Meet the LHCRT Trustees and Officers — the team guiding our strategy and putting it into action.
Our Trustees
Our Trustees hold formal responsibility for the charity and are required to act in its best interests. Each also takes on specific roles within the board.
Carole Mills
Chair (first appointed 2021)A former CEO and CFO at five unitary councils. Currently a non-executive director in the NHS, regulatory and housing sectors.
Colin Booker
Company Secretary and vice chair (first appointed 2021)A qualified management accountant, Colin worked in the criminal investigations division of HMRC as a senior forensic accountant.
Bob Williams
Finance and funding (first appointed 1996)Bob held an FCIB banking qualification and has experience of customer commercial business at NatWest Bank.
Christine Howles
Communications and marketing (first appointed 2016)A full-time communications lead in the civil service, with experience spanning the social housing and water sectors. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Derek Lord
Planning and technical (first appointed 2019)A drainage specialist having worked on road, rail, canal, sewerage and development drainage, with a water company and consultants.
Chris Bailey
Construction and operations (first appointed 2024)A former manager with British Waterways and Canal and River Trust, and funding consultant, successfully bidding for funds for major projects.
Peter Hale
Volunteer Resources – designate (coopted 2025)A former chartered railway engineer and charity leader, with expertise in safety, stakeholder engagement and complex project delivery.
John Atkins
Company Secretary – designate (coopted 2026)A former utilities professional with extensive facilities expertise, and a track record as a non‑executive director and volunteer leader.
Robert Brasher
Land and property – designate (coopted 2026)A former Chartered Surveyor and commercial estates specialist with experience in land management and property negotiations.
Our officers
Our volunteer officers are part of the LHCRT Trustees and Officers team, carrying out defined duties while we all support one another.
Paul Marshall
Technology advisor
Paul Brettell
Volunteer construction manager
Brian Williams
Workparty team leader and volunteer liaison
Tony Cadwallader
Workparty team leader and carpenter
Dave Gittins
Workparty team leader
Andrew Gamston
Workparty team leader