Meet Director BBC North, Alice Webb - the woman behind the creation of the state-of-the-art digital broadcasting centre in MediaCityUK, mum and amateur archer

Six years later, with more than 3,000 staff generating more than 35,000 hours of content each year, as well as a plethora of BBC apps and websites, BBC North is a huge success. At the last count the BBC was putting more than £420m a year into the regional economy.

"Six years on we are still a leading state-of-the-art digital broadcasting centre to rival many a tech company. If it's not going forwards, it's going backwards. We are a hungry organisation for digital skills. Some call us the modernist wing of the BBC. The success has been in bringing people and business together, taking the very best of what we have and creating a 21st century blueprint.

"The culture is deliberate and all-encompassing. Part of our DNA is to invent and experiment. And we are hugely privileged to play an important role in reflecting the lives, passions and concerns of licence fee payers who live outside the South East. We are connecting a whole population and championing the North. Look at how much amazing drama is made in the north today, the awards, Manchester International Festival. That shows we're creating a gravitational pull, influencing and championing the region and its people."

In 2015 Alice took up the role of Director, BBC Children's responsible for CBeebies and CBBC. And last year she added Director of BBC North to that role. "We make the best content for children in the world and it is a huge privilege to lead such an important part of the BBC. It's really exciting. Media habits are changing so rapidly and the importance of being free and universal are more important than ever.

"This December we are playing a key role in the Children's Global Media Summit, to be held here in Manchester, bringing together content makers, platform providers and policy makers from all around the world to shape and deliver the role of media in the lives of a young audience."

This is supported by this year's BBC announcement that it will be investing an additional £34m across three years to 2019/2020 to reinvent the way is serves its youngest audience, with enhanced online services for children and new forms of content, all produced in MediaCityUK.

Absorbed by Alice's passion for the BBC, she is equally passionate about her family and work/life balance. "I am in an incredible spot for a woman. To be able to balance an amazing, challenging and exciting work life and having a family is not always the case. I am blessed for the support I have had and continue to have."

Born in Herefordshire, where the family home remains, Alice and her family now live in Hale. "I grew up in the countryside so I love the fact that we're a stone's throw from the fields and easily able to get onto the transport links. Grace and Phobe, and their brother Alfie [11] can walk to school yet we have a vibrant city on our doorstep.

"As a family we love sport. My husband John is a professional triathlon coach and IT consultant so we do lots of sport together as a family. Alfie is fanatical cyclist. And Grace, Phoebe and I are currently learning archery. The girls wanted to learn so I joined in. I have been known to run but I am more at home outdoors, in my waterproofs cycling with the family, including our Border Terrier, Billy [a girl]."

As for the nomination as most powerful woman in the north, it's not really what the interview is about. Indeed Alice has also just received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Salford for her contribution to the region - her adopted home. These past few pages are, however, about a genuine enthusiasm and passion permeating from everything that the Director BBC Children's and Director, BBC North says and does. Be inspired.