Trustees

Mark Owen

Mark, Chairman of Trent Rivers Trust, is also Head of Fisheries for the Angling Trust. Mark is passionate about rivers and is also a keen angler. Mark’s career has spanned banking, international trade finance and commodity trading around the world before reading for a degree in Environmental Management at the University of Derby and subsequently joining the environment movement.

Martin Stark

Martin Stark

Martin worked for the Environment Agency for over 30 years in a variety of fisheries operational, strategic and policy roles and was a founder Trustee of the Trust at its formation. He has set up & chaired a community flood warden group, a local Riverwatch group, participated in the implementation of natural flood management schemes and continues his involvement in fisheries work with the Canal & River Trust.

Ian Butterfield

Ian has had a love of freshwater systems since childhood and he is currently Natural England’s Senior Freshwater advisor. Ian is also a keen bird watcher and naturalist.

Tim Farr

Tim now runs an arable farm, adopting innovative and sustainable farming practices. Tim is former chairman of the Trent RFCC and chairman of the Local Nature Partnership and Southwell Flood Forum.

Geoff Nickolds

Geoff was Conservation and Recreation Manager for Severn Trent, then deputy chairman of the Peak District NPA and chair of Moors for the Future and the Peak District Local Nature Partnership.

Valerie Holt MBE

Valerie, Secretary and Trustee, worked for the Environment Agency for 30 years in conservation and fisheries and is Vice President of the Institute of Fisheries Management and a former chair of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

Richard Kay

Richard has worked in financial management for the private sector for many years and is a keen angler. He is using his many years of experience to guide and support the Trusts financial planning and management, working closely with the CEO and Head of Finance.

Tom Walsh

Tom is a senior associate in the social enterprise team at Hogan Lovells, an international law firm. Tom has advised numerous social enterprises and charities on their corporate governance and a variety of commercial issues, including assisting environmental charities implement NFM projects and support conservation charities in their efforts to deal biodiversity loss.

Hollie Marshall

Hollie is a genetics researcher at the University of Leicester, working on species responses to human-impacts. She grew up spending a lot of time along the Coventry Canal and is a keen angler.

Lis Gibbs

Lis is an experienced communications professional working in a busy media office for a large local authority. She has also worked in community engagement for river charities and is a passionate local environmental volunteer. Lis uses her experience to advise on how to convey important, and often complex, messages clearly and succinctly; how to engage more people in TRT’s work and how to work effectively with partners and local decision-makers to bring about real and positive change for the Trent catchment.

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