Meet Sue: our new chair of trustees
Thursday 31st May 2018
Sue Goodfellow has become our new chair of trustees
A former Director of Conservation at Dartmoor National Park has been elected to the top role at Devon Wildlife Trust.
Suzanne (Sue) Goodfellow, who describes herself as an ‘ecologist and all-round environmentalist’ is the new Chair of Trustees of Devon Wildlife Trust. She will head the charity’s Board of Trustees, the body which determines the Trust’s strategic direction. As with all the charity’s trustee board members, this position is an unpaid, voluntary one.
Sue has been a member of Devon Wildlife Trust’s Board of Trustees since 2013 and a member of the charity, which has more than 32,000 supporters, since 1978. Her career saw her spend 30 years at Dartmoor National Park Authority working as an ecologist, a landscape conservation officer and then as its Director of Conservation. In recent years she has been Chair of Devon Local Nature Partnership, the umbrella organisation which works to bring together everyone with an interest in securing the benefits of Devon’s natural environment.
Sue said:
“I am delighted to be in a position to support the trustees, staff, volunteers and members of this amazingly vibrant charity which is making such a difference to Devon’s wildlife. I am passionate about making space for the other species with which we share our wonderful county and bringing people closer to wildlife for their mutual benefit. The Devon Wildlife Trust really stands up for wildlife and is an effective campaigning organisation as well as owning beautiful, restful reserves for us all to enjoy. I look forward to helping the Trust deliver new exciting projects such as Seaton Jurassic, Exeter Valley Parks and the Greater Horseshoe Bat Project.”
Sue replaces Dr Peta Foxall who has moved to become Chair of The Wildlife Trusts, the national body which helps coordinate the 46 county Trusts, of which Devon Wildlife Trust is one.
The appointment sees Sue lead the charity’s 17-strong Board of Trustees at a time in which the charity is engaged in some of its biggest ever projects and campaigns for local wildlife which include beavers, bats and marine wildlife.
Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, Harry Barton, welcomed the appointment and said:
“Sue is a great people person, she is passionate about the environment and her knowledge of Devon is truly impressive. She and I have worked closely together for several years on the Devon Local Nature Partnership, which she led with great skill and tact. I’m really looking forward to working with her at DWT”.
One of Sue’s first tasks will be to help the charity in its efforts to raise extra support for the 50 nature reserves it cares for across the county. The Devon Nature Reserves Fund is being launched by Devon Wildlife Trust this May at a time of year when thousands of people will visit and enjoy the charity’s wildlife havens. People wanting to help are being urged to visit the DWT website today.
Tagged with: Volunteering, Chair of trustees, Charity, Devon, Devon Wildlife Trust, Sue goodfellow, Volunteers