Board members are elected for a three year term, while the Chair and Vice Chair are elected annually from the existing Board.
The current Board Members are:
Dr Paul Leinster CBE (Chair)
Dr Paul Leinster CBE has over 40 years of practical experience in environmental management, science, policy and regulatory development and implementation in the private and public sectors. He is Chair of Water Resources East and bpha (a housing association) and a Board Member of the Office of Environmental Protection, Flood Re and Delphic HSE. From October 2015 to December 2020 he was Professor of Environmental Assessment at Cranfield University and a Member of the Government’s Natural Capital Committee. Immediately prior to this he was Chief Executive of the Environment Agency for more than 7 years. Prior to joining the EA in 1998 he worked for more than 20 years in the private sector.
James Russell – The Forest of Marston Vale Trust (Vice-Chair)
James Russell is Director of the Forest of Marston Vale Trust and spearheads the creation of the Forest of Marston Vale as one of England’s Community Forests. He is a Chartered Forester and Chartered Environmentalist, with over 25 years’ experience in community forestry, working to integrate forestry, farming and development to deliver bold, pioneering visions for using trees and woodlands to transform landscapes and facilitate regeneration. James sits on the Government’s Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committee for East England and on the national Applicant’s Focus Group which advises Government on existing and emerging policy.
Cliff Andrews – Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Graduating with a degree in Environmental Sciences Cliff arrived in Bedfordshire in the late 1990’s to work on the Ivel Valley Countryside Project. Cliff is now the CEO at Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity but retains an active involvement in connecting communities with their local environment. He has led on the creation of a number of Green Wheels, acts as the host of the Upper & Bedford Ouse Catchment Partnership, co-chairs the GCLP Enjoyment & Wellbeing Group; and has been key in the development of Social Prescribing in the county.
Jon Balaam – The Greensand Trust
Jon is Director of Development at the Greensand Trust. During his 18 years with the Trust Jon has played a key role on the creation of Rushmere Country Park and the Trust’s ‘Working Woodlands’ initiative as well as the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership on which he is Chair of the Board. A previous Chair (twice!) and Vice-Chair of the LNP Board, Jon led on the establishment of the LNP and has been a Board member since it was formed in 2012.
Beryl Bennett – Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Park Trust
Beryl joined the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust as a Director and Trustee in 2016 and represents their interests on the LNP. Prior to her retirement, she worked in the not-for-profit sector for more than 30 years. She represented her organisation at both national and international forums and was responsible for developing active and genuine collaborations with a number of partners. In 2011, she received the MBE for services to women’s health.
Pippa Cheetham – Varsity Town Planning
Pippa is a town planner with 25 years’ experience working across the Oxford – Cambridge Arc. Her planning skills have been sharpened working in local authorities, planning consultancy and for a strategic landowner. Primarily working with landowners and developers, she also takes on pro bono work for environmental and community projects. In addition to her position on the LNP, Pippa also sits on the General Assembly of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Hilary Chipping – SEMLEP
Hilary is Chief Executive at the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), which she helped to establish in 2011. She leads on setting the strategic economic priorities for the South East Midlands area. During her tenure, SEMLEP has published the Local Industrial Strategy and Strategic Economic Plan for the area, Local Skills Report and Energy Strategy. Hilary works closely with central Government, local authority, regional and private sector partners and the national network of Local Enterprise Partnerships to strengthen the area’s enabling economic environment, informed by business, to pursue sustainable growth.
Philip Holton – Natural England
Caroline Danby – Central Bedfordshire Council
Caroline is the Head of Strategic Growth at Central Bedfordshire Council, with teams responsible for local planning policy, strategic transport policy and housing policy, and leading on strategic planning matters for the Council. Caroline has worked at Central Bedfordshire for just over 3 years, with a background in Planning Policy within the Hertfordshire area.
Flo Churchill – Luton Borough Council
Gavin Chinniah – Bedford Borough Council
Matt Jackson – The Wildlife Trust BCN
Anthony Barber-Lomax – Southill Estate
Having qualified in Lancashire, Anthony worked in Northumberland for a decade managing a wide range of rural estates before spending two decades within the former coalfields of South Yorkshire as Resident Agent at the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate. Here, Anthony oversaw an assessment of Natural Capital and worked with Natural England to restore native habitats. His engagement in the moorland realm led to the preparation of an assessment of wildfire risk within the Peak District National Park. In 2022, Anthony became Estate Director at Southill Park within the Greensand Ridge where strong social and environmental objectives are delivering considerable biodiversity improvement. Anthony is/has been a trustee of various charities and a long-serving committee member of the Country Landowners & Business Association.
Kate Heppell – Chilterns Conservation Board
Tim Simmance – Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Luton Integrated Care Board
Tim is a senior manager in the NHS, with 14 years’ experience within hospitals, mental-health services, and at a strategic tier. He is Associate Director of Sustainability and Growth at the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, supporting local social and economic development, and the drive to reach a net-zero NHS. Tim has a background in green chemistry research, and is a trained Quality Improvement coach. His personal view is that “Healthcare is a right; good healthcare is a responsibility; and sustainable healthcare is a necessity.
Daniel Curtis – The Environment Agency
Macbradan Bones – Forestry Commission
Nature Recovery advisor with the Forestry Commission. Experienced landscape manager and ecologist, specialising in trees, woodlands and forest management.
James Berry – The Nature Recovery Project
Please do get in touch with us if you are interested in joining our Board. We are particularly looking for representatives in the following areas at the moment:
- Business
- Landowners and Farmers
- Countryside Access
Application forms can be downloaded here: Board Nomination Form