Meet the core team!
As a project led by the community, for the community, all core team members are local to Oxford and are not only experts in community and environmental action in the city (and further afield!) but are frequent visitors of Shotover Woods.
In the next few months, we hope to establish a fantastic base for the Westhill Farm Project, working hard on pre-feasibility, funding, organisational structure and volunteer engagement. Check out our progress page to learn of recent updates and opportunities to get involved!
In the next few months, we hope to establish a fantastic base for the Westhill Farm Project, working hard on pre-feasibility, funding, organisational structure and volunteer engagement. Check out our progress page to learn of recent updates and opportunities to get involved!
Matt MortonMatt has an impressive range of skills and experience related to the environment and permaculture, working with communities, councils, schools and nature. Just a few examples include: working as a permaculturalist at the Permaculture Institute in 1996; a passion he's continued via gardening work at Barrack's Community Garden; being Green Oxford City Councillor from 2008-2012; acting as Environmental Management and Science teacher at Oxford Montessori School, and being a co-founder of Gaiaveda.
As one of the initial instigators of the Westhill Farm Project, Matt oversees all areas of progress. Currently, he's working on creating a permaculture plan, along with reviewing the pros and cons of different organisational structures to find the best fit for Westhill Farm! Adam DawsonAdam is our very own expert on building, surveying and environmental engineering, along with acting as project administrator for the Westhill Farm Project. With a MA Development & Emergency Practice and PGDip in Building Surveying, Adam has applied his skills set predominantly in the social housing sector, along with working in sustainable development and as a commercial consultant for Deloitte Real Estate. He also has experience in social enterprise work in Oxford, being Executive Support for Hub Commercial Ventures CIC.
Adam has been fundamental in our pre-feasibility studies, legal documents and funding applications, and will also be working closely with Rachel on eco-building and planning in the future. Rebecca RobertsRebecca has lived in Oxford for most of her life, and has been engaging with and leading environmental and ethical campaigns and institutions since the age of 16. With a BA (Hons, Cantab) in Geography and a MA in Agriculture and Rural Development under her belt, she now works as a freelancer in sustainable food and agriculture. This includes policy work with the Overseas Development Institute on climate-smart agriculture and resilience, the International Institute of Environment and Development on seed systems diversity, and blogging for the Sustainable Food Trust on sustainable food choices and lifestyles.
Rebecca will be focusing on volunteer engagement and outreach in the initial stages of the Westhill Farm Project, and will also be instrumental in researching into and helping out with permaculture and sustainability workshops once the Farm is up and running. |
Nick LunchNick has a keen interest in indigenous rights, the environment and climate change, and has channelled this passion into establishing numerous successful local, national and international environmental campaigns and social inclusion projects. For example, Nick was the founder in 1996 of RAP Community Action, a local charity and workers’ co-operative which galvanised volunteers and trained staff to support marginalised youth in Oxford through Local Agenda 21 youth-led clubs. He also founded Insightshare in 1999, an organisation that is now one of the global leaders of participatory video running projects for the United Nations, Oxfam, CARE, PLAN, DfiD in over 50 countries. In 2009 he co-founded Conversations with the Earth, cementing his proven track record of success.
His expertise, ability to multi-task, and passion for locally-led change, will be coming in handy in the Westhil Farm Project. Being one of the main pioneers of the project alongside Matt, Nick will be working hard to establish a community strategy and overview funding allocations and decisions on organisational structure. Rachel HammondCurrently working at Ethex in Oxford, Rachel brings extensive business and charitable experience, especially in business development, R&D, and systems and procedure development. Rachel has lived in Oxford for 17 years, and in this time has become MD of her own company, has co-managed Oxford's The People's Supermarket, and has worked with the Oxford City Council on a variety of projects. Her talent for business and strategy is combined with practical skills, with a Permaculture Design Course and experience in community growing and eco-build projects both in Oxford and beyond, including the Incredible Edible Oxford, managing a Social Enterprise which manufactures Bamboo bicycles, and running an educational program for a Strawbale building enterprise.
Her experience not only gives us confidence in the strategic development of Westhill Farm, but also future eco-building and environmentally conscious educational workshops. Dominic WoodfieldAs Director of Bioscan (UK), an environmental consultancy specialising in applied ecology, Dominic brings a huge amount of expertise in business management, ecology, SSSI management, environmental and planning policy and law. Dominic also has experience in campaigning and charitable work in Oxford, including the prevention of school closures and loss of wildlife habitat, indicating his motivation for enhancing the local community and environment.
Over the next few months, Dominic will be working hard to review our progress and provide strategies to overcome any obstacles or risks related to the Westhill Farm Project. He will also work closely with Rebecca and Matt to help fill any skills gaps via volunteer engagement. |