitating as a lead for administrative works. A fun fact about Suzan is she has been a debater and debate coach for several years. In her spare time, she enjoys photography and walks along the seafront.
Matt Farmer
Marketing & Comms Lead
Matt has lived in Portsmouth for his whole life, only leaving to go to university in Stafford, where he received a BSc (Hons) in Digital Film, Animation & 3D Technology.
On returning to Portsmouth Matt joined the office team at Express FM, assisting with recording and editing audio, creating graphics and logos, and managing their website, before moving over to Shaping Portsmouth in June 2013.
Matt manages the Marketing and Communications for Shaping Portsmouth, maintaining and creating content for the website and fortnightly newsletter, writing copy for news stories about the organisation and our programmes, creating graphics and branding, and ensuring our content and communications follow our marketing strategy.
In September 2021, Matt completed an MA in Illustration at the University of Portsmouth. Matt enjoys reading, board games, and LEGO, and is keeping up his daily drawings.
Amy Cusack
Community Pillar Lead & Marketing Support
Amy was born and raised on the South Coast and still views Portsmouth and the surrounding areas as her home, despite recently graduating from Technological University Dublin with a BSc (Hons) in Business and Management. She has spent almost a year working in the guest services department at Gunwharf Quays, with experience prior to this in other hospitality areas, and recognises the passion and potential of the people of Portsmouth.
As part of her university degree, Amy was selected to participate in an international strategy competition and has worked with global companies to aid in the development of market penetration and business development strategies. With a particular interest in marketing and strategy, Amy has joined the team in a Programme Support role and will work alongside the rest of the team to further strengthen projects within the Community Pillar. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time at the beach.
Ben Howell
Social Media Coordinator
Ben grew up in the Surrey and Berkshire area, but since 2022 has been a student at the University of Portsmouth, studying Digital Marketing. As someone with a strong passion for creativity and innovation, Ben was naturally drawn to the world of digital marketing, where he could combine his analytical thinking with his love for design and storytelling. Throughout his time as a student, he has developed a great understanding of how marketing shapes the way businesses connect with their audiences, and he has been able to put this into practice during his placement year, gaining valuable hands on experience in the industry.
Now entering his final year at university and taking on the role of Marketing Intern at Shaping Portsmouth, Ben is eager to give back to the city that has become his second home. He’s particularly excited about using his skills, fresh ideas, and enthusiasm to help promote and support local businesses, contributing to the positive impact that Shaping Portsmouth has across the community.
Outside of work and study, Ben enjoys keeping active and spending time outdoors. He’s a keen go-karting and golf enthusiast, and he’s always up for a new challenge that lets his competitive spirit shine through.
Charla Grant
Partnership & Programme Support
Charla Grant has lived and worked in and around Portsmouth all of her life and prides herself on making a difference to the city. Her career started in Financial Services and across the years has evolved into starting her own wellbeing business, working with local charities and creating The Grateful Arts Club CIC which hosts creative workshops, events and exhibitions.
A natural connector and community builder, she is passionate about helping businesses, charities and community groups bring their ideas to life. Charla joins the Shaping Portsmouth Team on a Freelance basis as Partnership and Programme Support.
In her spare time, she can be found somewhere in nature with her husband Joe and dog Mable, listening to live music or cooking something delicious.
Chloe Ashby
Office Administrator
Chloe joined us in August 2024 as a Supported Intern from HSDC, and took the Office Administrator role in June 2025. She was born in Portsmouth and has never left the area, having lived in Waterlooville for all of her life.
In her free time, Chloe enjoys playing sandbox games, video editing and programming.