Our Trustees

Barbara King

Chair - joined 2022

Barbara joined as a trustee in 2022. In her career, she worked in several countries, as a Director of both retail and hospitality companies. Moving to Devon in 2010 was the catalyst that saw a widening of interests in her most recent commercial role as Managing Director for the charitable Dartington Trading Company. She has an interest in the coast and land, that provides such a wealth of wonderful local food. This made Chairing Food Drink Devon, a not for profit organisation, for several years, a pleasure.

Looking after green spaces for public use and enjoyment, coupled with helping to find the means to financially support such activities, is close to her heart.

Gillian Burchell

Co-Deputy Chair - joined 2021

Gillian is a retired General Manager in the Motor Trade, originally from Lancashire, has lived near to Occombe Farm for the past 5 years and is a volunteer gardener.

Gillian loves walking and discovering Devon’s beautiful countryside and coast. She is a member of Marldon Leaf Bowling Club and Marldon Community Choir. She is also an active member of Totnes u3a playing bridge, boules and singing in the choir.

Roger Knight

joined 2016

Recently returned to Devon after many years away, Roger has fond memories of growing up in Torbay and strong empathy with the Trust’s objectives. By profession an accountant, Roger was for more than 20 years a partner with a major international firm of accountants, in London and later in Hong Kong, which is another place with an outstanding natural environment and its own Unesco Global Geopark.

Roger currently provides accounting and audit expert services to lawyers and accountants, principally in Hong Kong. He is also a trustee of Children’s Hospice South West and a governor of South Devon College, where he chairs the audit committee.

John Lowes

joined 2021

Having lived in many different parts of the UK, John moved to Torbay in 1993 and worked at Torbay Hospital as a Consultant Physician and latterly Medical Director until retiring in 2017.  Many years at Torbay were spent developing the service and in particular the educational resources for the hospital staff.

He enjoys the mutually incompatible activities of improving his birdwatching skills, sailing along the South West Coast and local dog walking.  He is committed to protecting the local environment and ensuring that as custodians of such special environments the Trust continues to balance the needs of wildlife and the welfare of people.

Sam Roseveare

Co-opted Trustee

Sam joined as a Trustee in 2023.  He has a first degree from the University of Durham and an MSc from University College London.

As director of policy, Sam is currently public affairs lead at the University of Warwick. Prior to that he worked in public policy, specialising in higher education and research and innovation. He also has substantial experience in strategic planning and governance.

Sam is passionate about the conservation, and particularly the beautiful natural spaces that the Trust has stewardship of.

Matt Abbott

Co-opted Trustee

Matt joined as a trustee in 2023 and brings a diverse range of experience from work in the commercial sector creating business growth strategies for ecommerce businesses ranging from start-ups to FTSE 100. Matt also brings experience from working in higher education and 10 years as a founder-director of a social enterprise providing sports for people with disabilities and the elderly.

Matt has a keen interest in conservation, farming and countryside stewardship. Having grown up locally, Matt has spent many hours enjoying Torbay’s green spaces and is committed to ensuring future generations continue to benefit from access to our history and countryside.

Tim Herbert

Co-opted Trustee

Tim joined as a trustee in 2024.  He moved with his family to Torquay in 1986 and spent his teenage years there before moving to Oxford, London, Sydney (Australia) and then Auckland (New Zealand).  He returned to Torquay in 2021.  Since 1997, he has been a corporate and commercial lawyer, with substantial experience in deals and disputes.

Tim’s family has a dog, and he loves going with him to various walks around the Devon countryside and coast.  He is, therefore, keen to ensure that Torbay’s green spaces are well kept.

Donna Wynne

Secretary to TCCT Board of Trustees - joined 2019

Owner of Donna Wynne Virtual Assistance Donna Wynne LinkedIn which helps people to manage their business better by providing professional administration services.  I served as an Executive PA at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals for 15 years and take a keen interest in business/economy through working and volunteering within local business forums and Chambers of Commerce.

In my spare time I enjoy walking to observe nature, camping, AcroYoga and am an enthusiastic vegetable grower.