Board Members

Connected Coast

Chris Baron

Chair of the Board

Born in Skegness, Chris went to the local grammar school before studying Business Studies at Shefield Polytechnic. He went on to qualify as a Chartered Management Accountant working for Fogarty's, Lin Pac and British Fuels before moving to Butlins and settling back in Skegness for the last 30 years. For the last 20 years Chris was the Resort Director for the Skegness Resort. He has been actively involved in promoting the coastal strip and the Visitor Economy for Lincolnshire representing both on the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and as Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Visitor Economy Board. He is also Vice Chair of the Visit Lincs Coast Destination Business Improvement District, Chair of the Advisory Council of the Skegness Academy and a member of the Coastal Developers Forum.

Claire Draper

Vice Chair of the Board

Claire Draper is the Director of Finance at Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. Having attended Skegness Grammar School, Claire briefly left the Lincolnshire area to attain a Law Degree at the University of East Anglia and went on to begin her Chartered Accountancy training in Peterborough and London. She later returned to Skegness to work for a local accountancy firm, gaining a huge wealth of knowledge of local businesses and the issues that they face. Now a fellow of the ICAEW, Claire has worked at Fantasy Island for 10 years and is committed to driving economic growth and sustainability for the area. As a keen triathlete, Claire is passionate about the incredible natural landscape our area has to offer and is steadfast in her drive to help the Joint Towns' Deal Board secure investment for Skegness and Mablethorpe with a fully transparent and integrated approach.

Robert Caudwell

Association Drainage Boards - Chairman

Robert Caudwell is a farmer from South Lincolnshire farming land adjacent to the Wash and has been involved with flood defence all his career. He currently Chairs the Association of Drainage Authorities and is President of the European Union of Water Management Associations. Robert also is Chairman of Covenham RYA Sailabilty and works with Navigo providing sailing experience to Navigo members. Robert has experience of local government and government agencies at local, regional and national level.

Richard Tice MP

Boston & Skegness

Richard Tice is the Member of Parliament for Boston & Skegness and was first elected in 2024 to represent the area. He is the Deputy Leader of Reform UK which he co-founded in 2020.

Richard entered politics with a focus on issues like Brexit and public policy reform. He has been vocal about his views on governance, immigration and economic management, often advocating for a free-market approach and ensuring the property sector works for all. Richard has also been an advocate for a strong education system, acting as a governor and trustee to support varying schools, as well as donating funds to various education charities to support schools nationwide.

In addition to his political career, Tice is a media personality, frequently appearing on news programs to discuss current events and political issues, as well as working within the property sector. His work reflects a commitment to addressing concerns related to national sovereignty and economic independence.

Victoria Atkins

MP Louth and Horncastle

Victoria was first elected and the Member of Parliament for Louth & Horncastle in 2015 and re-elected in 2017 and 2019. Since Victoria's election to office she has campaigned on a range of issues, including the provision of rural broadband, defence, wind turbines, coastal issues, roads, schools, the health service and the importance of the rural way of life.
In November 2017 Victoria was appointed to the Home Office, as Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability. At the start of 2018, the centenary year of some women gaining the right to vote, Victoria was made Minister for Women in addition to her duties in the Home Office.
Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Victoria practiced as a criminal barrister specialising in prosecuting serious organised crime.

Janet Stubbs

British Garden Centres - Owner

Initially from a farming back ground, Janet has over 40 years' experience in the leisure industry developing Woodthorpe Leisure Park, Woody's bar and Restaurant, Woodthorpe country cottages and Chapel Sands to their successful position to date. She is also the Founding member of the BID and still working pro-actively within this position. She is a Member of a variety of committees including Skegness chamber of commerce, treasurer of Mablethorpe CCT, Strubby with Woodthorpe parish committee, Lady President of Woodthorpe Hall Golf Club and member of BH&HPA. She also takes an active role and interest in her families enterprises including British garden Centres and Lincs Aquatics Ltd.

John Henry Looney

Sustainable Direction - Director

John Henry grew up in Tennessee doing environmental projects since 1975 and teaching mountain rescue to the US Marines. His PhD was on the Island of Rhum, Scotland, and he carried out early climate change research in Canada, before delivering a research project for the UNECE on acid rain at the Natural History Museum. He authored the UK's first Carbon Footprint for a coal fired power station at Bilsthorpe, Notts in 1989. He career has been helping companies and countries engage and reduce their environmental impacts across a wide range of manufacturing, food and energy projects in over 30 countries. He has returned to living in the Lincolnshire Wolds area due the quality of life here and is helping organisations transform their approach and become sustainable. He has also helped many Councils deliver projects and was the technical author of the DECC BIS report on the green economy and well as delivering Innovate UK projects. He is an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, a Visiting Fellow at the University of Bristol, and recently an Associate Lecturer at the University of Lincoln. He has been on the Boards of several international charities delivering change and has a Diploma and Certificate in Company Direction from the IoD as part of the Chartered Director Qualification.

