The National Park City Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of five new talented and experienced Trustees to its board.
The board of trustees are responsible for the values, governance, strategic direction and financial sustainability of the National Park City Foundation charity, and these new appointments bring new skills from engagement with government, policy development, access to nature, and business.
At the same time we’re also saying goodbye (at least from the board), to two of our long standing Trustees, Paul de Zylva, outgoing Chair of the board, and Ben Smith, Trustee, both of whom have completed their six years and have stepped down from the board this month.
The board is incredibly grateful for their service, commitment and the leadership they have given and hope to be able to continue to draw upon their expertise in the future.
Emily Brennan, interim Chair of the National Park City Foundation said:
“I would like to thank Paul and Ben for their service to the Foundation as Trustees, and also for their instrumental role in campaigning for London to become the world’s first National Park City. Their contribution has been immeasurable. Paul has played a very special role as the Foundation has built itself to where it is today.”
“And with our newly recruited Trustees we are expanding the skills, knowledge and passion we will need to continue making life better for everyone in cities around the world through the National Park City movement. I’m delighted that Claire, Jo, Lucy, Luis and Melissa are able to join at this exciting time.”
Trustees of the National Park City Foundation have always been more than just board members. Highly active and hands-on in establishing the organisation itself, successfully delivering London as the first National Park City in 2019, and navigating us through the challenges of the pandemic. The new Trustees will be as involved, although with the recent appointment of our Executive Director, they may not need to be as practically hands-on.
The five new trustee appointments are;
Claire Eagle, a policy and strategy professional focused on cities and net zero at the Connected Places Catapult.
Jo Dimitri, a Senior Programme Manager for the National Trust, leading their programme in London to address unequal access to nature, beauty and history.
Lucy Livesley, Policy & External Affairs Director at Reall, an innovator and investor in climate-smart affordable housing in cities across Africa and Asia.
Luis Alvarado Martinez, who works at the intersection of climate, government relations, city innovation, politics and youth empowerment, at the World Economic Forum and Mission Possible Partnership
Melissa Miners, Global Sustainability Senior Manager at Unilever, with a remit of driving business action in support of and aligned with public policy relating to nature and climate adaptation.
Together Claire, Jo, Lucy, Luis and Melissa bring a wealth of experience, and will be working closely with ongoing Trustees, Emily Brennan, Alison Barnes, David Cope, Eilish Kavanagh, Tim Webb, Emily Hamilton and Angela McDermott.
At the same time we’re also pleased to welcome Helen Bourne as a board observer. Helen is a Trustee for the charity Action for Conservation and part of the Youth Leadership Team for national conservation project, The Penpont Project
We warmly welcome our new Trustees to the National Park City family.