Meet the team

Group

At The Parks Foundation we all have one thing in common – we love our parks and open spaces! Our mission is to support, enhance and protect our parks for existing and future generations to come.

Group 4

Trustees

roger-brown

Roger Brown
Roger is a very keen cyclist and is deeply embedded in promoting active lifestyles and healthy living having worked as the Director for Leisure at Bournemouth Borough Council for over 37 years.

He has now retired from the role but heads up Active Dorset which are a community interest company committed to raising the level of participation in sport and physical activity across Dorset and looks forward to helping ensure our parks and open spaces continue to play a significant role in our natural, social and economic environment of the town.

Debbie Cohen

Debbie owns and runs a local HR Consultancy Streetwise HR, based in Bournemouth. She has over 25 year’s experience in Human Resources with a wide range of various industry specific knowledge. Outside of working hours she is actively involved in running a local junior parkrun event and spends lots of her time with her four dogs.

mark-cribb

Mark Cribb
Mark is the creator and Managing Director of the Urban Guild: the Urban Beach boutique hotel, the Urban Reef restaurant on the prom facing the sea at Boscombe Pier, Urban Renaissance Cafe in Russell Cotes Museum, Bournemouth.

Mark had spent six years away from Dorset in senior management positions in the hospitality and leisure industry in London, before returning to start work on his Urban vision.

Oval
mark-holloway

Mark Holloway
Mark is wild about wildlife and our natural environment. He’s a well-known figure, having been a Hengistbury Head ranger since the Iron Age (or at least for the last 30 years). Mark, and his colleague Stuart Clark, led on the development and fundraising for the fantastic Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre and was also responsible for introducing the cattle which help to manage our heathland.

mark-kiteley

Mark Kiteley
Mark is the foundation’s legal guardian being a director of Rawlins Davy Solicitors and Mediators, one of Bournemouth’s oldest law firms.  Specialising in regulation and compliance, he has a wealth of knowledge in the legal arena and from 29th April 2019 takes the role of President of the Bournemouth and District Law Society.  He moved to Bournemouth from the Midlands 15 years ago and still pinches himself every morning that he lives this close to our wonderful parks and beaches.

Rays

Our staff

Our Head Office Team

John Hanson – Interim Chief Executive Officer
John brings a wealth of experience with over 25 years in the construction industry, building and bidding projects across the UK.  With a background in international community development, he’s spent the last 8 years helping set up local food growing charity, Grounded Community, in Boscombe.  His passion for community and what can be achieved when we work together is clear to see.

A father of 2 wonderful teenagers, in his spare time John loves to climb mountains, cycle in the countryside, and spend time on the water sailing.

cathi-farrer

Cathi Farrer – Chief Executive Officer
Cathi manages the day-to-day running of the foundation doing anything from fundraising, marketing, project management, finance to volunteer coordination. Having previously worked in Bournemouth University’s marketing department she brings a wealth of marketing experience to the team.

Passionate about all things sport, Cathi plays touch rugby for England (albeit the masters team!) and enjoys Crossfit.

anne-maton

Anne Maton – Fundraising Manager
Anne has worked in various roles within the charity sector for more than twenty years, including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Help for Heroes. Having grown up on her parent’s local plant nursery, she brings a love of wildlife and the outdoors to our charity as well as her vast fundraising experience. When not working, expect to find Anne in her greenhouse or in the wilds of southern Africa.

Rebecca Briley – Project Officer (Communications & Fundraising)
Beccy has worked in the charity sector for more than ten years, with wildlife and the environment always close to her heart. She joined The Parks Foundation to support our pioneering Future Parks Project, and now looks after the charity’s communications. In her spare time, you can usually find Beccy walking her dog, paddleboarding, or visiting as many coffee shops as possible!

Roanna Schneider – Fundraising and Marketing Assistant
Roanna is a former veterinary nurse who has decided to hang up her stethoscope for a career change into marketing and fundraising. Having always had a passion for nature and sustainability, as well as a love for all animals, Roanna is delighted to be working at the Parks Foundation. In her spare time you may find her chilling with a book on the beach, dancing at a music festival or jogging around the local parks.

Our Projects Team

Stephen Concar – Project Manager
Steve
graduated in horticulture and has been landscaping since then, having fun constructing just about anything possible. He’s also turned his hand to mixed farming, building parks from scratch in public spaces, working with the National Trust, and mentoring student apprentices. However, the coast has been calling Steve and his family for a while now and they have made the move down to Dorset after falling in love with all it has to offer. Steve thinks it’s pretty cool to have found a job that will enhance Dorset’s flora and fauna.

Peter Holloway

Peter Holloway – Parks in Mind Project Leader
Peter leads our Parks in Mind project – delivering nature conservation, arts and wellbeing activities in Bournemouth’s parks to benefit the people taking part. Peter comes from a nature conservation background, employed for many years managing nature reserves in the conurbation. As part of this work, he has always tried to find ways to involve communities in the care of their local open spaces. As well as his interest in wildlife and people, Peter has keen interest in the arts and is a long-standing supporter of his local football team, AFC Bournemouth. Up the cherries!

