Kirby lecture details and panel announced

Kirby Lecture to explore what a Cumbrian mayor could mean for the county’s future

Friends of the Lake District is inviting residents, community leaders and environmental campaigners to join a timely discussion about one of the biggest changes to local governance in Cumbria at its annual Kirby Lecture.

Next year Cumbria will elect its first mayor to oversee strategic regional priorities such as transport, economic development and housing. They will also have the powers to introduce a visitor levy.

Taking place in Ambleside on Friday 27 November 2026, from 7pm to 9pm, the Kirby Lecture 2026 will examine the implications of the upcoming election of a mayor for the county, and its landscapes, environments and communities.

The event will open with an address from Thomas Andrew, Acting Director of Policy and Strategy for the Cumbria Combined Authority. He will explain the role and powers of the combined authority, what the mayoral system means for Cumbria, and how governance in the county is set to change.

Following the introduction, a panel of leading voices from across Cumbria’s community and environmental sectors will lay out their priorities for the county’s first mayor and what they hope the successful candidate will deliver. Audience members will then have an opportunity to put their questions to the panel.

Panel members include:

• Lorrainne Smyth, CEO of ACTion with Communities in Cumbria.
• Karen Mitchell, CEO of Futureproof Cumbria.
• Stephen Trotter, CEO of Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
• Colin Walker, CEO of Friends of the Lake District.

The discussion will be chaired by Tiffany Hunt MBE, former National Trust regional director and former Chair of the Lake District National Park Authority.

Karen Mitchell (CEO of Futureproof Cumbria), Colin Walker (CEO Friends of the Lake District) and Lorrainne Smyth (CEO of ACTion with Communities in Cumbria) are part of the Kirby Lecture panel. Tiffany Hunt MBE will chair the event.

Colin Walker, CEO of Friends of the Lake District, said: “As Cumbria prepares for its first mayoral election, it is vital that people have the opportunity to understand what is at stake and make their voices heard. Through this year’s Kirby Lecture, we want to create a space where people can discuss the issues that matter most and help shape the agenda for Cumbria’s future.

“Whoever becomes mayor will have the opportunity to influence the direction of our county for years to come. It is important that we start the conversation now about what we want that leadership to deliver for Cumbria and its unique landscapes – which, like the communities that live within them, are increasingly feeling the strain from mass tourism.”

Our annual Kirby Lecture is funded by a bequest from a former Friends of the Lake District member, Mr Lewis Kirby.

For more information and to book tickets, visit: https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/kirbylecture2026

Main image: Jonny Gios