Sandra Williamson

Chief Operating Officer for Lincolnshire East Locality NHS

She is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants And school Governor for Boston West Academy since 2017. In April 2013, she was appointed as Chief Finance Officer for Lincolnshire East Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and enjoyed seven years as an Executive Team and Governing Body member. She has supported local delivery plans designed to improve the health and wellbeing of the population in East Lincolnshire. )
The introduction of the NHS Lincolnshire CCG on 1 April 2020, following the merger of the four CCGs, led to Sandra being appointed Chief Operating Officer for East Locality and Executive Lead for reducing health inequalities.
She is passionate about improving care and better outcomes for people of Lincolnshire building on the great work undertaken so far and recognises the significance of her role in addressing health inequalities, specifically for the East Coast.

Robert Parker

Micronclean - Managing Director

Robert has been Managing Director of Micronclean for the last 6 years having joined the business as Finance Director in 2007. Micronclean operates 3 specialist garment laundries in Lincolnshire supplying pharmaceutical and other niche businesses. In recent years Micronclean have developed a sterile consumable business that now exports to over 30 countries with core products manufactured in Skegness. Our latest venture is opening a cleanroom laundry in Bangalore. Away from work his interests include Rowing and Gardening and he is married with 3 teenage children. Robert is also currently Chairman of Boston Rowing Club and Governor at Bourne Grammar school.

Freddie Chambers

Lindum Group - Co-Chairman

Freddie is Co-Chair at the Lindum Group. He is involved across the business, in construction, joint ventures and development. He chairs the waste recycling division and HR department and is passionate about the apprentices and training programme, helping and encouraging more youngsters into construction. Before coming back to Lincolnshire in 2011 Freddie worked as a Chartered Surveyor for a property company in London.

Councillor Steve Kirk

East Lindsey District Council (Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy)

Steve has lived in Skegness for the last 38 years. He has two children that were both educated in the town before heading off to university. Steve represents Skegness on the Town District and County Councils. In addition, he is Portfolio Holder for the Coastal Economy, Employment and Skills at the district council. Steve is a Chartered Manager and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Steve runs his own training company that delivers Assessor and Internal Quality Assurance qualifications across the UK from its centre in Boston, Manchester, Birmingham and London. He also runs a consultancy service for organisations working in or about to enter the FE sector. Prior to this Steve spent 10 years as an Area Manager for a London based Housing Association. The Housing association specialist in housing and support for those with mental health, drug or alcohol problems. Steve sits on a number of different boards including the Lincolnshire Coastal Destination Bid and Skegness Trading Company and is a trustee of two local charities; East Lindsey Information Technology Centre (First College) and Skegness Sports Association. He is also a member of the Gibraltar Point Advisor Committee. In his spare time, Steve likes to get some sleep.

Jacqui Bunce

Programme Director – Strategic Estates, Partnerships & Planning - NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board

Jacqui has worked in Lincolnshire since 2017, prior to this she spent 15 years leading and delivering strategic change programmes and projects across Hertfordshire. This included countywide changes to hospital services, the development of the award winning New QEII Hospital Welwyn Garden City and the refresh of the Hertfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy in 2016.

She joined the NHS in Hertfordshire in 2002, after a career in the commercial and charity sectors. Her NHS work has involved leading on strategic planning and implementing change across the county. Jacqui led the development of the New QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City from inception to financial close, a project which involved significant stakeholder engagement in a politically challenging environment. All of these changes have been made in the context of developing sustainable integrated services which involve social care and the voluntary sector, in order to deliver the best possible outcomes for all.

Councillor Craig Leyland

East Lindsey District Council - Leader

Craig has been a district councillor since 2007 and was elected leader in 2015 after serving as deputy leader and planning portfolio holder. He has strong family connections with Lincolnshire and have lived here since 1984. Craig is a partner in his family business trading in Woodhall Spa as VOC Antiques since 1986. Lincolnshire is a wonderful place to live and work and he is delighted that Mablethorpe and Skegness have been given the opportunity to be part of the Town Fund initiative. He will work hard to make sure we are successful in securing a great future for both towns.

