Patricia Exley, Team Leader

Patricia joined PeCAN initially to support the Superhomes project.  She brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles in BT and Citizens Advice, and is keen to support local people to reduce their impact on the planet.  Patricia has lived in Petersfield for over 25 years, is married with 2 adult children.  When not at work she enjoys playing violin in several local orchestras and walking on the South Downs Way.

Neil Hammond, Retrofit Adviser

Neil is a trained energy assessor, having worked in the property efficiency market for over 17 years. He has a keen interest in helping homeowners navigate the at times complex task of upgrading their homes, and leads the My Home Made Better home energy project. This is a free service, helping homeowners understand how their homes were built and how they can make them fit for the future.

Imogen Oxley, Marketing & Communications Manager

Imogen joined the PeCAN team to build engagement and share information with Petersfield residents and the wider community. She brings experience of working with environmental publishing teams and setting up a green charity in Alresford. Imogen has a passion for our environment and this inspires her to keep fighting for progress. Other interests include writing, reading, travel, art and pub walks.

Anna Pearce, Project Manager

Anna joined PeCAN to help deliver and grow our community projects. She brings wide-ranging experience from her career in the charity sector, working with both large national charities and small grassroots organisations in volunteer management, programme delivery and fundraising. When not working, Anna enjoys dabbling in a bit of gardening, woodland walks, bike rides and wild swimming.

Louise Bevan, Deputy Chair

After careers working abroad for United Nations agencies, my husband and I returned to Petersfield in 2012 reconnecting with our roots and families. When my horrified granddaughter said: “Granny, that’s single-use plastic!”, I decided to become more informed about environmental and climate issues and what we can do as individuals. This started us on a journey which led to the installation of our Air Source Heat Pump, a green and sustainable way of heating our home. By working together in PeCAN, and in partnership with others, we can raise awareness in our local community and take action to reduce carbon emissions and protect the planet for our grandchildren.

Liz Bisset, Trustee

Liz tries to live by the maxim of "be the change you want to see" and thinks that we all have a responsibility to cut our carbon emissions to halt global warming. She believes that PeCAN can work with other community organisations, local authorities and national government to help individuals make the necessary changes to their lifestyles which will reduce their carbon emissions.

Greg Ford, Chair of Trustees

Greg is a Senior Advisor at the NGO Finance Watch, where he works on climate finance policy and on advocacy for a more environmentally and socially sustainable economy. He believes that tackling the urgent climate and biodiversity crises requires both government leadership and local action. He previously worked as a financial journalist. He lives in Buriton with his wife and two children.

Andrew Lee, Trustee

Andrew spent the first ten years of his conservation career at the Sussex Wildlife Trust, the latter five as its CEO. During this time the Sussex Biological Records Centre was established and the 'Vision for the Wildlife of Sussex” launched. He went on to head the UK & European Programmes of WWF UK, supporting the first Rivers Trust. A regular spokesman in national media, he also led the WWF advocacy work with Ministers and civil servants. After a decade at the organisation, he left to become the first CEO of the Sustainable Development Commission, a government watchdog, thinktank and advisor. Andrew joined the South Downs National Park Authority as it went live in 2011 and led its strategy, nature recovery, climate and people work for 13 years until his retirement.

Gethin Morgan-Owen, Trustee

Gethin is a chartered engineer who until his retirement, contributed to developing electronic systems and products. He has lived in Petersfield for 40 years and likes to get around on a bicycle for local journeys because this is a pleasant and quick option. He would like to see action so that the Town’s residents can more readily include walking and cycling in their daily lives, as well as benefitting from improved connections to the neighbouring countryside and communities.

Melanie Oxley, Trustee for Nature Recovery

Melanie is an ecologist, botanist and lifelong environmental campaigner who has worked for a number of not-for-profit organisations, delivering campaigns including Planta Europa and The Peat Inquiry for Plantlife. She most recently worked for The Ecology Consultancy in London on ecology and species protection in the built environment. Now retired, she devotes her knowledge and experience to a range of local groups. Her work with PeCAN focuses on the biodiversity crisis and new approaches to green infrastructure. Melanie spear-headed PeCAN’s Verges Campaign and is part of the Tree Location initiative for PfS, which will complement PeCAN's fruit tree planting.

Paul Parkin, Staff Trustee

Prior to Paul's recent retirement, he first worked in the banking industry before taking the step to move into the European IT and Telecom sectors, where for the last 20 years he specialised in mergers and acquisitions focussed on the technology sides of those businesses. Paul is family orientated and his retirement was driven very much by the desire to spend time with his grandchildren, exploring nature and the outdoors and helping out with his wife’s Forest School business. Locally, Paul is a volunteer for the Western Sussex Rivers Trust, where he is a River Guardian, monitoring water quality and life along the river Rother. 

Rachel Ritchie, Trustee for Education Outreach

Rachel is a UN-accredited Climate Change Teacher with ten years’ experience teaching about climate change both as a primary class teacher and as a visiting speaker to local primary and secondary schools and youth groups.  She also gives talks to adults (including local environmental groups, students at Winchester University, and Parish Councils) about the urgency of the Climate Crisis and, importantly, to offer possible solutions. In spring 2022, Rachel started the Petersfield Eco Café to encourage community, conversations and climate action. Rachel lives in a village near Petersfield, where she gardens, looks after her granddaughter and relishes long walks in the South Downs.

Richard Robinson, Treasurer

Rob Staples, Trustee for Home Energy

Rob Staples oversees the My Home Made Better home energy project, a free service helping homeowners understand how their homes were built and how they can make them fit for the future, improving insulation and lowering energy bills. Rob has worked on various projects to lower carbon emissions in his previous corporate roles. He has spent his professional life in management consulting, working with diverse businesses around the world on a huge variety of projects.