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!).

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.

Andrea Ayres (represents Natural England)

Andrea is Deputy Director for Natural England in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Area.
With a background in nature conservation, she has lived and worked in Devon and across the south-west for over 25 years, having held a variety of roles in the environmental sector including with the RSPB, Groundwork, Teignbridge District Council and the Environment Agency.

With a love of the outdoors and all things water. She is passionate about creating opportunities to connect people and inspire them to get involved in looking after their local environment. In her spare time, she is a keen swimmer and has completed a number of endurance swims, including the English Channel.

Nick Bruce White (represents wildlife NGOs)

Nick joined Devon Wildlife Trust as CEO in September 2023. For the 22 years prior to that, Nick worked for the RSPB in a variety of operational roles. After beginning his career on the Dorset heaths, Nick established the RSPB’s flagship Rainham Marshes nature reserve alongside the Thames in East London. He then went on to manage the RSPB’s nature reserve estate in Northern England, before moving to Devon in 2015 as Regional Director for the South West and then Southern England. Immediately prior to joining DWT, Nick was acting Director for RSPB England.
Nick grew up on the family farm in Wiltshire, an upbringing which both sparked his connection with nature, and has given him a close affinity to the farming community and the vital role that nature-friendly farming needs to play in restoring UK biodiversity.
Nick lives in Exeter with his wife & daughter. He is a keen marathon runner and with his family, loves being outdoors and active amongst nature. After all those years with the RSPB, it is perhaps little surprise that he loves birdwatching too!

Cllr Andrea Davis (represents DCC)

Richard Drysdale (represents Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks)

Tim Jones (represents the business sector)

Tom Humphreys (represents Outdoor Learning and Environmental Education)

Tom is Chair for the Network for Environmental Educators in Devon (NEED), and has been bringing learners of all ages and backgrounds outdoors across a variety of Outdoor Education field centres. Tom is Communities Project Manager at the ND UNESCO Biosphere, empowering folks in North Devon & Torridge to become champions for nature’s recovery in their local area and addressing some of the shared environmental challenges faced across neighbouring communities.

Ken Miles (represents Local Authorities)

Ken is a solicitor and has been Chief Executive of North Devon Council since 2019. Prior to that he held other senior positions in the Council as well as elsewhere in the local government sector. He sits on the LNP Board to represent the Devon District Councils, all of whom have a vital role to play in delivering nature recovery through local leadership and place based work. Outside of work, Ken enjoys mountain biking, cycling, running and walking.

Roger English (represents protected landscapes)

Land owner / manager representatives currently being appointed.

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.