In April 2016, CCFF became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission. Its charity registration number is 1166604.
You can read the formal Constitution here: CCFF Constitution
You can find CCFF’s Policies here: CCFF Policies
Chair of the Trustees.
Gitty has a degree in Public Health Engineering from Tehran University and has settled in England since 1979, after gaining an M.Sc. in Occupational Medicine from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. After working for Cornwall Council she transferred to the Environment Agency (EA) in 1996 where she worked in waste planning, pollution prevention, waste minimisation, resource management and sustainable good practice. She recently retired after working as a Catchment Co-ordinator for the past 5 years in the Environment Agency (EA), where she worked closely with Flood Defence colleagues, landowners, SW Water, Cornwall Council and other interested parties on water management.
Gitty has 37 years’ of experience and has a broad knowledge of environmental issues including Climate Change, Pollution Prevention, Sustainability, Waste and Resource Management, Environmental Legislation, Environmental Impact Assessments, Land Remediation and Management, Environmental Management Systems, Habitat Creation and Enhancement and Water Management.
Gitty was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s Birthday 2010 Honours List “For services to the Recycling and Waste Industries in Cornwall”.
As part of International Women’s Day in 2018, 2019 and 2020 Gitty was cited in the press as one of 60 inspirational and remarkable women who have made major contributions to Cornwall. She has worked closely with a range of Government Departments on both preventing and responding to the climate emergency and brings a focus on how we put people at the heart of that thinking. Gitty combines extensive regulatory experience with the ability to think creatively and strategically about the future and to engage others on that journey. She is very effective at networking and bringing people from all walks of life together.
With a background in Civil Engineering, Mark has extensive experience in multi-agency and partnership management delivering major projects in traffic, highway and environmental engineering and conservation management of built, natural and cultural heritage. Having worked in public, private and voluntary sectors, Mark promotes collaborative working to deliver community-focussed solutions.
He was recently the St Austell Bay Resilient Regeneration (StARR) Programme Manager, delivering Cornwall’s largest catchment-based flood resilience project.
The project brought together the three Flood Risk Management Authorities (Environment Agency, Cornwall Council and South West Water) to deliver a catchment-based approach to flood management. With a mix of traditional ‘grey’ flood protection measures and greener ‘Nature-Based Solutions’ the project increased storage capacity and control of water through the catchment. Hundreds of residential properties and businesses are now better protected from flooding, whilst providing the catalyst for future investment and regeneration in the area. The project also informed future place-shaping flood risk management projects in Cornwall.
Mark is now the Southwest’s Commercial Business Relationship Manager for the Environment Agency helping deliver flood and coastal erosion risk management projects across Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
In his spare time, Mark is a football coach, plays tennis and enjoys landscape photography and spending time at the coast and on Dartmoor – anything in the great outdoors…!
Martyn is a Cornwall Council nominated Trustee to CCFF.
Martyn was born and brought up in Cornwall and initially worked locally, drifting between jobs in the catering industry before leaving Cornwall and joining the Royal Air Force in 1985. During his RAF Career he saw active service in the Middle East and Kosovo, progressing to the rank of Squadron Leader and choosing to return to Cornwall and take retirement from the Service in 2004. Since leaving the RAF he has lived in Calenick, a small hamlet near Truro which sits within a Critical Drainage Area.
After working in the Cornish voluntary sector for almost 10-years, he went to work on a temporary contract with Cornwall Council managing their Flood Resilience Pathfinder Project. The project ended in 2015 and he continued to work part-time for the Cornwall Community Flood Forum, the local charity set up to continue the work started during the Flood Resilience Pathfinder Project. In May 2017, Martyn stood for election as a Cornwall Councillor and on being elected left his position as an employee of the CCFF to become a Cornwall Council nominated trustee of the charity. In March 2019 he was elected CCFF Chairman and stood down from this role in November 2020.
We will greatly miss Martyn Alvey as Chair, however, we are delighted that he remains as a CCFF Trustee. Martyn’s ethos and his willingness to lead from the front has inspired many communities to act and address the issues we need to tackle together, encouraging them to become better prepared for future flood and severe weather events- an incredible legacy.
Greg is a course leader at Falmouth university for International Business Management MSC. Greg has been researching, teaching and implementing multiple dimensions of sustainable development for over 25 years. He has worked with international organisations such as United Nations as well as organisations in the government, education and third sectors. He is the author of a number of journal articles and four books on different aspects of sustainability.
Greg has a particular interest in perceptions of climate change and the impact it has on local communities. He is currently finalising a book that explores community responses to, and perceptions of climate change throughout Cornwall.
Being born and raised on the South Coast of Devon and Greg has a strong family heritage throughout Devon and Cornwall with his family predominantly working in the areas of fishing and farming. As a life long surfer Greg spends as much of his time in the ocean and at the coast as possible.
Greg is also a trustee of the Cornwall National Landscapes Trust and the Falmouth University lead for the Cornwall National Landscapes partnership. Greg is also a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors with a practice that focuses on sustainability, Sustain Surveying. He manages the RICS knowledge platform ISURV in the areas of climate resilience and waste management. He is also a member of the Institution of Environmental Sciences and a Chartered Environmentalist.
I was brought up in what was then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), moving to South Africa to attend university in Pietermaritzburg where I gained a degree in Latin and French.
