Field Studies Council is a registered charity in England and Wales, and in Scotland. The Board of Trustees is the governing body, responsible for ensuring that the organisation conducts its affairs in accordance with the Articles of Association and the law.
The Board and its principal committees operate to a schedule of quarterly meetings. Once policy and strategy have been agreed, responsibility for implementation lies with the Chief Executive and Management Team.
People
- President – Professor Timothy P Burt FAGU FRGS
- Chairman – Jeff Sissons
- Chief Executive – Mark Castle OBE
- Vice Patrons:
Professor Steve Jones FRS
Joanna Mcvey
David Streeter MBE FRSB
Professor Iain Stewart MBE PRSGS FRSE - Vice-Presidents:
Alastair Lavery OBE
Rob Lucas FRGS
Anthony D Thomas OBE
Professor Desmond B A Thompson FRSE FCIEEM
President
Prof Tim Burt
Tim first visited a Field Studies Council Centre in the mid-1970s (Nettlecombe) when a PhD student at Bristol. He then started taking his own field trips from Huddersfield Polytechnic to Slapton and Rhyd-y-Creuau. At Durham he took students to Blencathra (a course still running 20 years later). Tim retired in 2017 after 21 years as Master of Hatfield College, Durham, and Professor of Geography. He became an FSC trustee in 1982, Chairman in 1996 and President in 2014. Tim’s academic interests are in physical geography, in particular hydrology, geomorphology and climate change. He is an elected Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the British Society for Geomorphology. He was awarded the David Linton Award by the British Society for Geomorphology (2017).
Trustees
Mr Peter Anderson
(Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee)
Peter is chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee. He became a trustee in 2016. Peter was a corporate finance partner for 29 years with what became a large London law firm, before retiring in 2015. Peter moved to York in 2024, having lived in west and south west London for over 40 years. He grew up in Northern Ireland and read History and Law at Downing College, Cambridge. Peter has been a trustee of a neighbourhood care charity, a grant giving charity and a Director of a medium sized company in the retail sector.
Mr Malcolm Beatty OBE (Honorary Treasurer)
Malcolm is retired, he sails small boats on Strangford Lough with his wife, and teaches seamanship. Before that, he led the Northern Ireland Forest Service, drawing on his professional skills as a Chartered Forester, Plant Health Professional, and Accountant. Its work depended on insights from field observations and rigorous science to challenge perceptions, manage the complexity of forests, plan harvests, and improve biodiversity; to protect crops and trees; and provide access for people to enjoy the countryside.
Mr Chris Brook
Chris is a highly experienced chartered surveyor with a passion for buildings (both modern and historic), the natural environment, and enhancing educational experiences. As a trustee at the Field Studies Council, Chris brings his expertise in estate management and a commitment to advancing outdoor learning.
Chris has held senior leadership positions in two of the UK’s top 5 real estate consultancy firms. More recently he was the Commercial & Estate Director at the Heart of England Forest, a charity creating England’s largest new native broadleaf forest. It was at this charity that Chris saw first-hand the profound and positive impact that high quality outdoor education can have on young minds, broadening horizons and boosting attainment and confidence.
Chris looks forward to supporting the Field Studies Council to continue offering enriching fieldwork residentials and day courses in unique settings, providing unparalleled educational opportunities that inspire a lifelong love of learning and an appreciation of the environment.
Dr Martin Christie
(Chair of Finance and Administration Committee)
Martin is currently senior advisor at Kumi Consulting supporting policymakers and the private sector in implementing responsible business practices in global supply chains. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in the energy and extractive industries working in Sustainability and External Affairs and, most recently, was the first Executive Director of a global supply chain initiative. Martin is also Chair of a local charity enriching the lives of young people and adults with autism and/or learning disabilities. He is also a novice beekeeper.
Dr Ruth Copeland-Phillips
Ruth is a senior lecturer in Environmental Science at Northampton University. She became a trustee of Field Studies Council in 2024 and visits the charity’s centres on annual basis with her undergraduate students conducting fieldwork. Ruth has over 20 years of experience teaching in the HE sectors and has worked on many national and international projects across a breadth of areas including waste management (circular Economy, waste electrical and electronic equipment, island waste management) as well as wastewater treatment and sediment and pollution transfer within freshwater environments. Ruth has a passion for the outdoors and the enhancement of biodiversity. She is a member of the Royal Society of Biology, British Society for Geomorphology and an associate member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management. Ruth believes that field work should be inclusive and accessible for all.
Ms Amanda Craig
Amanda is Natural England’s Director for People & Nature, having been Operations Director (North) for 5 years. With a background in practical habitat management and ecology, Amanda has held a number of operational roles in Natural England, including leading on the initial set up of the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Programme, Water Company Pricing Reviews and was Area Manager for Shropshire, Staffordshire and Birmingham. Amanda is a licensed bat volunteer.
Dr Delia Garratt
Delia is Chief Executive at Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust and is passionate about nature’s recovery in an urban environment and also that everyone has an equal opportunity to access nature in their daily lives.
Prior to joining the environmental sector Delia spent over 20 years working in heritage and culture. Most recently as Director of Cultural Engagement at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust leading on their award-winning learning and engagement programmes, including Shakespeare Week, the national annual celebration which gives primary school children a great first encounter with Shakespeare. She led the development of partnerships resulting in increased access to and research on the charity’s internationally significant collections. She also launched an ambitious creative programme to engage new audiences.
