Chair - Dave Felton Professional background: David’s career has been as a serial entrepreneur in the creative sector. He is currently founder and director of ‘Inspired by Lakeland’, which publishes a range of titles inspired by the wild places of Britain. Expand Professional background: David’s career has been as a serial entrepreneur in the creative sector. He is currently founder and director of ‘Inspired by Lakeland’, which publishes a range of titles inspired by the wild places of Britain. His most recent titles include The Lake District Sticker Book (winner of a National Trust ethical business award), The Lake District in 101 Maps & Infographics (Lake District Book of the Year, 2020) and the best-selling Forty Farms. Local background: David moved to Cumbria in 2010 and lives near Keswick. He has been a lover of Lakeland landscapes since boyhood holidays to Wasdale and Eskdale in the 1980s and has been involved with various conservation projects, from dry-stone walling to tree planting. He is producer and co-presenter of Countrystride, the podcast dedicated to the landscapes, people and heritage of Cumbria and the Lake District. Interests: Walking (he is now on round three of the Wainwrights, and steadying his nerves to attempt Pillar Rock to complete the Birketts!); Landscape conservation; traditional music; local ales; and pizza making.
Co - Vice Chair - Lucy Hetherington Professional background: television producer & executive, commissioning and delivering numerous documentary and current affairs programmes, mainly for BBC and often international partners Expand Professional background: television producer & executive, commissioning and delivering numerous documentary and current affairs programmes, mainly for BBC and often international partners. Family roots in Cumbria; life-long connection to Crook and Staveley area. Interests include fell-walking, swimming, and exploring the artistic and cultural heritage of the Lake District.
Treasurer - Robin Forrest Professional background: Works as a fund manager focused on emerging markets; previously worked in banking Expand Professional background: Works as a fund manager focused on emerging markets; previously worked in banking. Local background: Robin and family split their time between London and Ullswater, having owned several properties in Cumbria over the past 20 years. Interests: I tend to focus on the outdoors with three active teenagers at home and an energetic dog: Fell-walking, getting on the water by kayak or dinghy sailing, and road cycling. Unfortunately they still have a long way to go to finish all the Wainwrights.
Trustee - Malcolm Boswell Professional background: Recently retired Director within Acas after a long career working in employment law, HR consultancy and dispute resolution. A wide experience of policy and product development working with external organisations and other Government Departments within the UK and overseas. Expand Professional background: recently retired Director within Acas after a long career working in employment law, HR consultancy and dispute resolution. A wide experience of policy and product development working with external organisations and other Government Departments within the UK and overseas. Local background: Having swapped a static caravan for bricks and mortar, we permanently moved to Ireby, one of the villages at the back of Skiddaw, last year after spending decades of visiting the Lakes at every opportunity. Interests: The Lake District and all it has to offer: community, the fells, the lakes and surrounding areas.
Trustee - Tony Vaux Professional background: Tony Vaux worked for Oxfam for nearly thirty years. He supported community development in India and planned Oxfam's responses to emergencies. He later worked as a adviser to the UK Government and UN agencies on the links between poverty and conflict Expand Professional background: Tony Vaux worked for Oxfam for nearly thirty years. He supported community development in India and planned Oxfam's responses to emergencies. He later worked as a adviser to the UK Government and UN agencies on the links between poverty and conflict. Local background: He moved to Caldbeck in the Lake District in 2003 and in 2018 published a history of that area- 'Caldbeck -A Special Part of Lakeland'. Interests: Include fell-walking, hill-farming and public access to land in Cumbria.
Trustee - Laura Doan Professional background: Professor of Cultural History at the University of Manchester, based in the English department. Expand Professional background: Professor of Cultural History at the University of Manchester, based in the English department. Local background: For over two decades, a resident of West Cumbria, living on the edge of a farm where my partner grew up. Interests: Fell-walking, gardening, music, and cinema.
Trustee: Robert McCracken KC Professional background: Robert McCracken is a King’s Counsel who specialises in public and planning law. He is a past Chair of the United Kingdom Environmental law Association and Visiting Professor at King’s College, London. He acted for the National Park Authority in promoting the 10 mph speed limit on Windermere at the public inquiry. Expand Professional background: Robert McCracken is a King’s Counsel who specialises in public and planning law. He is a past Chair of the United Kingdom Environmental law Association and Visiting Professor at King’s College, London. He acted for the National Park Authority in promoting the 10 mph speed limit on Windermere at the public inquiry. Local Background: He is a member of several national and local natural and cultural heritage organisations. He has a particular interest in intergenerational equity, sustainable travel and resilient communities. He is Chair of the Coniston International Twinning Association and a member of the Coniston Parish Council. Interests: He enjoys walking, cycling and swimming in Cumbria---and relaxing with a book from the local libraries.
Trustee: Fiona Sanders Professional background: Founder of a consultancy for executive coaching and leadership development with the focus on strategy and strategic implementation. Also obtained both a MA in Human Resource Development and a Fellow of CIPD. Now retired, spending my time supporting not for profit and charities in volunteering capacity usually at board level. Expand Professional background: Founder of a consultancy for executive coaching and leadership development with the focus on strategy and strategic implementation. Also obtained both a MA in Human Resource Development and a Fellow of CIPD. Now retired, spending my time supporting not for profit and charities in volunteering capacity usually at board level. Local background: Lived in and around the Lake District for 15 years and involved in access and conservation initiatives through the British Mountaineering Council and now engaged in more locally based initiatives through chairing Levens village Hall Charity, supporting Levens Greening and being a member of Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Interests: Rock climbing and Mountaineering has been the core to my life and has taken me around the world experiencing special places, that occasionally match the Lake District and being President of the largest national English climbing club ‘The Climbers Club’. I am proud to call Cumbria my home.