Claire Foster MA PGCE

Boston College - CEO

Claire has devoted a 25-year career to working in further and higher education. She is passionate about improving people’s life chances through the transformational power of education, skills and training. Claire has worked in several successful colleges, initially as a teacher in the creative arts. She has been a senior leader for 7 years and proudly now, as the Principal and CEO of Boston College. She has developed many new and different approaches to educational challenges and enjoys the chance to challenge the ‘norm’. As a proud mother of three grown up children, she is particularly pleased that Thomas, her son with Down’s Syndrome, demonstrates the usefulness of people with educational needs, working in the East Coast family business that she and her husband runs.

Although she started her current college role in the midst of the pandemic (yes,… that was interesting…), Claire has worked quickly to build strong, purposeful partnerships with businesses in Boston and its surrounds, to secure mutually beneficial opportunities, such as the Town Deal, made possible from effective collaboration.

Councillor Colin Davie

Lincolnshire County Council (Executive Councillor for Economy & Place)

Colin Davie is the Executive Councillor for Economy & Place at Lincolnshire County Council. This is a position he has held since 2013 and one to which he was reappointed, following elections in May 2017. He has been a member of the County Council since 2005. He is also a Director and Board Member of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership. He is also a director of National research charity, the Renewable Energy Foundation.

Colin lives on his family farm, where he grew up in the Village of Orby, close to the Lincolnshire coast and is married to Vanessa. He studied Politics and Economic History in London and then went into the Entertainment Industry where he has had a hugely successful career as an Agent, Manager and Promoter of major International events for nearly 35 years. The company he founded in 1992 (Planet 7 Entertainment Ltd) continues to provide event services internationally and he has proudly worked with such stars as Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie & Andrea Boccelli. He has also coordinated major events such as Miss World and the IIFA Awards and produced musical theatre events such as Mama Mia, Chicago and the Sound of Music in the Middle East.

He is a passionate advocate for stronger International relationships to aid economic growth and has been a champion of stronger ties between Hunan and Lincolnshire since he took office in 2013. He believes in a strong interconnected World based on mutual relationships and is a strong advocate for China and India been central to a successful global economic model for the future. He also believes emerging markets will drive a successful global economy and sees his country as Global Britain, trading and working in partnership across the globe.

Ann Hardy

CEO TEC Partnership

Ann is the CEO of the TEC Partnership which is a group of colleges, training providers and 14-16 school provision which covers the coastal and rural areas from Skegness to Scarborough. Ann took up her role in February 2022 but had worked for the Partnership for the last 6 years at Scarborough TEC which is a general further education college. During that period of time has relocated to the college to a new site, rebranded the organisation and overseen a rapid improvement in achievement rates for students. Ann is committed to supporting young people and adults to achieve their career goals and throughout her career she has ensured that the organisations she works for put students with special educational needs and disabilities at the heart of their offer.

Adrian Benjamin

Revd Prebendary Adrian Benjamin MA Oxon

I grew up in Sutton-on-Sea staging puppet shows on the beach. my first job was running the dodgems at Mablethorpe. At Alford Queen Elizabeth Grammar School I won a scholarship to Oxford where I directed Terry Jones & Michael Palin & Nigel Rees in various shows & filmed with Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor. I worked as a clergyman in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the East end & in Friern Barnet where I ran an arts Centre. I was the editor of the ITV Teletext religious pages & appeared on the reality TV show “The Search” wet-rafting down the Amazon etc. After retiring I became Chair of the Sutton-on-Sea Residents Association, a post I held until being elected to the Councils.

Councillor Adrian Findley

Mayor of Skegness

I’ve been in Skegness 54 years which is all my life, I’m a family man and currently a self-employed construction worker of 39 years.

As a representative of the Skegness Town Council, I’m also a member of the Management Committee, Events Working Group, Remembrance Parade Working Group, Civic Awards Working Group, Honours Working Group, Capital Working Group, North Parade Bowling Greens Working Group, Long Term Plan for Towns (sub group).

I’m also a member of the Skegness Royal British Legion, St Mary’s and St Clements Church Yard Volunteers and Skegness Carnival.

A regular contributor to many local projects, charity fundraisers and organisations.

With all this in mind its clear my main purpose is to continue with my passion and community spirit with a positive outlook for the benefit of all.

Deborah Higton

Environment Agency - Area Coastal Manager

James Brindle

Magna Vitae - Executive Director

Caroline Killeavy

YMCA - CEO

Caroline joined YMCA Lincolnshire as Chief Executive in 2018, following a successful senior leadership career in the public/not for profit sectors, more recently leading the community team for a large national charity.

