Our Trustees

Having trained in biology, education and ecology in Canada and Britain, Judy’s working career has been focused on education, conservation and outdoor recreation, which she has very much enjoyed. Initially leading school parties around Epping Forest, she moved to Lee Valley Regional Park where she developed and managed country parks, nature reserves and visitor centres and laterally led on Corporate Policy. Most recently, she was Chief Executive of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

Since coming to the Forest in 1975, she has led many guided walks, taught adult courses in ecology and natural history, including the Ecology and Conservation Diploma at Birkbeck College and weekend courses at Debden House. She has chaired several nature/land based partnerships and charities, including Lea River Trust and was a member of the Canal and River Trust London Partnership. She chaired and led the merger of the two founding charities of Epping Forest Heritage Trust: the Friends of Epping Forest and the Epping Forest Centenary Trust. Epping Forest is in her psyche.

Having always had a passion for history and learning Caroline studied Educational Studies BA Hons at the University of York followed by an MA in Heritage Education and Interpretation at Newcastle University. She has worked for a variety of heritage organisations including the National Trust, the National Army Museum and Norfolk, Sheffield and West Berkshire museums. Her roles for these organisations have seen her work at locations including a 19th century lighthouse and coastline, an Elizabethan manor house and a medieval castle. As Head of Heritage Services for the Scouts Caroline leads a team who look after a collection which tells the story of the foundation and development of the Scout Movement. The team also interpret the fascinating 600 years of history at Gilwell Park, Chingford which includes tales of highwayman’s haunts and regency scandal.

Caroline has lived in Chingford for 8 years. Shortly after moving to the area she discovered that her maternal family had lived here up until the 1820s before moving to Derbyshire. Caroline volunteers with a local Cub Scout pack and enjoys taking the Cubs for hikes in the forest and seeing the enjoyment they gain from being outdoors.

David is a finance professional with experience of financial reporting, controlling, strategy and investment. He grew up in Walthamstow and has many fond childhood memories of the forest. Now living in Chingford, he enjoys spending weekends exploring the forest with his young family.

His passion for the natural world informed his choice of degree subject, graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Geography at Durham University. He qualified as a chartered accountant during six and a half years with PwC, including a two year secondment to Bogota, Colombia.

David has since worked predominantly in the energy and agricultural sectors. He currently works for Ørsted, the world leader in Offshore Wind.

Francis Castro is an Ecologist and Local Authority Officer of over 19 years’ experience. He is a veteran of conservation and environmental policy in London and since 2023, works as a Biodiversity specialist at the Greater London Authority, overseeing preparation of the London Natural Recovery Strategy (LNRS).

Previously he worked for the London Borough of Redbridge and Vision RCL for over 17 years, as the Nature Conservation Ranger Team Leader. In this role he managed a team of Rangers delivering a wide range of projects, community engagement, volunteering opportunities and grounds maintenance to the wildlife sites of the Borough, he also provided specialist ecological support to the Local Authorities planning, highways, regeneration and community engagement teams. Key projects include the successful preparation and application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, for the Hainault Forest restoration works.

Gail has a rich mix of Trustee, Chief Executive, and Non-Executive experience and loves Epping Forest. 

She lives near Epping Forest in Loughton, and with her husband and children, enjoys the Forest on runs, long walks, bike rides, sledging in the snow and in den building! She is passionate about access to the Forest for all communities, its positive use, and ensuring it thrives for future generations. 

Gail has led complex organisations dedicated to changing society and caring for those often ignored, including the Carers Trust and her current role at King’s College Hospital Charity, which she successfully led right through the COVID pandemic. She is an Independent NED of the Football Association’s Women’s Football Board and a Trustee of the Premier League Charitable Fund; previously holding the role of Vice Chair of the Money Advice Trust and being a Trustee of CharityComms, the professional association for communication professionals in the Third Sector.

Gail’s core skills are in leadership, governance, financial management, marketing and business development. A former Director of Communications for The Scout Association and a Head of Marketing and Communications for the Audit Commission, Gail holds the Institute of Directors Diploma in Company Direction and a MA in Marketing Management. 

James has always lived near Epping Forest, and believes with its rich biodiversity this magnificent resource must be preserved, so that it can be used by everyone to improve their health and wellbeing.

As well as being a trustee, James is a school governor at a local Primary Academy and a Cultural Governor in Waltham Forest. During his career as a civil servant he has worked in several central government departments where he has been involved in work on environment and climate change policy.

In his role as a Trustee he not only wants to protect and nurture the Forest to flourish but also encourage all members from our diverse local community to feel welcome when visiting this excellent resource and in so doing hopefully encourage people of all ages to become more interested in learning about the biodiversity, conservation, heritage and culture of the Forest.

Jo lives in the south of Epping Forest and loves walking in the Forest with her family and identifying birds and nature.

Jo has been a Redbridge councillor representing Wanstead Village since 2018 and was appointed cabinet member for the environment and civic pride in 2021.

Her professional background is in campaigns and policy, most recently heading up a global campaign to tackle deforestation.

Jo was previously trustee and vice chair of Friends of Wanstead Parklands. Jo also set up the Aldersbrook Playground Campaign which made the case for improved facilities for children in Wanstead Park.

Jo is also a governor at a local primary school, Vice Chair of the East London Waste Authority, and represents London Councils on the Mayor of London’s Sustainable Development Commission.

Jo is head of research at a sustainable finance NGO, trying to help the bond market invest more responsibly. She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and an experienced charity treasurer.

Jo grew up close to the forest, and after spending time living in central London she has recently returned to its doorstep. She is enjoying rediscovering it throughout the seasons, and wants to help protect such a special place.

Having lived in London all her life, Louise has enjoyed discovering Epping Forest since moving to Woodford 15 years ago.  As a keen runner and a member of Orion Harriers, Louise enjoys both running and walking in Epping Forest, as well as introducing others to the joys of muddy runs and getting lost on the trails.                 

After graduating in history from Cambridge University, Louise has spent most of her career in market research, including positions at YouGov, Ipsos MORI, Penguin books and the Open University. She has worked with a wide range of companies and organisations, helping them to use insight and research to inform both strategic and tactical decisions. This has included working with charities and membership organisations, helping them to understand the views and wishes of their supporters.

With a professional background in environmental education, Tricia’s work has been to encourage others to understand and engage with the natural world. She has been associated with Epping Forest for over 50 years, initially helping to establish the Field Centre at High Beach, where she became enthralled with the complexity of the Forest’s history and ecology.  In 1992, she joined the City of London staff at the Warren as Information Officer for Epping Forest.

Although she retired in 2005, she has continued to strengthen her links with the Forest. As a Trustee of the Epping Forest Heritage Trust, she seeks to influence those who are concerned about its future as it faces the threats of massive built development, poor air quality, increased visitor pressure and climate change.

Rosie is a specialist in strategy and finance. Since graduating from Oxford with an MA in Human Sciences, she dived into the charity sector, before qualifying as a chartered accountant (ACA) at PwC and going on to focus on strategy consulting, working with a range of public and private sector clients, from government agencies to investment funds to FTSE 100 companies. She is currently Strategy Director at the Telegraph. Born and raised in the Shropshire countryside, Rosie now lives in Chingford and enjoys exploring the forest and all its wonders with her family.