Trustees

Chair: Beth Nicholson

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has influenced my view of nature since childhood, driving a true passion in me for the natural world. I joined as a member ten years ago and display my membership sticker on my front door with pride.

What a wonderful charity this is. Founded more than 50 years ago, respected across the region and sector, it is an organisation full of energy and passion that is having a huge impact.

The Trust is supported by the generous contributions of more than 27,000 motivated members in Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire, many of whom are also hard-working volunteers. It is truly an honour to volunteer alongside you.

I feel incredibly lucky to be in this position of Chair. I have always been drawn to making connections with people and now have the chance to influence others for a cause I care about. What could be better! I am also delighted to have such a varied and skilled group of trustees to work alongside. 

Climate change is now more in focus for everyone, especially considering the extreme weather temperatures we have seen, leading to devastating natural disasters across the globe. It is no longer enough to recycle more and take fewer flights, we need to move outside our own social circles (as lovely as it is to talk to people who believe what we believe) and talk to others about the importance of our environment. We need to influence our parish councils, our schools and the places we work and everyone in between. If we are going to encourage one in four people to take action for nature, we need to reach out to those who don’t currently share our views to find a way to make them feel motivated and empowered.

The future is in our hands and it is hanging in the balance. It is a weighty responsibility, but it is still possible to make change happen and I don’t just mean by telling people about Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (although that would be nice, too). I mean talking about ecological issues, climate change, food systems and species decline. If we can weave in our passion and the value these things bring to our lives, we might find a way to make people feel connected and driven to protect the planet we call home. 

So, awaken your inner activist and influence everyone you can! I believe you have a story just like mine and experiences in your life that have inspired you. Remember how powerful they are to you, driving your love for nature, and try to create those moments for others. Our future depends on it.

Deputy Chair: Chris Reading

I grew up in the countryside, which gave me an affinity with all things rural, and have been a member now for over a decade. The Trust's reserves and activities have given me a wealth of enjoyment and education in recent years, and now it's time to give something back. I'm looking forward to supporting the amazing staff and volunteers who conserve Warwickshire’s wildlife for current and future generations. Professionally, I have been involved in food and farming for decades, working in both public and private sectors. My career has encompassed field to plate across the food community, from farmers to retailers, with specialities in standards and sustainability, alongside senior management and business owner skills.

John McKenzie

With a life-long interest in natural history, I have been a member since 2007. After a career in financial services including commercial banking with the likes of Lloyds Bank, it was only natural for me to use my financial skills for the benefit of the Trust as Treasurer and Chair of the Audit Remuneration Committee. I was also co-opted as a trustee, elected as Treasurer and appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Middlemarch Environmental.

Andrew Gabbitas

A member for over twenty years, I have held a lifelong interest in wildlife with a broad general knowledge of nature and conservation issues. I recently retired as Executive Director of Rugby Borough Council. As one of the two most senior officers at the Council, I was involved in all aspects of leading and managing a complex public sector organisation, focusing on strategic planning, organisational leadership and management, building services and partnerships with external organisations. I'm also a governor at Avon Valley School in Rugby and have a good knowledge of secondary education and education issues in general.

Geoff Litterick

My involvement with the Trust has largely been as a member and volunteer. I've been a Voluntary Work Party Leader on Kenilworth Reserves for over a decade and recently took on a similar role at Bubbenhall Meadow and Wood. I'm keen to build on this by representing the volunteers of the Trust. Professionally, I bring advice on business planning and investment appraisal, as a qualified accountant who spent most of my working life in the water industry in senior positions at Severn-Trent Water and the Environment Agency. For the past ten years I have coordinated the local support group of WaterAid, raising awareness and funds for the charity.

Duncan McCardle

We are fortunate to have some wonderful countryside in our region and, through the Parkridge centre on my doorstep, I have witnessed the amazing work the Trust does for the area. I've belonged to the Trust as a member for over ten years, and became a Trustee to directly contribute to its further development. As a strategy director, I help organisations grow and develop. In the past I have worked in the environmental, utilities and construction sectors, and currently work for a financial services company. The natural world is my lifelong passion, and I am driven by a sense of urgency and need to help more people understand its value.

Laurence Wilbraham

My career in town planning has spanned over three decades in both the public and private sectors. The majority of my work has been in the preparation and negotiation of planning applications, and the legal agreements which often run in parallel, for a wide variety of developments including housing, industrial and leisure projects. I have also been a member of the Trust for many years and I am keen to use my knowledge of the planning system to enhance the Trust's role in responding to planning applications, safeguarding existing habitats and creating new ones as part of new developments.

Marc Sanderson

I have been a member of the Trust for almost 20 years, and a birdwatcher and nature lover from childhood. From a base in Warwickshire, I work as a Chartered Marketer and consultant for organisations in many sectors across the UK and abroad. I have extensive experience in the charity, not-for-profit and public sectors, helping trustee, governance and management teams to develop and deliver membership, engagement and communication strategies.

Darren Male

Darren is the Director of The QUENSH Consultancy Limited, which provides advice and support to businesses on compliance matters. He is also Chair of WWT’s incredible Sherbourne Valley Project.

‘Being a Trustee of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust gives me a mechanism to share my knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm, and to assist the Trust to network better, which is one of my core skills. I also want to help the Trust ensure it is compliant in regards safety, health, and environmental management’.