 A Fellow of the Institute of Directors Whitby is also President of Marketing Birmingham, Chairman of Birmingham Science Park, Aston and a board member of the National Exhibition Centre the West Midlands Regional Development Agency Advantage West Midlands, and the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.In the past he has also served as Director of various regional organisations, including the Engineering Employers Federation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Birmingham City Region and the Federation of Small Businesses.Whitby joined the Conservative Party in 1979.