Meet our team of volunteer Trustees who oversee our work, guide our direction and contribute to our strategic future…

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.

Andra Johnstone

Andra Johnstone

Co-Deputy Chair - joined 2006

Andra Johnstone first joined the Occombe Development Group and became a full trustee in 2006. With a professional background in social care, Andra has worked for a number of years in the public, voluntary and private sector. She has been employed in general managerial or project management roles. Committed to the values and principles on which the Trust is built and its unique nature, Andra uses her knowledge, skills and experience to make a contribution to the organisation’s governance and sustainability. From a family plant growing business to looking after a smallholding she is passionate about the environment and the responsibility we all have to it. Andra chairs the Land Group sub-committee.

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.

Tino Savvas

Co-opted Trustee

Tino was born in Torquay and attended Torquay Boys Grammar School. He has a first degree in Business Management and an MA in Investment & Finance from Exeter University.

He has held many management/sales roles both in the UK and across Europe.  He was the Managing Director (VP) of a group of 6 businesses in UK, Belgium, Netherlands & Norway, €250 million turnover and over 1000 employees. Latterly, he was a Business Director for an international packaging company with responsibilities in both Europe & North America. He has substantial business and project management experience, including the building and developing of world class greenfield sites.

Since retirement his volunteer roles include being a Business Mentor for the Prince’s Trust; he is a Trustee for his ex-employer’s UK Pension Scheme; the South Devon Area Rep for the South West Coast Path, and a member of the Devon Countryside Access Forum.

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.

 

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.