Gail Baird, Programme Manager

Gail’s community activism and involvement runs deep. Not only has she worked extensively in the charity sector, but she also volunteers with a range of environmental community projects. Together with her background in education and industry, Gail’s experience perfectly complements the existing team of both staff and trustees. A keen swimmer, she ‘enjoys’ the balmy waters of the Solent all year round, experimenting in her allotment, cooking and getting the most out of life.

Patricia Exley, Project Manager

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 25 years, is married with 2 children.  When not at work she enjoys playing violin in several local orchestras and walking on the South Downs Way.

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.

Louise Bevan, Trustee for Fundraising

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.

Peter Carver, Trustee and Treasurer

Peter is a qualified accountant who has worked in private practice and the waste management and logistics industries before moving to DEFRA where he worked for the Environment Agency and, until his retirement this year, for the Rural Payments Agency. He has just moved with his wife to Petersfield where one of his three grown children lives. Throughout his career adopting a sustainable lifestyle and being conscious of our impact on the natural world has been of key importance. He looks forward to contributing his experience to PeCAN in working with local communities to improve the environment in the Petersfield area.

Greg Ford, Chair of Trustees

Greg is an advisor at the NGOs Finance Watch, Positive Money Europe and the Climate Safe Lending Network, 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 the village of Buriton with his wife and two children.

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.

Peter Moss, Trustee

Peter is a successful business and technology leader, who left the large corporate world and has most recently been CEO of a Fintech start up. A keen adopter of low carbon technology for his own consumption (solar panels, battery pack, underfloor heating, air source heat pump, renewable energy supplier and an electric car), he is very keen to share his experiences with as many people as possible and encourage broader adoption. Peter has lived around Petersfield for more than 30 years; his son went to school in the town, and he is also a director of a Petersfield based business.

Russell Oppenheimer, Trustee

I live in Petersfield with my wife and three children. I have been working on decarbonising my home and lifestyle for about four years now. I am still working on it! Global warming can seem like an insurmountable challenge when we consider it as individuals. But when we work together, we can make huge strides towards Net Zero. Getting Petersfield to Net Zero is a big challenge and I believe PeCAN can inspire the town to do it by 2030. I have learned so much from my PeCAN colleagues, and I enjoy sharing what I have learned with others. We would love you to join us on our mission.

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.

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.

Suzie Wilde, Trustee

Suzie was born in Portsmouth and raised by a single mother with a love for the sea and wildlife, and a hatred of wastefulness. She studied English at UCL and Bristol University at the same time as performing environmental Agitprop, and landed two jobs: one as a globe-trotting campaigner with Greenpeace and the other teaching teenagers at a Watford comprehensive. After marriage, she gained a degree in Fine Art, and an MA in Creative Writing. Her husband Richard taught her to sail and in 2001 they headed south on their boat for five years, with Labrador Maud. On their return to the UK, Suzie published an epic Viking trilogy. She volunteers at Shine Radio, with a popular podcast Talking Books co-hosted by independent bookseller Tim O'Kelly. She is a supporter of youth climate activism.

Andrew Bulmer, Committee Member 

I come to the climate issue from a faith perspective. If God created the world and all that is in it, then surely I need to do something to preserve that creation! It is as simple as that. Friends in PeCAN are enabling me to find my place and role in achieving that for which I am grateful. My background has been focused on addressing poverty issues in South Asia, living in India and Nepal in my earlier life and working out of a London office mid-career and from my house latterly. Wherever I have been, Petersfield has always been ‘home’ to me.

Vincent Edberg, Committee Member

Lynn Paterson, Committee Member

I joined PeCAN because I wanted to contribute to making Petersfield a greener and cleaner place in which to live and work. At first I wasn’t sure where I would fit in. I didn’t have much knowledge about 'green issues' and really wasn’t very sure about how I could help. However, I needn’t have worried. The strength of PeCAN lies in its supportive members who, together, have extensive knowledge and expertise in bringing about beneficial changes. We all have a stake in things such as clean air, saving energy, being healthy and valuing our surroundings. By working collaboratively, we do make a difference. By being involved, I am learning a lot and feel that I am doing something that is useful, rewarding and a lot of fun!

Paul Turner, Committee Member

Paul is passionate about educating the local community about the climate and ecological crisis and equipping young people with the skills needed to tackle feelings of eco-anxiety. After winning an RGS award for excellence in teaching, Paul left his post as Head of Geography at Bedales school last year to focus full time on training teachers at the university level and developing climate teaching resources including the AimHi Climate and Nature course. He is an UN-accredited climate change teacher.