Our People

County Durham Community Foundation is a charity and company limited by guarantee. It is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of a wide range of professionals who either live, work or have an interest in County Durham.

The work of County Durham Community Foundation is also supported by our President, patrons and ambassadors.

Our Team

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  Michelle Cooper

  Chief Executive

  0191 378 6340

  Michelle@cdcf.org.uk

  Michelle Cooper is Chief Executive of County Durham Community Foundation. Formerly an Investment Director at Northstar Ventures, Michelle worked across a wide range of investment funds delivering social impact and capital return across the North East. With almost 20 years’ experience in assessing business opportunities and raising finance, Michelle has previously worked in the technology transfer unit at the University of Manchester, before joining Codeworks in the North East as Corporate Finance Manager. This followed a number of commercial roles in the UK and Europe. Michelle holds a PhD from the Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh.
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  Sharon Gollan

  Head of Grants

  0191 378 6354

  Sharon@cdcf.org.uk

  Sharon joined the Foundation in 2015 to provide support to grant making in her capacity as an independent community consultant before taking up a role as Senior Donor Services & Programme Manager in 2017. She leads the Donor Services Manager team and is responsible for the operational delivery of grant making at the Foundation, which includes programme development, donor liaison, and impact evaluation. Outside of the Foundation, Sharon is a printmaker and practicing artist and works from her studio at the Biscuit Tin Studios in Newcastle.
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  Naomi Stevens

  Senior Fund Manager

  0191 378 6343

  Naomi@cdcf.org.uk

  Naomi joined the Foundation as a Donor Services Manager in 2017, following 6 years working in a variety of roles with charities in County Durham. In her role Naomi manages the distribution of grants from a number of funds, enjoys seeing the fantastic work by so many groups making a difference in their local communities. Naomi loves baking, exploring the amazing countryside around the North East and being part of the church community at St Nic’s Durham.
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  Jane Dennison

  Fund Manager

  0191 378 6340

  Jane@cdcf.org.uk

  Jane joined the Foundation in June 2023 having previously worked in the charity sector for the last 10 years. Prior to that Jane worked mainly within the legal profession. Jane oversees the distribution of grants from a number of funds including wind farm funds and the NHS Health Improvement Fund. In her spare time Jane helps to run Horden Guides and enjoys spending time with her three children and seeing new places.
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  Sarah McIntyre

  Fund Manager

  0191 378 6353

  Sarah@cdcf.org.uk

  Sarah joined the Foundation in 2012 having previously worked in litigation for four years. Sarah joined as a Grants Administrator before taking up her role as Development Administrator in 2014 and now Donor Services Manager as of 2020. Sarah manages the distribution of grants from a number of funds as well as looking after social media, keeping the website and newsletter up to date with the amazing stories community groups share with us and organising events. In her spare time, Sarah travels around the North East supporting her son with his passion for football and enjoys travelling around the world and seeing new places.
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  Sophie O'Connor

  Fund Manager

  0191 378 6350

  Sophie@cdcf.org.uk

  Sophie joined the Foundation as a Donor Services Manager in 2021. Previously, she volunteered and worked in education, then spent three years in Business Development for a North East charity. She oversees distribution of grants from a number of funds and loves seeing the whole journey of grant applications from start to finish, especially the fantastic results. In her spare time Sophie enjoys embroidery, wrangling her high-maintenance Pomeranian, and will happily make you Durham cathedral out of gingerbread if you ask.
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  Jacqueline Cowan

  Fund Manager

  0191 378 6346

  Jacqueline@cdcf.org.uk

  Jacquie joined the Foundation in 2009 as a Grants Administrator having previously worked in Finance and Banking for over twenty years. Jacquie provides clerical support to the Fund Managers contributing to the processes associated with grant registration, assessment, grant approval panels, post-award project monitoring, and grant payments. Jacquie is also responsible for a number of funds. Jacquie’s loves everything vintage and became a 1940s living history reenactor about 15 years ago. Her and her husband have a World War 2 Jeep and travel around the country meeting old and new friends at living history shows and events. She also enjoys Jive and Rock n Roll dancing.
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  Peter Redman

  Finance & IT Officer

  0191 378 6349

  Peter@cdcf.org.uk

  Peter joined CDCF in 2014 having worked in accounts and finance departments for ten years. Peter came on as a temp but was given a permanent position later in that year. Peter is responsible for many aspects of the finance, including investment returns and management accounts. As well as financial duties Peter is also responsible for the IT, liaising with our IT support and resolving minor issues. In his spare time Peter enjoys spending time with his daughter, walking his dog, sci-fi culture and socialising with friends.
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President and Board of Trustees

