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Welcoming our new trustees to the team
Nov 26 2025
We’re excited to share some great news: five new trustees have joined our Board! Jo Cook, Josie Dean, Amanda Forman, Hazel Williams and Tim Wotton bring a wonderful mix of experience, enthusiasm, and fresh ideas.
To help us find the right people for our charity operations, we teamed up with a specialist trustee recruitment partner, Anna Jay, Founder and Managing Director of Public Leaders Appointments Ltd. With over 20 years’ experience recruiting at Executive and Board level, Anna supported us throughout the process and helped us reach a wide and diverse group of candidates. Her guidance was invaluable, and we’re grateful for her expertise throughout the recruitment process. Anna stated “We’re motivated by the opportunity to make a positive impact on people, places and society through the appointments that we lead.“
Dr Tim Jones, our CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome our new trustees. Each brings real passion and insight, and we’re excited about the journey ahead with them on board.”
We’re delighted to welcome our new trustees and look forward to working together as we continue growing, learning, and making a difference.
Meet our trustees
Neil Hartwell, Chair of Trustees (joined us in 2010)
Neil Hartwell, Chair of Trustees (joined us in 2010)
A trained psychologist, researcher and designer with a M.Phil. in Occupational Psychology, a BSc (Hons) in Economics and a BSc in Technology, Neil has worked at board level for several companies and charities and in other roles encompassing Finance, IT and Human Resources. Neil has also worked in the steel and manufacturing industries in London and Northern England. Neil lives in Fowey and works as a jeweller, and has previously supported the fuel poverty charity National Energy Action’s ten regional offices in England and Wales for seven years.
Manda Brookman, Trustee (joined us in 2021)
Manda is involved in socially enterprising business and community-based work to enable social, economic and environmental change, with wide-ranging experience in resources; sustainable tourism; environment; and housing. Manda’s work centres particularly around the connection between climate, health, justice and behaviour. Manda is currently, amongst other things, the Primary Care Climate Resilience Programme Manager with Volunteer Cornwall.
Jo Cook, Trustee (joined us in 2025)
Jo is an award-winning in-house solicitor with Cornish Lithium Plc. After qualifying as a solicitor in London in 2002, Jo built a varied career in the construction and renewable energy sectors – working with law firms, local authorities, and renewable energy companies, as well as running her own consultancy business. Community is close to Jo’s heart – having several voluntary roles including school governor, a member of the Parent Teacher Association, and mentor for the Social Mobility Foundation. Jo lives near Penzance with her two children and their toy poodle – and is currently learning the art of fencing.
Josie Dean, Trustee (joined us in 2025)
With a background in the third and public sectors, Josie brings extensive experience in strategy and impact. Beginning her career in Analytical Services at the Scottish Government, her current roles include Partnerships Manager at The 2 Minute Foundation and Advisory Director at The Circular Mindset. Other recent experience includes serving as Charity Manager at Friends of Bude Sea Pool and Impact Consultant at The Women’s Centre Cornwall. Driven by strong values in equality of opportunity, Josie values evidence-based, pragmatic decisions and clear communication. Encouraging collaboration and co-design where possible, Josie values constructive discussion and reflective practice.
Amanda Forman, Trustee (joined us in 2025)
Amanda is a business founder and entrepreneur with expertise in energy, architecture, and the built environment, holding an MSc in Architecture; Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies. A Passivhaus designer and renewable energy engineer, Amanda is passionate about creating healthy, sustainable buildings that connect people with nature and support the transition away from fossil fuels toward a low carbon future. Amanda is Managing Director and Co-Founder of Planet A Solutions and Planet A Ltd.
Howard Richards, Trustee (joined us in 2013)
Howard joined our Board of Trustees with a wealth of experience of private sector housing services within local government. His most recent role was as a Principal Officer in the Private Sector Housing team at Cornwall Council where he worked on projects to improve the standard of private sector housing, ensuring that they meet minimum legal standards. Before Cornwall Council became a unitary authority, Howard was a part of Carrick District Council’s Private Sector Housing Team.
Steven Webb, Trustee (joined us in 2019)
Steven is a blogger, author, speaker, spiritualist and motivator in addition to being councillor for Truro City Council, where he held the position of Mayor of Truro from 2021 – 2023. Steven is a trustee of the Royal Cornwall Museum and Chairman of Finance for Truro City Council.
Hazel Williams, Trustee (joined us in 2025)
Hazel is an associate director at Regen, a mission-led organisation working to transform the UK’s energy system. She brings extensive experience in strategic business development and project direction across the energy system, with a focus on supporting local authorities, communities, and energy planning initiatives that drive the transition to a more sustainable future. As a senior leader, Hazel has overseen operations, HR and organisational reporting, ensuring effective governance, wellbeing, and long-term organisational growth. Her combination of strategic insight and practical leadership strengthens our mission and helps guide our work across the evolving energy landscape.
Tim Wotton, Trustee (joined us in 2025)
Tim brings a wealth of experience in social housing, sustainability, and community impact. For the past 13 years, he has worked with LiveWest, the largest housing association in the South West, where he was responsible for establishing their successful retrofit programme, having previously led their Grants, Social Value and Partnership team. Passionate about social justice and the environment, Tim has a proven track record delivering major projects. Before moving into social housing, he spent over a decade in the funding sector – helping to secure more than £200 million for projects and charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Action Against Hunger, St Christopher’s Hospice, and the Young Vic Theatre.