Caroline's expertise lies in community development and involvement, urban regeneration and community development/support. Lincolnshire YMCA has been supporting communities across Lincolnshire for the past 150 years and the current portfolio consists of supported and emergency accommodation, community based child and youth services, training & skills development programmes and physical & mental wellbeing support services.

Institute of Directors - Winner Third Sector Director of the Year (East Midlands) 2019.
Regional Finalist - Forward Ladies Public Sector Award 2019.

Julie Corden

University of Lincoln, Director of Regional Engagement (Operations and Business)

Julie has worked at the University of Lincoln for over 20 years, with her expertise in marketing, events, project and operational management. She has extensive experience in partnership and relationship management and is committed to supporting and working with regional partners towards a shared endeavour of regional health, wealth and opportunity.

She is currently the Director of Regional Engagement, where she is passionate about ensuring the University meets its civic responsibilities, increasing opportunities and commitment to making a real difference to people’s lives and supporting the region’s prosperity agenda.

She has previously held roles as Project Director and Assistant Director for Communications, Development and Marketing at the university.

She has grown up in Lincolnshire and has a personal passion for the County. With her spare time, she loves nothing more than spending days out with her children exploring and enjoying the coast and countryside on her doorstep.

Tim Allen

MA FSA, Development Advice Team Leader (North), Historic England

Tim Allen manages Historic England’s Development Advice team covering the north half of the Midlands. Trained as an archaeologist he is the Inspector of Ancient Monuments for the County and a Fellow of Society of Antiquaries. Historic England (the Historic buildings and Monuments Commission for England is Government’s expert advisor on the Historic Environment. Tim has been with Historic England (formerly English Heritage) since 2005. Tim’s team works closely with public, private and third sector bodies on energy and coastal infrastructure, heritage led regeneration, local planning, farming and environmental management. Communities are at the heart of Historic England’s focus on the Lincolnshire Coast, including grant led work in Grimsby on the High Street Heritage Action Zone and other key heritage sites. HE works closely with partners around the coast via Towns Fund / Levelling Up and through directly funded research such as the Lincolnshire County Council’s Inns on the Edge Project looking at the importance and viability of coastal pubs.

Chris Lilley (Revd Canon)

Church of England’s Partnership Dean for East Lindsey

Revd Canon Chris Lilley is the Church of England’s Partnership Dean for East Lindsey. This is a voluntary role that covers the 165 Anglican churches in the East Lindsey District Council area including working alongside the eleven paid clergy and dozens of volunteers. The aim is to grow the number of church members and to grow their faith. He was a member of the Church of England’s General Synod for twenty years and has held numerous roles in Lincoln Diocese including Chair of the House of Clergy and vice chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance.

Chris is a yellow belly born in Grantham. He lived for eleven years in Skegness in the 1980/90’s and returned to the coast on his ostensible retirement thirteen years ago. He is based in the Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea Groups of Parishes which he loves. He is a trustee, board member or committee member of a number of local groups.

Before his ordination at the age of 33 Chris was a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. He was a partner in the large Lincolnshire firm of Duncan and Toplis.

Chris is passionate about the Lincolnshire coast and walks his black Labrador for at least five miles on the beach most morning but twice a week Chris runs for 10K whilst the dog walks beside him!. Chris enjoys singing, acting in musicals and directing large scale outdoor Passion Plays and Nativity Plays. He also enjoys being the ship’s Chaplain on cruises!

PCC Marc Jones

Lincolnshire Police & Crime Commissioner

Marc Jones is a prominent figure in public service and community safety, currently serving as the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Lincolnshire, a role he has held since 2016 and before that he was the Executive Councillor for Finance and Property for Lincolnshire County Council.
Marc's extensive experience and leadership capabilities across local, regional and national levels solidify his position as a dedicated advocate for effective and responsive policing and community safety.

The first Person to hold the position of Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) for two terms, representing PCCs, elected Mayors and non-Home Office policing bodies such as Civil Nuclear, City Of London and British Transport Police Authorities at a national level. He also oversaw the inclusion of Scotland and Northern Ireland Police Authorities, creating a UK-wide organisation for policing governance for the first time.

Marc has influenced significant change across a range of policing and community safety areas and has held prominent positions in the police governance landscape such as national lead for serious and organised crime, victim services and child protection, as well as rural and heritage, and has sat on a number of Ministerial boards to shape national policy and legislation.

