Rural England (CIC)
	Graham Biggs	Chair/Secretary/Director	Graham is a Chartered Secretary by profession and has been the Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network since its inception. He has over 20 years’ experience in rural service delivery issues having been the Chief Executive of one of the largest and most sparsely populated (former) District Councils in England.
	Brian Wilson	Director	Brian is a research professional with twenty years experience of rural community and development issues. He runs a consultancy and writes regularly for RSN online. His earlier career included senior management positions at the Countryside Agency and Commission for Rural Communities.
	David Inman	Director	David is a solicitor involved with the Rural Services Network throughout its development. He was the Policy Director at West Devon Borough Council for 25 years. He was previously with Dorset County Council and the London Borough of Enfield. West Devon takes in Dartmoor and the Tamar Valley so has been working with rural communities for much of his life.
	Steve Emery	Director	Steve is a lecturer in rural and environmental geography at the University of Birmingham. He has over 15 years of research and consultancy experience in matters concerning the functioning of rural society and the use of rural space. He has particular specialism in farming communities, their culture, behaviour and decision-making in relation to policy. Before returning to academia Steve was an environmental consultant with Scott Wilson.
	Professor Janet Dwyer OBE	Director	Janet joined the CCRI in 2002 after working for more than a decade in a government agency and an independent policy think-tank. She was awarded the title of Professor of Rural Policy in 2010 and was the Director of CCRI from 2013 until 2021.
	Chris Cowcher	Director	Chris joined the Rural England board in 2019 having worked in rural community development for the past decade. Chris has direct experience of working with grassroots organisations from his time at Gloucestershire Rural Community Council and South Gloucestershire Council. He was also involved with working to influence national policy related to rural communities whilst at Action with Communities in Rural England, the national umbrella body for the 38 ACRE Network members. Chris is currently the Head of Community Business at Plunkett Foundation, the UK national experts in rural community-owned business.
	Andy Parker	Director	Andy Parker heads up the Strategy and Innovation function at Calor – the market leader in providing BioLPG, a renewable form of propane, to the UK. Calor has been part of the off grid energy network for over 80 years and is now on the journey to only offering renewable products by 2040 to support the decarbonisation of heat in rural UK. BioLPG has been recognised in many studies and reports for the role it will play in the 2050 Net Zero targets – but nothing can achieve this task in isolation and the importance of having a suite of solutions for individuals, communities across the diverse housing stock in off gas grid UK is vital to achieving success.
	Martin Philips	Director	Info to follow...
	Bethan Aldridge	Assistant to the Directors of Rural England CIC	For over 25 years, I have worked in NHS, Local Government and National Parks. Roles have included Human Resources, Training and Development and latterly office management in Social Services, Education and Health. Since 2009, I set up an office management company providing support to local and national businesses. I have worked for Rural England for over 5 years providing office support to the Directors.

 

Rural England is a registered Community Interest Company (company Number 9023202) and its Registered Company Office is 1 Aldon View, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 9EQ.

To view the organisations certificate of Incorporation of a Community Interest Company click here