Neil McInroy 

Neil McInroy is Global Lead for Community Wealth Building at The Democracy Collaborative, a US-based research and action institute advancing inclusive and democratic economic systems. With over 30 years’ experience in progressive economic development, he is widely recognised as a leading international authority on Community Wealth Building (CWB).

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Neil helped shape CWB as both a practical framework and a theory of economic transformation, including developing its widely used five-pillar model: progressive procurement, locally rooted finance, fair work, inclusive and democratic enterprise, and the just use of land and property.

Previously Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) for 20 years, he played a key role in pioneering CWB in the UK, including the development of the Preston Model. He also served as Community Wealth Building Adviser to the Scottish Government, helping embed CWB within national policy and legislation.

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Today, Neil works internationally with governments, cities, anchor institutions and practitioners to develop and implement Community Wealth Building strategies. He is also Chair of the Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS), the professional body for economic development in Scotland and home of Scotland's Community Wealth Building Centre of Excellence.