Josh Clarke

Josh Clarke – Urban Greening Project Officer
Josh is a passionate conservationist and sees green spaces as opportunities to increase biodiversity and educate people about the importance of nature. Josh comes from a nature conservation background; in his previous post in New Zealand he delivered habitat management tasks, working with community groups. When he’s not at work you might find him in the New Forest looking for birds or out in the ocean trying (and failing) to catch waves.

Karen Brooks – Community Partnerships Officer
Karen comes from a teaching and events background and has a passion for conservation. She has spent the last 8 years running nature-based photography events across Dorset. Prior to that she was an Assistant Director of Studies at a local language school where she was lucky to work with people from all corners of the world. Karen is mum to two energetic kids as well as a playful and very soppy border collie.

Anna Devine – Community Partnerships Officer
As a former teacher, Anna is passionate about connecting with people and promoting play (for all ages!). She believes our green spaces are crucial to building sustainable communities and combating the climate crisis. She has worked on a permaculture farm in Colombia and the ASPIRE project in Boscombe, helping communities improve their health and wellbeing. In her spare time, she’ll be slacklining, doing acro-yoga, or sea swimming.

Daniel McLaughlin – Parks Activator
Daniel loves educating the next generation and instilling in them a love of wildlife and the importance of conservation. He can’t wait to improve our urban spaces for wildlife through habitat creation; getting the local community involved at every stage of the process. You’ll find him around our parks and green spaces taking wildlife photography, climbing and eating good food!

Jess Tilley – Parks Activator
Jess is a huge lover of the outdoors and all things nature. She has worked in different conservation organisations helping to increase biodiversity in a range of habitats, and is very excited to be working with the local community to do the same for our parks. Spare time involves getting really muddy with her toddler and dog, wildlife photography, and sea swimming.

Tanya Bellows – Parks Activator
An Environmental Science graduate of Bournemouth University, Tanya is an enthusiastic, green-fingered gal with a big heart for all animals. She’s often found tending to her homegrown veggies and finding new ways to invite wildlife into her garden. Tanya really enjoys and values being part of local projects, and she is excited to work with the community even more. Whether it’s kayaking or a long walk in her well-loved hiking boots, Tanya is always up for an adventure!

Will Bowskill – Parks Activator
Will developed his passion for wildlife on conservation projects in Africa. Now he has returned home, he wants to make an impact on conservation here in the UK and is excited to work in our urban parks. Will is keen to inspire others and encourage them to start their own conservation journeys. Outside of work you might find him making and fixing things, or photographing nature.

Lauren Ebsworth – Assistant Parks Activator
Lauren is an avid science-lover, having studied Biomedical Sciences at university. She decided she was after a change of pace and, as her nickname was ‘nature girl’ when she was young, she thought this was the perfect opportunity! Lauren is excited to be working with local communities whilst improving the area she grew up in for both people and wildlife. Free time is spent out and about with friends or relaxing in with her cat.

Our Café/ Visitor Centre Team

Dan Dean – Area Trading Manager
Dan has worked in hospitality management for over 20 years in a variety of sectors. He has a real passion for training his team and ensuring the highest standards, as well as fantastic coffee and cake! In Dan’s spare time he loves to get some fresh air with his wife and two children. Dan is also a massive supporter of AFC Bournemouth, so you may see him at the stadium on match days.

 

Lisa Avisoa

Lisa Avisoa – Visitor Centre Coordinator
Lisa joined the team in autumn 2019 and is managing the fantastic volunteers who run the café and Visitor Centre at Kingfisher Barn. With a varied background in visitor experience and wildlife conservation, she will bring energy and education to the visitor centre and the events we offer. Lisa enjoys travelling and has worked in different parts of the world. She has 2 young children who keep her busy in her spare time.

Carole Carter

Carole Carter – Cafe Manager
Carole manages our Winton Park Cafe in Winton Recreation Ground. Carole has worked in hospitality for over thirty years. When you visit the cafe you are guaranteed a warm welcome and a friendly smile. In her spare time Carole enjoys walking and swimming and also loves spending time with her family and friends.

 

Rachelle Lawley – Café Manager
Rachelle is the Manager at our Redhill Park Café, and has worked in hospitality for the last four years after starting her career in this sector as a volunteer. Rachelle is passionate about ensuring people with disabilities are given the opportunity to work to their full potential. A mum of two children with disabilities, Rachelle likes to spend the spare time she has crocheting, reading, and visiting historical sites.

 

Sign me up

Sign up to our newsletter and be informed about all the latest inspiring Park Foundation updates, events and fundraising across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

By checking this box you agree to our Privacy Policy
Group 15