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  Sir Paul Nicholson KCVO Kt DL

  President

  Alongside David Grant his predecessor as Lord Lieutenant, Sir Paul set up the Foundation in 1995. He has held many positions in the Northeast, both in the private and the public sectors, particularly as CEO of Vaux Group a FTSE 250 company and as Chairman of the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation. Sir Paul was Knighted in 1993 for 'Services to Industry and the Public in Northeast England and appointed KCVO in 2011. He chaired the Northern Region of the CBI in 1977 and was Inaugural President of the Northeast Chamber of Commerce in 1995.
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  James Fenwick

  Chair

  James has worked for Rothschild & Co, one of the world’s largest independent advisory groups, for over 36 years. He has spent most of his career as an Investment Banker advising companies on a wide range of corporate finance transactions both in the UK and internationally and, since 2008, he has assisted with the development of the bank's wealth management business. James was High Sheriff in 2015/16 and is a Deputy Lieutenant of County Durham. His family have farmed in Weardale for many generations, and he continues to live there.
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  Stephen Hall

  Vice-Chair

  Stephen is the senior partner in the Deloitte Newcastle office. He has worked for the firm for 30 years where he has advised many public and private sector organisations on all aspects of direct tax. Stephen also heads up the Private Client Practice for Yorkshire and the North East. From Durham, Stephen joined the firm from university and has always worked in the North East. Stephen was named Tax Adviser of the Year in the North East Accountancy Awards in 2009 and 2014. Stephen graduated with a history degree from Fitzwilliam College at the University of Cambridge. Interested in all aspects of philanthropy, Stephen has advised charities and not for profit organisations on structure and tax efficient giving. Stephen has a keen interest in heritage and the arts in particular theatre and cinema.
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  Rebecca Armstrong

  Trustee

  Rebecca is a People, Leadership and Inclusion Director working with a variety of charities and businesses across the UK and beyond to create cultures in which their people can thrive. Through her business, Sparkle Develop, Rebecca offers coaching, strategy development, organizational development, and people-based support. Rebecca is passionate about building workplaces in which people can be truly themselves and are valued and respected as individuals. She has a particular passion for supporting workplaces to be disability-inclusive drawing on her own experience living with Multiple Sclerosis. Rebecca is a TEDx and international speaker on the topics of inclusion and leadership as well as being a columnist for a national magazine on the topic. Rebecca is a board member for Creative Youth Opportunities, supporting young people to develop through Art.
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  Joanna Barker

  Trustee

  Joanna had a career in international finance and investment. She is a founder and trustee of Target Ovarian Cancer and received an MBE in 2014 for services to people with cancer. Joanna and her husband have a long association with Durham, and she was a member of the Council of Durham University for nine years.
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  Emily Burns

  Trustee

  Emily is Chief Executive of Durham Area Youth (DAY), a charity that delivers youth provision to young people aged between 6 -18 years old in the villages of West Rainton, Pittington, Sherburn Village, Sherburn Hill, Great Lumley and Bournmoor. She has worked in the voluntary, charity and community sector for the last 12 years working in regional and national roles for Sports Leaders UK, Sported and Sport England. In these role she had responsibility to represent the organisation across the region, utilising her skills and experience to support the running of organisations in areas such as governance, finance, marketing, policies, leadership, volunteers and networks. Emily also works as a consultant supporting new and growing Community Interest Companies and Charities develop their strategies, improve community engagement and access funding. In addition to Emily’s paid roles she is actively involved in her local community, previously holding the role of Chair of West Rainton and Leamside Village Partnership and Dementia Steering Group. Emily was born and raised and still lives in the community of West Rainton and therefore has a great drive and passion for the work that DAY does across all of their communities and the difference it make in the lives of young people, their families and communities.
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  Annie Dolphin OBE

  Trustee

  Annie had a long career with HM Revenue & Customs in various roles and locations throughout the country. As Deputy Change Director she received the OBE in 2002 in recognition of services to the Inland Revenue. She is a lay chair/member in various NHS roles covering the North East and North Cumbria, NHS England, and Yorkshire and Humber region. In the voluntary sector Annie is a trustee and treasurer of Teesdale Day Clubs and is a trustee and treasurer of Winston Village Hall. In her spare time she tries to keep her large garden under control and grows a lot of fruit and vegetables.
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  Emma Glover

