We are governed by a Board of Trustees who along with our Executive Director and Senior Management Team, determine policy and the strategic direction of the charity.
Our board work as an effective team, using the appropriate balance of skills, experience, backgrounds and knowledge to make informed decisions and through its leadership support Groundwork’s behaviour, culture and overall performance all of which are critical to our success.
PETER COOPER (CHAIR)
Peter is a born and bred Yorkshireman from Fitzwilliam near Pontefract. He was educated at Hemsworth Grammar School and Leeds University, where he studied Chemistry.
Peter’s career was spent in the chemical industry, where he held management posts in production, sales and general management, working for large multi-million pound organisations. He first joined the board of Groundwork Wakefield in 1996, to use his business experience to give something back to the community.
He has been Chair of Groundwork Wakefield since 2017. He sits on the Regional Finance Committee and is Chair of Groundwork Pride and Whitwood Golf Club.
DAN WILSON
Dan worked in education for 12 years, teaching in primary, secondary and special schools and after a brief spell as a local authority Curriculum Consultant he joined Yorkshire Sport Foundation, leading their work on Children and Young People across West and South Yorkshire.
Now the Director of Development at YSF, Dan has responsibility for the business development and continuous improvement of the charity while leading the teams working on thematic elements of their strategy including active design, workforce, sport, education and events. In this role Dan has built relationships with government departments and supported the development of national policy and strategy. He also sits on the All Party Parliamentary Group for a Fit and Healthy Childhood, contributing to influential reports and debates.
Dan is the founder and director of Questr Community Interest Company, a Harrogate based business that designs and produces interactive infrastructure solutions to increase footfall and engagement with open spaces.
Outside of his work for YSF, Dan is a proud father of two, Chair of Governors at a large Academy in North Yorkshire and occasional triathlete.
As a Trustee for Groundwork, Dan sits on the Finance and Business Development boards, checking and challenging the executive team and supporting with insight gained from his other roles.
DAVID QUEENAN
Bio
ELAINE BLEZARD
Elaine has lived in Normanton all her life. She had a varied career in office, retail and factory work and has been
a Labour Town Councillor since 1999. She had the privilege of serving as Mayor of Normanton in 2010/11. She has been chief whip, and is now Deputy Leader of the Town Council at Normanton.
Elaine is involved with a number of charitable activities such as food banks and school uniform swop shop. Since becoming a District Councillor in 2006 she has served on a range of scrutiny panels, including as chair and deputy chair. Elaine is currently Deputy Portfolio Member for Climate Change.
ROWENA HALL
As a Landscape Architect by profession, Rowena’s first involvement with Groundwork was in 1987 with the Salford & Trafford Groundwork Trust.
Over the 38 years that Rowena spent in the public and third sector, she developed and managed projects that benefitted both the local and business community. Her move into Economic Development led to her being responsible for major urban regeneration projects.Latterly her work for Leeds City Council involved working with developers to
redevelop a major part of Leeds city centre alongside the running and promotion of the Leeds Enterprise Zone.
Rowena has been a Trustee of Groundwork Yorkshire since 2015 and represents the trust on the Federation Board.
TREVOR LINCOLN
Trevor retired in 2010 after a long and varied career in the public sector, primarily dealing with Housing. His
skills and experience include governance, business planning, performance management, service development and organisational change.
During his working life and since retiring he has supported several charities, including Groundwork Yorkshire, serving on its Trading Board, Finance Committee and latterly as Chair of its main Board. Together with several other Trustees he was a founder member of the group that steered the merger and is Chair of the joint Regional Finance Committee which oversees our combined financial operations.
ANTHONY NELSON
Antony is a board member of Groundwork UK and Chair of the Committee in Common across the Groundworks in the North.
Starting his professional career as an Occupational Therapist he has worked in a series of service improvement, modernisation and programme management and Director roles across a range of NHS and allied organisations and worked as a consultant implementing change initiatives in the NHS, local authorities, public bodies and private businesses.
He is currently employed as the Programme Director for Transformation – Community Services at the Mid Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
CHRIS PEARSON
Chris is a Conservative Ward Councillor for Hambleton (Selby District) and Mid-Selby (North Yorkshire County Council).
JOHN READSHAW
John spent most of his career in the Electricity Supply Industry at various power plants, where his roles included Head of Finance and Procurement; Head of Personnel and Administration and latterly Head of HR and Reward.
John retired in 2008. He is a season ticket holder at Aston Villa and Featherstone Rovers, where he was also a Director from 2011 to 2014. John has been a trustee of Groundwork Selby and subsequently Groundwork North Yorkshire since 2001, and was Chair of Groundwork Yorkshire. He also chairs the HR Committee, sits on the Regional Finance Committee and is a Board member of Groundwork Pride.