Meet the team

Professor Tim O’Riordan OBE DL FBA
President

Professor O’Riordan is Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia. He was awarded an OBE in 2010. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of the County, former Sheriff of Norwich (2009-10), and a Fellow of the British Academy. He was elected President of the Norfolk Association of Local Councils in 2009. As president of CPRE Norfolk, he is our figurehead, promoting the charity wherever possible and raising awareness of our work.

Chris Dady
Chairman

Chris, a Norfolk born chartered surveyor who has lived in the Broadland area for over 30 years with his wife Sally, became involved with CPRE Norfolk through the Green Buildings open days. They were able to have their own self built eco house included as part of this event. Chris has been volunteering for CPRE Norfolk for over ten years in addition to his other voluntary work.

George Ridgway
Honorary Treasurer

George is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Marketeer with a long professional career specialising in looking after clients in the agricultural, medical and not-for-profit sectors. He was finance director of a machine tool manufacturer in the East Midlands and continues working for farms and wildlife charities. He was formerly a university lecturer and held voluntary roles within the education and charitable sectors. He was a keen rugby player for many years, and a private pilot.

Richard Turner
Honorary Secretary

Richard has a background in management and finance and as a parish councillor, he has been involved in preparing his local Neighbourhood Plan. Richard and his wife maintain a small holding in Mattishall for the benefit of wildlife and are involved in several conservation charities.

David Hook
Light Pollution Campaign Co-ordinator and Chair of V4N Committee

David is Chairman of Hempnall Parish Council and Chairman of the CPRE Norfolk Vision for Norfolk committee. He also co-ordinates the CPRE Norfolk light pollution campaign. His work promoting the importance of dark skies and dark landscapes involves advising councils, businesses and individuals throughout Norfolk on lighting issues. He has organised two successful UEA conferences on light pollution. As with all of our campaigners, David’s work for CPRE Norfolk is entirely voluntary. He has received an award from The British Astronomical Society and an outstanding achievement award from National CPRE in recognition of his years of work on light pollution. David works closely with Michael Rayner and the Vision for Norfolk committee in campaigning for the protection and enhancement of the Norfolk countryside.

Dr Ian Shepherd
Trustee

Ian joined CPRE Norfolk in 1989, prompted by a bypass to cross the Glaven Valley to the south of Letheringsett. He became a founding member of the River Glaven Conservation Group, reflecting both his interest in wildlife and biodiversity, and water resource. As a member of his Parish Council, (which is in the Norfolk Coast AONB), he was elected to be one of five community representatives for the Norfolk Coast Partnership. Ian has served as Chairman of the North Norfolk District CPRE, County Chairman and a member of the National Policy Committee. He has been awarded a CPRE England lifetime Achievement Award, ‘for dedicated service as a tireless campaigner and renowned planning expert across the county’.
Ian continues to serve as a Trustee and a member of the V4N committee as well as with the NCP, using his CPRE and RGCG background for making the case for an extension of the AONB and a Nature Recovery Network.

Dr Keith Bacon
Trustee

Keith is a retired teacher and was a post-graduate history student at the UEA. He lives in Catfield where he was born and has been Chair of the Parish Council for thirty years. He has served on the committee of CPRE Norfolk for over twenty years and was formerly Chair of the North Norfolk branch. He is a former North Norfolk District Councillor and member of the Broads Authority with a particular involvement in planning. He is involved in many organisations and committees in the Broads; including Chair of the Broads Local Access Forum and the Broads Charitable Trust and former Chair of the Broads Society. Keith is particularly interested in local and rural history, fen conservation and rights of way.

Faye LeBon
Trustee

Faye has been a parish clerk in Norfolk since 2006 and is passionate about how grass roots local government can work for the betterment of the community. She is one of Locality’s Neighbourhood Planning champions, promoting how local communities can shape development in their area. Faye holds strong beliefs about the benefits of the countryside and other open space to people’s wellbeing. In her spare time she can be found walking in the countryside or playing badminton.

Heather Tyrrell
Trustee

Heather has considerable experience as both a Trustee and as an educationalist and lives in South Norfolk close to the Broads. By being a Trustee for CPRE Norfolk, Heather hopes to play a small part in campaigning for some of the things that really matter to achieve an assured and promising future for Norfolk, such as facing the climate emergency and protecting the natural world for generations to come.

Alexandra Coupe
Trustee

Alex works as a project manager and has a passion for the countryside and nature. After completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of East Anglia, she has lived all over the globe, but the county of Norfolk has always remained special to her. Alex is committed to ensuring a greener future for all.

Kevin Jones
Trustee

Kevin has lived in Norfolk for over 12 years. He is a keen cyclist who enjoys exploring the lanes and by-ways of East Anglia on his bike. Kevin has been interested in environmental issues since studying geography at university and completed an MA in environmental science at UEA in 2010. He has worked for a number of organisations, specialising in strategy and planning, business development and change management. His most recent role was with the cycling charity, Sustrans. He has also been a trustee of a housing association and international charity..

Sandra Walmsley
Trustee

After a successful career in social services and health, Sandra widened her interests. She has had many years’ experience in the voluntary sector, including a rural community regeneration project in Weeting. She established a national charity for supporting renewable energy and remains a Trustee. Sandra is passionate about our environment and the natural world. As a Trustee of CPRE Norfolk, she hopes to contribute to a better Norfolk.

Helen Steed
Finance Officer

Helen manages the day-to-day finances of CPRE Norfolk, keeping a close eye on the charity’s income and expenditure. With a background in computing and programming, she is also responsible for the website, IT, governance & compliance, as well as all our databases & other records. Helen is very active in musical theatre, being an experienced performer and stage director with various local societies.

Alice Francis
Administration Officer

Alice joined the team as part-time Administration Officer in May 2022. Her work includes responding to enquiries, arranging meetings and CPRE events, and overseeing the loaning of our litter picking equipment. Alice has a strong background in marketing, administration and event management. Having travelled extensively Alice still believes there is no place like her home county – Norfolk.

Michael Rayner
Planning Campaigns Consultant

Michael is responsible for all the day-to-day planning workload within CPRE Norfolk. He is engaged in co-ordinating the Parish Council Pledge Campaign, writing official CPRE Norfolk responses to planning applications, developing future campaign strategy, talking to decision-makers across the County and beyond, and much more. Michael had a long career in education, serving as Deputy Head of Langley School for fourteen years. He is also a longtime member of the Battlefields Trust, taking particular responsibility for planning issues and representing the Trust at public enquiries, working alongside English Heritage (now Historic England). Michael has also published several books on English battlefields.

Vice Presidents

Non-voting members of the Executive Committee

Matthew Martin
Lady Walpole

CPRE Norfolk Patrons

Sir Nicholas Bacon
Charles Barratt
Ivor Braka
The Marquess of Cholmondeley
Tom Cook
Paul Gismondi
The Earl of Leicester
Sir Rupert Mann
Professor Tim O’Riordan
Lady Walpole.
Other Patrons have asked to remain anonymous

CPRE Norfolk Ambassadors

Patrick Barkham
John Bullard
Kit Martin CBE
Gerard Stamp