  Trustee

  Emma is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser. She has spent her career advising small and medium sized business and their owners and families. Emma advises on corporate structures and restructuring including business acquisitions, sales, demergers and establishing employee share schemes. She enjoys working with clients in relation to business, personal and property tax planning.  She also advises on the use of Trusts and estates in administration.
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  Ray Hudson

  Trustee

  Ray is Emeritus Professor of Geography at Durham University. He joined the university in 1972, finally retiring in 2019, and occupied a variety of posts there, including Head of the Geography Department, Director of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Well-being, and Deputy Chancellor. In 2014-5 he was Acting Vice Chancellor. He holds the degrees of BA, PhD and DSc from Bristol University, DLitt from Durham, and an honorary DSc from Roskilde University. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, the Academy of the Social Sciences, the Royal Geographical Society, and a Member of Academia Europaea.
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  Peter Locke

  Trustee

  Peter has worked for North Star, a social housing provider, for ten years working on their resident involvement and community investment projects. This has involved working closely with communities across Teesside and County Durham on a variety of projects and grant-making. Peter has built relationships with a number of geographic communities; and also communities of interest whilst leading North Star’s asset and place based approach to community development work. He has also worked closely with contractors to develop a social value from procurement model that ensures their corporate social responsibility work can be effectively measured and has the greatest impact possible. Before North Star he worked in the voluntary sector in Darlington and County Durham, predominantly on organisational development and also corporate partnerships. He has held trusteeships at a number of North East charities and is also a member of the North East board of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Peter holds formal qualifications in community development, housing and is qualified member of the Chartered Management Institute. He is a keen guitarist and enjoys spending time with his family.
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  Emma O'Rourke

  Trustee

  Emma is Finance Director at Northstar Ventures, a Newcastle-based venture capital fund manager. Before joining Northstar, Emma worked in the Transaction Services team at KPMG and before that EY. Emma is a Chartered Accountant and has a degree in Chemistry from Oxford University. Emma is from Middlesbrough and lives in Durham.

Patrons and Ambassadors

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  Harry Banks OBE DL

  Patron

  Harry Banks founded the Banks Group (as H J Banks and Company Limited) at Tow Law in County Durham, in 1976 to carry on the business of surface coal mining. The business has since operated and restored more than 110 surface mines and currently employs more than 400 people across the North of England and Scotland. The group added property development businesses in England and Scotland to its mining activities in the late 1980s and the development and operation of onshore wind farms in 2005. The business is still headquartered in County Durham with offices at Hamilton and Chesterfield. The group continues to be a family business and Harry Banks remains chairman and chief executive. Harry Banks was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) in 1982. He was appointed an OBE in 2001 for services to the UK coal industry and local communities and he was appointed deputy lieutenant of County Durham in 2002
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  Mark I'Anson MBE

  Patron

  Mark is currently Chair of Council and Pro Chancellor at Newcastle University. Since selling his own NASDAQ listed company IMP, Mark has become involved in a range of economic development activities in the region. He is a board member of three local SMEs and is also chairman of NEL, the North East's leading Venture Capital firm. In addition, Mark is on the steering committee of both Newcastle Science City and the Northern Way and a Director of three major local charities. His personal interests include racing cars, cycling, skiing and sailing. Mark is also a champion leek grower.
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  Alasdair MacConachie OBE DL

  Patron

  Alasdair MacConachie, OBE DL HonDBA FRSA is a Patron of County Durham Community Foundation and his company (Sherwoods) also have an Endowment Fund which feeds into our Community Action grant making pot. Alasdair is the Managing Director of the Sherwoods Group a main GM dealer that has been in business for 85 years. Alasdair is very active in the local community. He is Chairman of St Teresa's Hospice, Darlington, the Chairman of Darlington College and Chairman of Durham School. Alasdair gives a great deal of support to the Forces and is the Chairman of the Independent Advisory Panel for the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick. He regards his chairmanship of the Darlington Partnership as one of his most exciting community challenges.
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  Lady Nicholson DL

  Patron

  Lady Nicholson has held various positions in the area including Chair of Northumbria Historic Houses, and The Art Fund for Durham and Cleveland, Vice Chair Durham Princes Trust, Trustee The Auckland Project and CDCF. She is currently President of the Anglo Japanese Women’s Society. Lady Nicholson’s personal interests include art, gardening and music