Our boards give local people:
- a voice in developing and improving their waterways
- a chance to connect with their waterside communities
- an opportunity to help guide our decisions and strategies
- the ability to support and champion the waterways in this region
Find out about opportunities to join the East Midlands advisory board
Meet our regional advisory board members
Chair - Andrew Richardson
Andrew's career has taken him across the world leading organisations in utilities, renewables (wind, storage, hydro, solar, alternative technology, natural resources) nuclear power, conventional energy and broader process industries. A career of demonstrable business impact in complex regulated businesses, global corporates, public services, small to mid-sized cap institutional investor and private equity led businesses.
Andrew started his career in control and automation. Developing through operations, maintenance, process systems and design engineering, project development, construction and programme delivery, plant management, portfolio asset management and in the last ten years or so into business leadership positions across multiple sectors.
Adrian Honeybill
Adrian is an active Trust volunteer and part of the Braunston Canal Society leadership team (Trust/BCS liaison and heritage advisor). Now retired, his career started in civil engineering before entering the world of information technology. During this period, he qualified as a Government approved project manager. His working life was completed with the Trust, working as a Senior Project Manager in the London and South East region. Adrian fitted out all aspects his 50ft narrowboat in 2016, which he owns and cruises around the East Midlands and Grand Union Canal. Living at the centre of the canal network in Braunston, and volunteering with the local Trust operations, as well as weekly reservoir inspections, ensures appreciation and needs of the local canal system.
Andrew Jee
Andrew has worked in the motor and water industry, served in the RAF Marine Branch and local government. Andrew has worked as Project Manager for the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership, managing the Lead Local Flood Authority's Infrastructure Programme as well as being Lincolnshire Programme Manager for Water Resources East. Andrew is a keen boat owner, angler and wildlife enthusiast.
Chris Batty
Chris has recently retired from a career in social work spanning over 40 years. He has held a number of practitioner, management and leadership roles primarily in children’s social care services. As well as experience of managing and delivering services both in the UK and Europe (including child protection, safeguarding and community based services for vulnerable individuals and families) he has considerable experience of leading and managing inspections of local authority social care services. Since retiring Chris has undertaken a number of volunteer roles including being a trustee of a voluntary organisation providing foodbank and financial inclusion services as well as a community hub.
Joelle Davies
Born on a street adjacent to the Chesterfield Canal in Worksop, Joelle’s appreciation of canals started young, as this was her route into the town centre. After studying Urban Geography at Durham, Joelle returned back to another canal town, Retford. Since then, she has worked in local government in Nottinghamshire for 18 years to support the economic growth and regeneration of the county.
John Francis
Now retired, John’s career was in the fashion industry working for the Nottingham born designer Sir Paul Smith. Despite local origins, the company had a wide global reach and John was key in developing many new areas for the business including contributing to the structural development of the company as it grew into a multi-million-pound business. Throughout his career, at Paul Smith, John fulfilled a wide variety of roles, from early days in retail and logistics to becoming a Divisional Director and then ultimately a Company Director. In addition to an affinity with waterways, John is passionate about the outdoors, with a particularly, keen interest in off-piste ski touring, extensively exploring much of the Alps. This passion has also lead to part time work in outdoor retail.
