Lapwing at Rainton Meadows (c) Matthew Harrison
Annual General Meeting
Meeting Details
The Annual General Meeting will be held at 6pm on Monday, 21st October, 2024. The AGM will be held online to provide all members with the opportunity to participate. Full details of how to register for the AGM are available below or alternatively, please call the Trust on 0191 5843112, or write to Durham Wildlife Trust at Rainton Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU.
Agenda
Introduction by Sarah Lister, Trust Chair
- Apologies for absence
- Minutes of the 2023 AGM
- Adoption of Annual Report and Consolidated Accounts
- Chair’s remarks
- Election of members to the Board
- Appointment of auditors
The formal business of the AGM will be followed by a presentation on the Trust’s work (past, present and future) by Trust Director, Jim Cokill, including the Trust’s work to deliver nature recovery on a large scale using new sources of funding available for Nutrient Neutrality and Biodiversity Net Gain.
Two current members of Council (Paul Davidson and Tony Pensom) have served four years and must seek re-election or stand down. Three members of Council (Michael Coates, Chris Gorman, Peter Bell) have served two consecutive four-year terms and must stand down.
Members who have completed the Trustee selection process and are seeking election to the Board are:
Paul Davidson (re-election)
Brenda Davidson
Ian Cole
Richard Arrowsmith
Bill Oxbury
Simon Bell
All members have been proposed by current Trustees for election to the board and there are enough places for all to be elected on to the Board. Biographies of those up for election are below, they will also be presented at the AGM where members will be asked to vote on their election onto the Board.
The AGM and presentations are expected to end at 7.15 pm.
Sign-up to attend by clicking on the button below. Please note only members of Durham Wildlife Trust can attend the AGM, those who register will be checked against current members before being accepted.
AGM Pack
Trust Council Nomination details
Richard Arrowsmith BSc Cert Ed MSc
As a Biology Teacher and then head teacher in two large Outdoor Education Centres I am passionate about Education and the natural environment.
My work has given me expertise in risk management, financial management, and jobs where paid employees work alongside volunteers.
I have wide experience of committee work, everything from School Governorship to trustee of a brass band!
Since retirement I have worked as a volunteer warden for a reserve in Cumbria. I am a wildlife photographer and bird watcher and lecture occasionally on wildlife topics. I bring energy and enthusiasm and believe I can communicate this to others.
Home is in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Simon Bell
I’ve spent many years working as a Performance Analyst in the Funding sector, and am an active member of my employer's disability network. Since November 2023, I’ve been volunteering with the Durham Wildlife Trust Development Committee, helping to measure and guide their new strategy. I love wildlife and am passionate about conservation. My experience can help the Trust turn ambitious plans into real, measurable actions. As someone with a disability, I can’t always volunteer physically, but I’m eager to contribute my skills as a trustee to support the Trust’s important work.
Ian Cole
Spending time in nature always lifts my spirit. It is important to engage people, especially children, with the natural world so that they can appreciate spending time outdoors, giving them a tool to improve their mental and physical health while spending quality time with others.
In nature, there is always something new to learn and with each new discovery, a new level of understanding and appreciation is created and this feeds my hunger to learn more.
Working in conservation as a volunteer and now as a career, has been a dream come true for me.
Brenda Davidson
I have lived and worked in County Durham for 35 years, I am originally from Tyneside. I have worked as a Solicitor throughout that time, the last 10 years of which I was managing partner responsible for oversight of the Business and also Regulatory Compliance. I have also worked as a Deputy District Judge and a Deputy Coroner in County Durham, alongside my legal practice. I retired in November of 2022. I have always taken an interest in wildlife and conservation. I enjoy walking, hiking and cycling in all areas.
Paul Davidson - seeking re-election
Born in Gateshead I have been passionate about wildlife and conservation for over fifty years. I am a champion for the many reserves the Trust have in the Borough and derive much pleasure from my regular visits.
After retiring I became a Trustee to support Durham Wildlife Trust’s invaluable work. To this end I always prepare for board meetings and contribute fully, I also serve on the Finance Audit and Risk committee using relevant skills and knowledge gained as a chartered insurance professional
I am seeking re-election to continue to support the Trust with its exciting plans for the future
Bill Oxbury
Bill is a mathematician and data scientist who has worked in academia and government. He is currently Professor for Data and Cyber at Lancaster University, where he focuses on Artificial Intelligence for environmental applications as well as cybersecurity. He lives in Durham.