He is a passionate member of the National Board of the College of Policing, the Open University Partnership & Advisory Review Board and a Trustee of the National Police Arboretum Memorial Trust.

Locally Marc is driven to see effective and efficient partnerships keeping our communities feeling and being safe, to drive down crime and to ensure the policing service is one that residents can be truly proud of.

Paul McCooey

Director, Duncan & Toplis

Paul is a Director at Duncan & Toplis and has led the Skegness office since 2013. Having graduated from UCD Paul undertook his professional training in Dublin qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in February 2000 before working in his home town of Monaghan until he moved to Lincolnshire in 2007.

With Duncan & Toplis Paul initially worked as a manager in their Newark on Trent office before coming to Skegness in 2013. Since coming to Skegness he has become involved in many local groups including becoming a Director of two local charities, treasurer and now Chair of Skegness Area Business Chamber.

As a long time fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland Paul has worked with hundreds of businesses over the years and is passionate about supporting owner managed businesses navigate their challenges and take advantage of their opportunities. Through his involvement with clients, charities and business groups he has developed a strong belief in the importance of working together to make the most out of the opportunities and resources at our disposal to have the most positive impact on our community.

Married with three children Paul spends his free time with his family who enjoy nothing more than spending days on the coast enjoying the simple pleasures of our coast and all the things a trip to the seaside with a young family entails.

Councillor Carl Tebbutt

Mablethorpe Town Council

Cllr Carl Tebbutt was born in Loughborough and moved to Mablethorpe in 1975 to start
a Record Shop which expanded into a small chain and independent record label. In
1990 a change of direction saw a move into the Promotional clothing and sportswear
business which Carl still operates from Manby, supplying printed and embroidered
workwear and teamwear to clubs and businesses throughout the country.

He has been a Town Councillor at Mablethorpe & Sutton Town Council for a period
spanning over 30 years and finally in 2019 found time to take on role of Mayor. As well
as this Carl has been an active member of the community having been Chair of
Mablethorpe Carnival throughout the 1980s and serving on many other committees
and local groups. Carl is also a Football Referee, now into his 25th season and also plays Walking Football for Louth Town and a team he founded himself Sutton Sharks. He looks forward to taking part in this exciting new opportunity for the area.

Tracy Stringfellow

CEO Heritage Lincolnshire

Tracy’s background is in the heritage sector, having worked for Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust for the last eight years and previously for the Royal borough of Greenwich. She has worked in museum education in Birmingham and Lincolnshire and was Museums Manager for North East Lincolnshire Council before moving to the south east and London in 2009. She was born and raised in Grimsby. As well as her extensive experience of working on major projects in the heritage sector, Tracy is a trustee of WSUP, the Woolwich Service Users Project, a charity which supports people at risk of homelessness in south east London.

Pranali Parikh

Director of Economic Development

Pranali will be joining the Partnership’s Senior Leadership Team with a wealth of experience in the economic development sector. Her main directorate responsibilities will be to deliver planning, economy and cultural development across the Partnership. Pranali is joining the Partnership’s Senior Leadership Team with a wealth of experience across the economic development sector.

Pranali was previously Director for Growth and Regeneration at Melton Borough Council and previously Regeneration Service Manager for Alliance of High Peak Borough Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council; Principal Regeneration Manager at Derby City Council; Urban Design Manager at Derby Cityscape Ltd and Urban Designer at Atkins Ltd.

Emma Tatlow

CEO of Active Lincolnshire

Emma Tatlow is CEO of Active Lincolnshire. Funded by Sport England, we connect and enable organisations to reduce inactivity and influence the collective goals set out in the local Let’s Move Lincolnshire strategy for physical activity. We build a shared understanding of inactivity, champion equality and inclusion, sustainability and welfare and integrate physical activity into all sectors, policies, strategies, and education. Improving lives through the positive power of movement.

We adopt an insight-driven approach to understanding and enabling solutions that promote physical activity and sport for everyone at every life stage. We focus on addressing inequalities and work collaboratively with partners to remove barriers to participation, supporting inactive individuals to become active, by enabling others to create relevant opportunities.

With a focus on physical activity supporting wider outcomes, including health inequalities, community cohesion, pride in place and skills and leadership development Active Lincolnshire is increasingly focussing on areas of greatest need in Lincolnshire, including the coast.

Emma previously worked in the visitor economy sector, locally and nationally. She adopts a partnership and collaborative approach to working and is committed to improving outcomes for the benefit of the people of Lincolnshire and as a member of the Connected Coast Board will commit to joining opportunities across investment streams to meet local need.