Previously Delia was Museums and Communities Manager at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, and Collections Development Officer at The Waterways Trust (now the Canal and River Trust). Delia enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends walking and camping.
Mr Keith Goddard
Keith Goddard BA(Hons), MSc, CPsychol, CSi, AFBPsS, FITOL, MISMA, FAC, MISCP. is a Registered Occupational Psychologist, Registered Sport & Exercise Psychologist, Chartered Coaching Psychologist and Chartered Scientist. He has spent over 30 years working with Leaders and their organisations supporting them with senior leader development & coaching; executive assessment; organisational change; learning & development strategy & design; talent management strategy; ‘top team’ development. He is also a specialist in well-being and resilience. Outside of working with businesses and organisations he also supports teams and individuals in extreme adventure including ocean rowing, high altitude and polar exploration. Professionally, he has two Masters degrees and three Doctorate level qualifications in Psychology. Personally, he has always been passionate about the outdoors, nature, ultra-endurance, photography and cooking.
Prof Peter Higgins
A love of and care for the natural world, led to Pete’s academic training and early career as an environmental scientist and freshwater biologist, and roles including re-introducing salmon to the Thames. Following teacher-training he taught outdoor and environmental education in residential centres. As Professor of Outdoor Environmental & Sustainability Education (University of Edinburgh), he teaches indoors, on-line, and outdoors on the River Spey, Isle of Rum and locally. His research and writing is primarily in these fields. He is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Association, and was recently awarded the University’s highest award for teaching ‘The Chancellor’s Award’. He is Director of the University’s Global Environment & Society Academy, Director of the UN Regional Centre of Expertise in ESD (Scotland), and advises Scottish Government and internationally on related education policy development.
Mr Chris Lane
Chris’s first encounter with Field Studies Council was at Slapton 1971. He has visited FIeld Studies Council centres, in various capacities, at least once every year since then. Almost 40 years as a teacher of geography cemented his view of the value of Field Studies Council work to young people in their learning and understanding of their environment. This experience shaped his desire to contribute further to the organisation, where his chief interests are for the users and for the safety and wellbeing of all Field Studies Council staff.
Ms Nicola Lynes
Nicola works for Support Staffordshire, a VCSE infrastructure organisation, as their Climate Action Manager, and is passionate about supporting people in all communities (but particularly focussing on urban communities) to connect with and learn about their local nature and environment.
She has worked in environmental education and youth engagement across the UK for 15 years, with experience working for residential centres, local authorities and wildlife charities. Alongside this she has regularly volunteered for a charity to co-ordinate and host environmental projects in the UK for international volunteers, and has travelled internationally with youth groups to take part in volunteering projects abroad.
Her current volunteering involves fostering kittens, and she enjoys spending time outdoors exploring local spaces and attempting to grow food on a very wildlife-friendly allotment.
Ms Gill Miller
(Vice-Chair and Chair of Education Strategy Committee)
Gill is Senior Lecturer Emerita in the Department of Geography and International Development, University of Chester. She was teacher of geography and deputy head of a high school in Cheshire, geography lead at West Cheshire College and in teacher education in North Wales. She has many years of experience examining A-level Geography and has been Principal Moderator for A- level fieldwork and Chief Examiner of A-level Geography and A-level World Development, Gill has authored several A-level texts and was President of the Geographical Association from 2019-2020 and continues to chair the GA Wales Special Interest Group, She was a trustee of two large international charities and chaired the Governing Body of the Geographical Association plus a small music therapy charity. Gill is the subject consultant for Qualifications Wales and was closely involved in the development of the new Curriculum for Wales; setting the GCSE subject criteria; and Regulator approval of the new Geography GCSE. She continues to be a moderator for non-exam assessment in A-level Geography, and revises A-level papers for WJEC. She regularly delivers CPD to geography teachers and lectures to sixth forms.
Mr Nicholas O’Loughlin
Nick has been involved in outdoor learning all of his professional life, although there isn’t really a time that he remembers before spending time in the outdoors. He is currently Head of Geography at AKS Lytham, having been a geography teacher since 2001; using the outdoors to enhance the knowledge and understanding of his students whenever possible. He organises at least two whole year group residentials each academic year, often three or four! Following on from completing an MA in Educational Management and Leadership, where he looked into the perceived benefits of educational visits on GCSE attainment, he has just started research towards a PhD, investigating the lived experiences of teachers who are prepared to organise learning outside the classroom opportunities. Before becoming a teacher, he worked in the outdoor industry and is also currently a trustee for the Institute for Outdoor Learning.
Mr Jeff Sissons
(Chair)
Jeff’s corporate career spans executive and non-executive positions, including CEO of a UK FSA regulated company, Chairman of an Irish IFSRA/CBI regulated company, sales and marketing director and then compliance director of an international life insurance company. In 2012 he decided to focus on academic studies, freelance consultancy and non-executive roles. Jeff combines his commercial experience with an MA in Coaching and Mentoring Practice; an MSc in Psychology; and an MSc in Applied Ecology. He currently serves as a non-executive director of Ramblers Holiday Group Ltd.
Mr David Westgate
David has worked in the property industry for 40 years and is a Chartered Surveyor (FRICS ). He has held a number of director roles for commercial organisations and Trustee roles for charities, over a number of Years. David recently finished full time work to dedicate more time to his family and volunteer roles. He is Chair of Child Rescue Nepal, with regular visits to Nepal to support the work. He is also Chair of the Avon Bat Group, supporting ecology in his local area. A keen hill walker and passionate about the great outdoors.