Trustees John Atkinson Chairman [email protected] John has spent over 40 years as a commercial farmer, and also has 25 years’ experience of working for the National Trust, in department and project management roles. John currently sits on the Board of the Whitebred Shorthorn Association and The Federation of Cumbrian Commoners, he was also co-opted onto the Board of Trustees of the Dry Stone Walling Association for 10 years. With his partner Maria Benjamin, John farms 450 acres in the Lake District, running rare and native breeds of cattle and sheep. The farm has searched out different markets for its produce and developed new products and income streams to add value. Cate Le Grice-Mack [email protected] Initially a teacher, Cate became founder of Norwood Organic Farm in the 80s, an early pioneer of the new wave of organic farms devoted to producing meat and cereals and breeding native breeds of farm livestock. Cate has been a district councillor and leader. As well as a county councillor, and from 2000 - 2009 a member of the Social, Economic & Environmental Partners (SEEPs) of the South West Regional Assembly, becoming chair in the critical period of the development of Regional Spatial Strategy from 2006-2008. A founder board member of the Countryside Agency, and later chairing the region's Rural Affairs Forum. Involved in third sector work for many years, Cate started with a position as Chair of Trustees of Envolve Partnerships for Sustainability in Bath. She is currently a Board Member of the Cotswolds AONB. Martin Penny, Treasurer (Co-Opted) [email protected] Martin Penny, who lives in Offenham near Evesham, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of national conservation charity Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST). Martin Penny has over 30 years senior management experience in Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer roles in a diverse range of sectors including further education, culture and the arts, the Church and the charity sector. Prior to his successful career in finance, Martin served as an officer in the British Army. In 2018, Martin with his wife Claire started a flock of rare North Ronaldsay sheep at their smallholding near Evesham, Worcestershire. James Prendergast (Co-Opted) [email protected] Professor James Prendergast, Bioinformatics Group Leader at The University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of national conservation charity Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST). Prof Prendergast’s work at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute focuses on genome evolution and animal disease genetics, particularly in cattle in Africa and working with breed societies in the UK. He will bring his world-leading expertise in pinpointing the DNA changes responsible for production and disease characteristics in livestock to help guide RBST’s growing activity in using genetic information to support a strong future for the UK’s native breeds. James Fanshawe [email protected] James describes himself as ‘an accountant turned farmer’. After a successful career in business as a partner in a large accounting firm, he became a livestock farmer when he and his wife Tina rescued a derelict farm. They started with rare breeds, acquiring their first sheep - Manx Loaghtans in 1985, and their first cattle - Gloucesters in 1986, they still have both breeds. James and Tina also acquired their first Beef Shorthorn cattle at the Rare Breed sale at Stoneleigh in 1996 and have now built this pedigree herd to over 150 cows. Claire Saunders (Co-Opted) [email protected] Claire recently stepped down from a five year term heading up The Prince’s Countryside Fund after joining in 2015. At The Fund, Claire led The Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme, which has assisted 1,000 small family farm businesses to date in adapting to sector change, and developed the Prince’s Countryside Fund’s research and fundraising initiatives, as well as publishing The Village Survival Guide. After Bristol University, Claire began her career in advertising at Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising, returning to her native North Northumberland to head up the Marketing department of Barbour, and following an MBA at Durham, of Hunter Boot in London. Now living in County Antrim with her partner Simon, her Irish Wheaten Terrier - Groovy, and a small herd of Belted Galloways. Tom Davis [email protected] Living in London whilst having no family links didn't deter Tom from pursuing a career in land based management and in due course, becoming a great advocate of rare and native breeds. Tom started volunteering at his local city farm at the young age of 8, where his passion for rare and native breeds has grown ever since. Tom is currently Farm Manager at Mudchute Park and Farm. Ryan Perry [email protected] Professionally, Ryan works as a biomedical scientist in the NHS, specialising in microbiology and has an interest in livestock genetics. He has kept rare breeds for around 20 years, an interest first developed when volunteering for Bill Quay Community Farm in Gateshead. Ryan has served as a Trustee for various charities, including Bill Quay. He is Chairman of the Tamworth Breeders’ Club and breed representative for the British Pig Association, where he has served for three years as a Trustee. Ryan farms Tamworth pigs, Bagot goats and Castlemilk Moorit sheep, recently adding Shetland cattle to his stock. Steve McMinn [email protected] Professionally, Steve began his career as a police officer, later joining a charity providing services to adults with disabilities where he became project manager of a day service. He also established a social enterprise where he had a responsibility for budgeting and fundraising. Steve subsequently worked in care management before taking early retirement and becoming Trustee and Secretary/Treasurer of a local advice charity. Steve lives in Aberdeenshire with his wife Ruth, where they keep and breed Eriskay ponies. Steve first became involved with RBST when he and Ruth acquired their first Eriskay from RBST approved Doonies Farm Park, joining the Trust as a member at the same time. He later joined the effort to get the Norther Scotland Support Group re-started, with increasing involvement which shortly led to him becoming Chair of the Group. Then, when RBST established the Scottish Forum in 2020 to co-ordinate and unify the voice of rare breeds interests across Scotland, Steve became its Chair. Sir Roderick Newton [email protected] Roderick has been a lawyer for over 40 years, first as a barrister, being part of the management team for 14 years and Head of Chambers for seven. After appointment as a Circuit Judge, he held many leadership positions before promotion to the High Court in 2014, and is currently the Senior Family Judge for the Eastern Region. He has been significantly involved in the training and recruitment of the judiciary, through the Judicial College and the Judicial Appointments Commission. Roderick has been an RBST member for over 30 years, his first involvement with rare breeds was with poultry, which he has kept for over 50 years. He has kept a significant flock of Norfolk Horn sheep for over 30 years and was a founder member of the Norfolk Horn Breeders' Group, being a past and current Chair of the Group. Roderick also, for a long period, had a herd of British White cattle and Saddleback pigs. A keen rider, he also breeds Lusitano horses.