Board

The LNP Board brings together leaders a wide range of sectors reflecting our priorities.

Board meetings

Board Members

Chair Professor Michael Winter OBE

Michael Winter

Michael has been on the staff of the Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter since 2002, following spells at the Universities of Bath and Gloucestershire and the Royal Agricultural College.  Michael is a rural policy specialist and social scientist with particular interests in applying inter-disciplinary approaches to policy-relevant research.  His current research focuses on sustainable agro-food systems and food security & the historical and contemporary sociology of west-country agriculture.  He is a board member of Natural England, the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Rothamsted Research. Previous appointments include being a Visiting Programme Director in Food Security at Wilton Park (Foreign Office), a member of the National Ecosystem Assessment Expert Panel,  and a Commissioner for the Commission for Rural Communities from its inception in 2006 until its abolition in 2013. 2008-09 he vice-chaired an inquiry into the future for the uplands reporting to the Prime Minister.   He studied Rural Environment Studies at Wye College, University of  London and a took a PhD in Sociology at the Open University He lives in west Devon where he has a 15 acre small holding.

Michael’s other interests include church and community, music, hedge laying and Welsh rugby (watching not playing!).

Phil Collins

Independent environmental consultant.

Steven Brown (represents the Health and Wellbeing sector)

Steve Brown is the Director of Public Health for Devon County Council. Steve has held senior leadership positions within public health, both within local authorities and the NHS for over twenty years, with the vast majority of his career spent in Devon.

Steve is passionate about promoting physical activity and the outdoors and spends his spare time mountain biking, hiking and surfing as well as helping to coach two youth football teams.

Nick Bruce White (represents wildlife NGOs)

Cllr Andrea Davis (represents DCC)

Andrea Ayres (represents Natural England)

Richard Drysdale (represents Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks)

Robin Milton (represents landowners/land managers)

Image of Rob MiltonRobin Milton is an Exmoor upland farmer who runs a mixed family farm, a herd of pedigree suckler Aberdeen Angus and a commercial sheep flock, on 1000 acres of bye and common land. After graduating from Wye college in 1982 he joined the family partnership in 1990 whilst continuing agricultural consultancy work. In 2010, the family were winners of Devon FWAG’s Bronze Otter Award and the North Devon Biosphere Sustainable Farming Award.

Robin has previously held the role of NFU (National Farmers’ Union) Branch Chairman and is currently NFU National Uplands Forum Chairman.  He is chairman of the NFU South West Uplands Group, Withypool Commoners’ Association, and West Anstey Commoners’ Group; as well as a member of CLA (Country Land and Business Association) and Devon CLA committee member.

Robin is the Secretary of State National Appointee to Exmoor National Park Authority, 2010; Vice Chairman of Resource and Performance Committee; and sits on both the Parish and Consultative Forum and Exmoor Local Access Forum.

He is a member of the DEFRA Upland Stakeholder Group, Upland Land Management Advisory Panel and Water Quality Panel, as well as a Local Parish Councillor.

Lead for LNP priority theme, farming with nature.

Tim Jones (represents the business sector)

Jess Carter (represents Outdoor Learning and Environmental Education)

Jess is an environmental engagement lead at Planet & People, a Community Interest Company which she co-founded to provide environmental education to schools through their Planet Action Workshop Series and also works together with businesses to facilitate behavioural and institutional change to be proactive in protecting the planet by operating more sustainably. Jess also coordinates the Mid Devon Wildlife Warden Scheme. She is an experienced project manager, facilitator and educator focussed on the environmental sphere and positively impacting the natural environment. Jess worked in environmental law and as a conservation coordinator on the Land, Outdoors and Nature Programme at Heelis, the National Trust Head Office where she supported and rolled out training to the countryside community nationally before moving back to Devon to set up her own business and give time and energy to local community projects. Jess helps to coordinate the Tiverton Tree Team and is on the Steering Committee for Sustainable Tiverton.

Jess grew up in South Devon and spent most of her child on horseback gaining valuable experience with top level competition horses and on farms whilst being an active member of the Young Farmers Club. She has a BSc(hons) in Biology from the University of St Andrews and a Graduate Diploma in Law. Jess enjoys developing a healthy environment for nature (and her family!) on her Mid Devon smallholding and training horses in her spare time.

Ken Miles (represents Local Authorities)

Roger English (represents protected landscapes)

Carolyn Cadman (represents South West Water)

Carolyn was appointed as Director of Natural Resources in 2023, a new senior leadership role focusing on the delivery of the company’s environmental plans to protect and enhance the environment. Carolyn sits on a number of groups including the Devon Local Nature Partnership, the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Board and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership Rural Sub-Group.
In her role as Director of Natural Resources, Carolyn is responsible for developing and delivering South West Water’s catchment management plans, environmental policies and nature recovery activity, including peatland restoration. A key part of this will be engaging stakeholders and partners from across the region to support the company’s work to protect rivers, increase biodiversity and tackle climate change.
Prior to joining South West Water, Carolyn was Chief Executive of Cornwall Wildlife Trust since 2018, where her team managed nature reserves across Cornwall and supported more people, businesses and communities to take action for nature.
Carolyn has also worked in national roles for Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation, and in the South West region for the Unitary Authority of Cornwall Council.

Mark Rice (represents Environment Agency)

Mark is the Area Director for the Environment Agency in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Environment Agency has a leading role to play in restoring or recreating new wildlife-rich habitat in England. With a team of approximately 380 people our activity ranges from managing the risk of flooding from main rivers, reservoirs, estuaries and the sea; regulating industry and agriculture; responding to environmental incidents including major pollutions and flooding and managing water resources to secure the water needs of communities, businesses and the environment. Mark has 20 years’ experience of working with the Environment Agency in a variety of communications, operational and strategic roles, he has a background in communications and public affairs.

Nora Corkery (represents communities)

Nora was appointed to the role of Acting CEO of Devon Communities Together in May 2020 & CEO in December 2020. Devon Communities Together is the Rural Community Council for Devon and a member of the national network Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). As part of this national network, Devon Communities Together works closely with Defra and other central government departments as well as a broad range of local statutory and VCSE partners. Devon Communities Together’s vision is to inspire and support rural communities in Devon to be dynamic and sustainable places for people to live and work. Current relevant programmes include managing the Devon Community Resilience Forum; working as a delivery partner on the Devon Land Use Framework and Devon Resilience Innovation Project and managing the Wild About Devon Community Grant scheme.
After graduating from The University of Southampton in 1985 with a degree in law and politics, Nora chose to work in the public sector, firstly within a Local Authority setting and then moving into the Voluntary and Community sector in 1992. This year marks Nora’s 31st year working in the VCSE sector in Devon, firstly for the national Citizens Advice Service at Devon Welfare Rights Unit for 23 years, as Manager for 12 of those years, before joining Devon Communities Together in 2015.
Nora is a member of the newly emergent Devon, Plymouth and Torbay VCSE Assembly Leadership Group and co-chairs the Assembly Health Inequalities Hub and the ICS Digital Inclusion Strategy Group.