Regional directors

They bring a rich and diverse range of experience to the Trust, including from the heritage, charity and local government sectors.

Ros Daniels, director London & South East

Ros joins the Trust with extensive experience of the heritage and tourism sector. She has managed a wide variety of historic houses, gardens, coast and countryside for both English Heritage and the National Trust. Most recently this included English Heritage's flagship property, Dover Castle, and then a varied portfolio of London properties. In addition Ros was part of the project team that relocated and opened the new Design Museum in Kensington. In her spare time she is a keen canoeist and paddle boarder enjoying time on the water here and abroad.

Henriette Breukelaar, director West Midlands

Henriette, originally from the Netherlands, is an experienced senior leader with a track record of successfully developing a wide portfolio of projects ranging from multimillion regeneration programmes to specific startup support projects and transnational innovation partnerships.

Henriette most recently held the position of CEO at Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP prior to which she spent four years as an executive director at ExtraCare Charitable Trust before four years as director at High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Her earlier career encompasses ten years as partnerships director with the regional development agency.

Matthew Symonds, Head of Boating & Customer Service, interim director Wales & South West

Matthew joined the Trust in 2012 working in various roles in boating, including the development of a London mooring strategy, overseeing engagement and communication with leisure boaters and national boating organisations across the country.  In 2024 he worked with boating reps and boaters on our advisory groups to develop and launch the Trust’s Better Boating Plan. Since 2024 he has been the head of boating and customer service. As the owner of two active dogs, Matthew enjoys getting out walking and running by the canals, and out boating on the water.

Linny Beaumont, director East Midlands

Linny has been Director since 2022 having joined the Trust in 2019 as Partnerships and External Relationships Manager. Linny has spent her career working in local government and the voluntary sector in family and young people services, most recently at The Prince’s Trust where she was Head of Partnerships & Funding across the Midlands. Linny has a passion for the waterways and lives by the River Soar where she enjoys canoeing and running the towpaths.

Sean McGinley, director Yorkshire & North East

Sean McGinley, grew up in Yorkshire and started his waterways career 16 years ago in the North East Region before moving to the East Midlands where his management has included the Chesterfield, Grantham and Erewash canals as well as the River Trent and other waterways. Sean is a chartered civil engineer with a passion for the waterways and volunteering. He has previously volunteered in Africa overseeing the planning and construction of roads. He is a keen cyclist and is married with two children.

Jon Horsfall, director North West

Jon joined British Waterways and the Yorkshire and North East team in 2010, supporting colleagues regionally and nationally in the largest transfer of public assets into the charitable sector in the UK and helping to establish the nations charity for the waterways Canal & River Trust. Since the charity was formed in 2012, he has supported four of the charity’s regions, spending time as a director in Wales & South West, Yorkshire & North East, West Midlands and the North West.

Between 2016 and 2018, Jon led the Trust’s National Leisure and Business Boating Team and the National Customer Service Support function between 2018 and 2023. He is also a director of the National Boat Safety Scheme.

Before joining the challenge of protecting and preserving our inland waterways, Jon spent twenty years in the water industry developing sector wide regulatory, environmental and infrastructure asset management experience. His aim is to continue to support our waterways, serving our boaters, visitors and communities and securing the vital funding and support we need to preserve our canal and river navigations and keep them open and alive.