
With almost 20 years of expertise - project management, technical and community development - we help to improve the natural and built environment, create stronger neighbourhoods, provide opportunities for local training, realise young people's potential and engage the local business community.
Our professional services include community development and consultation, environmental education, landscape architecture, environmental business services and project management.
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Michael May - Group Managing
Director & Chief Executive of Blue Sky. Mick joined
Groundwork as Executive Director in 2003, after a successful career
in investment banking. He has held a number of senior positions,
including Managing Director of NationsBank and GNI Fund
Management. Mick’s focus is now on ensuring the health
and sustainability of Groundwork Thames Valley and its
subsidiaries. He is CEO to Blue Sky Development &
Regeneration which he conceived and established in 2004.
Since 2005 he has also been Chairman of the Thames Valley
Partnership. Gary
Jacobs – Executive Director
of Groundwork Thames Valley. Gary joined GTV in 2007 after a
successful career within the Groundwork Federation. He became
GTV's Executive Director in July 2008 and now manages all core
Trust activities. Before joining GTV he was Board member in
Groundwork SE London for several years and still sits on the London
and South London Committees. Previously he worked in
operations/customer service with Thames Water, most recently as a
consultant focussing on process improvement. Outside work, his interests include golf, theatre and holidays in the sun. |
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Outside work his interests include film, music and the
outdoors. Ian Long, Programme Manager, West London Floating
Classroom (WLFC). Ian and his team manage WLFC Ltd,
a subsidiary charity of GTV. WLFC operates an electric barge along
the Grand Union Canal; it offers environmental education to schools
and community groups and commercial opportunities to local
businesses and groups. |
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Paul Upward - Principal Landscape Architect -
With experience in the private sector for Mott MacDonald and with
10 years working within the Groundwork Federation, Paul is
responsible for Groundwork Thames Valley landscape architectural
projects. He successfully supports the trust in its delivery
of innovative, creative and sustainable projects across the Thames
Valley Region. |
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Stewart Pomeroy - Colne Valley Park Manager.
Stewart leads the Colne Valley Park team, working on wildlife,
recreation, access, landscape and education projects. He works with
many external partners to maximise their contributions to the Colne
Valley Park in terms of development and funding. |
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Barry
Watson, Project Officer for Healing Gardens
and Schools Gardens Projects. Barry enjoys the variety of
his job and its opportunities to share his love of gardening by
encouraging other people. He has worked in conservation for
eighteen years. |
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| Kingsley Shadish – Community
Development & Partnerships Manager. Kingsley has
a PhD in environmental science, a masters in applied biology and
over 8 years experience of working for the voluntary sector. He is
a member of the Institute of Fundraising and the Chartered
Institute of Management. Thanks to funding from Hillingdon
Community Trust, Kingsley provides business development support for
voluntary and community organisations in the south of
Hillingdon. He is very experienced in community capacity
building, training, evaluation and monitoring techniques. Outside work his interests include travel, geography and family. |
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Sally Munn - Manager of Iver Nature
Study Centre. Sally leads a small team of employees
and a large team of volunteers. Sally has initiated many
groundbreaking programmes at Iver, such as the Saturday morning
reading scheme and “Grow your own Veg”, and visitor
experiences including the Rain Forest and Dig for Victory.
Before GTV, Sally spent 8 years in the publicity departments of
Rank, Paramount, Cinerama and the National Film Archive, before
leading the Costume Character department of Walt Disney
Productions. |
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Helen Coppock - Human Resources & Business Support Manager, Chartered MCIPD. Helen joined the Trust in 1999. She is an HR generalist and is responsible for all systems, policies and procedures covering personnel, office and volunteer management. Helen has taken the Trust through a period of change during her time here, successfully leading on and achieving the Investors in People accreditation and the environmental management standard BS 8555. Outside work her interests include yoga and family. |
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| Ruth Boyer – Marketing and
Communications Manager - Ruth leads on all internal and
external marketing and communications for Groundwork Thames
Valley and its subsidiaries. Amongst other things, she is
responsible for this website, press, PR, literature and
branding. Ruth joined the Trust in 2006, bringing marketing
skills and experience gained in both the commercial and charitable
sectors. She has an Hons degree in Modern English Literature
and the CIM Diploma in Marketing. Outside work, Ruth's interests include photography, surfing and the outdoors. |
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For profiles of our other staff or to find out about our volunteers
and board, please contact us.
For more information about our subsidiaries and centres, please contact the people named below:
Blue Sky – Andrea
McCubbin
West London Floating
Classroom – Ian Long
Iver Nature Study Centre – Sally Munn
Com.Cafe – Sue Thomas