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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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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  Alison Goulding

  Development Manager

  0191 378 6340

  [email protected]

  Alison’s background is in regional journalism, but she joined the charity sector two years ago and has never looked back. Her role is to tell the story of our work, and the wonderful groups and individuals who make our communities safer, happier and more inclusive. Expect to see Alison out and about across Durham and Tees Valley as we continue to connect with supporters who want to fight poverty and enrich lives alongside us. In her spare time, Alison can often be found running on the fells with husband Phil and their dog, Nancy.
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  Naomi Stevens

  Senior Fund Manager

  0191 378 6343

  [email protected]

  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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  Sarah McIntyre

  Fund Manager

  0191 378 6353

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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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  Julie Vare

  Fund Manager

  0191 378 6351

  [email protected]

  Julie joined the Foundation in 2021 having previously worked as a Debt Caseworker for Citizens Advice. In her role Julie manages the distribution of grants from several funds and enjoys seeing the fantastic work by so many groups making a difference in their local communities. When she’s not working Julie is a fitness fan and loves a press up or two! Having recently moved to the countryside she also enjoys walking and cycling with her husband and son. Travel is also a passion of hers and she loves to visit new places and try the local cuisines while making amazing memories as a family.
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  Jacqueline Cowan

  Fund Officer

  0191 378 6346

  [email protected]

  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 Donor Services Managers contributing to the processes associated with grant registration, assessment, grant approval panels, post-award project monitoring, and grant payments. 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

  [email protected]

  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

  Paul is a Durham Man. Alongside David Grant his predecessor as Lord Lieutenant, he 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. He 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 30 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 of County Durham in 2015/16 and is currently a Trustee of Lord Crewe's Charity. James’ family have farmed in Weardale for many generations and he continues to live there with his wife, Kate, and their three children.
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  Paul Chandler

  Vice-Chair

  Paul Chandler is an experienced Chief Executive and Non-Executive Director and has been a Member Nominated Director on the board of the Co-op Group since 2015. He is Chair of the William Leech Foundation and of Durham Cathedral Council, a director of Shared Interest and a trustee of Bible Society. Paul is also a Fellow and Vice-Chair of St Chad's College in Durham University. Until 2013, Paul was Chief Executive of the pioneering fair trade organisation, Traidcraft.
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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 Opportunites, supporting young people to develop through Art.
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  Duncan Barrie

  Trustee

  Duncan Barrie is an experienced commercial Finance Director and chartered accountant. He currently holds the position of Group Finance Director with Biosignatures Limited, a Newcastle based diagnostic company. Previously Duncan was the Managing Director of Nonlinear Dynamics Limited, a world renowned life science software company, which was sold to Waters Inc. in 2013. Duncan is married and lives in Durham with his two young children.
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  Emily Burns

  Trustee

  Emily is currently the North East Regional Manager for the Sports for Development charity Sported. Within her role she supports a wide range of community and voluntary organisations many of which are at grassroot level using the power of sport to improve the lives of young people and the wider community. Experienced in volunteer management, funding, organisation development and social media she provides key guidance to support the sustainability and capacity of community based programs and groups within County Durham and across the region. Other voluntary roles involve being the co founder/trustee of Durham Area Youth and the Chair of her local Dementia Steering Group as the community works towards becoming Dementia Friendly.
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  Annie Dolphin OBE

  Trustee

  Annie lives in Teesdale and her main career was in 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 has been a lay chair/member of various NHS Boards since 2006. In the voluntary sector Annie is a trustee of the Association of Teesdale Day Clubs; and is Independent Chair of the Active Durham partnership which promotes and supports the benefits of increasing physical activity levels for everyone across County Durham. She is also a co-opted Primary School Governor, helping to improve governance and physical activity. In her spare time she tries to keep her large garden under control and grows a lot of vegetables. She even grows grapes in 2 of her 4 greenhouses!
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  Stephen Hall

  Trustee

  Stephen Hall is office senior partner for Deloitte in Newcastle. Stephen is a Chartered Tax Advisor and specialises in advising owner managed business‎ and their shareholders. He leads the Deloitte tax practice in Newcastle and has responsibility for the firm's private client offering in the North East and Yorkshire. Stephen graduated with a history degree from Fitzwilliam College at the University of Cambridge, was born and still lives in Durham City. Interested in all aspects of philanthropy, Stephen has advised charities and other not for profit organisations on structure and tax efficient giving. Twice North East Tax Advisor of the year, Stephen is a member of the current North East Tax Team of the Year ‎as voted by peers in the North East Accountancy Awards and is a member of the Advisory Boards for both 'Invest Newcastle' and the Marie Curie Hospice in Elswick. Stephen has a keen interest in heritage and the arts in particular theatre and cinema.
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  Ray Hudson

  Trustee

  Ray Hudson is Deputy Vice Chancellor and Professor of Geography at Durham University. He joined the university in 1972 and has since occupied a variety of posts there, including Head of the Geography Department, Director of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Well-being and Pro-Vice 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 has chaired the Conference of Heads of Geography Departments in the UK and served as Vice- President and Chair of the Research Division of the Royal Geographical Society.

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