After some years in Cape Town working at UCT library, I moved back to Britain in 1977, settling in Gweek in Cornwall. My husband and I spent 10 years restoring our 1911, engineless Cornish lugger, Guide Me, while living our everyday lives on the boat, bringing up children and working towards a wonderful 4 years spent sailing our family home to Cape Town, via France, Spain, Madeira, the Canaries, Cape Verdes and Brazil, and back via Namibia, Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Tobago, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
On our return to Gweek, I began a career as a journalist, using my extensive sailing experience to write for various yachting publications.
We continued to live on the boat in Gweek, sailing in summer, until acquiring a house right on the river with foreshore on which to moor Guide Me.
I became a member of Gweek Parish Council in 2004 as I feel strongly that protection is needed for this small eco-system, on which the residents depend, against inappropriate or over development, both within the village and on the slopes that drain into the watercourses running through it.
At present I am working towards setting up a flood plan with the help of the Cornwall Community Flood Forum.
Dominic is an organic beef and sheep farmer on Bodmin Moor, with three generations living and working on the family farm. At various times, he has been a school governor, parish councillor and Cornwall Councillor. He is passionate about the environment and ever since entering local politics has worked hard to secure affordable housing for this very rural area. Having spent several years as a young man serving as an Army musician, he retains his musical interest by singing in a local choir.
Zach, who has been formally co-opted on to the Council as the new ward member for Tregolls, was previously an emergency medical technician with Southwest Ambulance Service in Dorset. After working with the Red Cross as a Volunteer First Responder/Community Educator and responding to humanitarian crises around the world, including the Syrian Refugee crisis in Turkey and the earthquake in Morocco, he studied in clinical placements in Germany, Poland and the Middle East before being forced to having to give up his career because of ill health and disability.
After returning to the UK, Zach took up a post with the Fabian Society where he was elected on to its executive committee between 2021-2023. Zach grew up in Truro and always knew he would return to his home city. His work has given him a strong understanding of the challenges facing the most vulnerable people in society and he is looking forward to bringing his knowledge and experience to his role as a city councillor.
“I have dedicated my adult life to public service and supporting vulnerable people” he said. “I believe my co-option will enable me to bring my perspective as a young person, an emergency worker, a disabled person and a community activist to the Council and add another constructive critical voice to its work”.
Loveday is a Cornwall Council nominated Trustee to CCFF.
A Cornwall Councillor for Crowan, Sithney and Wendron division, Loveday also has a PhD in plant biochemistry and has lectured extensively in environmental management and coastal zone management within the University of Exeter (Camborne School of Mines). She managed the Cornwall component of the European Cycleau project, trialling methods to improve water quality and flood management to meet EU Water Framework Directive requirements.
Loveday is currently leading the Environmental Explorers strand of the Liskeard to Looe Moor to Sea project for the Looe catchment.
Janet has been a Parish councillor in St Ewe for many years. She was previously a Trustee of the Flood Forum, after being flooded in 2010 and 2012.
She has created Flood Plans for St Ewe Parish and has previously been out and about doing workshops to get other parish and town councils to prepare Flood and Emergency Plans.
Mike has lived in the Southwest since 1972, and in Callington for the past 17 years where he is a member of Callington Town Council and an Executive Board member of the Cornwall Association of Local Councils (CALC), with responsibility for public health. He has considerable experience related to environmental and human health problems associated with contaminated water and soil; as well as air pollution resulting from road traffic, and the associated health risks for people living in proximity to heavily used roads. He has been a member of the Callington Neighbourhood Plan (NP) Steering Group (2014 – present). In this latter context, he has also advised the NP Consultants about various Public and Environmental Health issues. He is also a Trustee and Board Member of the Cornwall Community Flood Forum.
Professionally, he has worked as a chemical pollution toxicologist and cellular pathologist on a wide variety of environmental projects (including river and coastal flooding), both in the UK and throughout the world, as a UK Government Scientist. This has included being an advisor to the UK Government and European Commission Science Directorate, and a science/technical advisor and diplomat/international civil servant in various capacities for the United Nations (UNIDO, UNESCO-IOC, UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WHO). He was also the Science Coordinator for the UK Research Councils’ Environment & Human Health programmes. Although now semi-retired, he still maintains an active interest and research involvement in environmental and public health, through his Hon. Professorships (Honorary) in the University of Exeter Medical School (European Centre for Environment and Human Health – ECEHH, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro) and the University of Plymouth (School of Biological & Marine Science); as well as an Emeritus Fellowship in Plymouth Marine Laboratory. He is currently the UK Government nominated Representative for “Ocean Interactions with Human Health” for the Second & Third United Nations World Ocean Assessment (UN-WOA 2 & 3; UN Law of the Sea); member of the Group of Experts contributing to the House of Lords COVID-19 Committee; and a technical advisor to the United Nations Mediterranean Pollution Programme (UNEP/MAP-MEDPOL).
Devi is a University of Exeter nominated Trustee to CCFF.
Originally from Australia, Devi trained as a General Registered Nurse before embarking on her worldly travels, eventually settling in the South West of England. An opportunity to change course in career training led her to Cornwall. Following a BSc in Conservation Biology and Ecology and a PhD in Biosciences, Devi has since worked in various roles at the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus supporting academic research and working at the interface between academia, business and industry to actively bring stakeholders together to form meaningful partnerships. She engages with a wide range of stakeholders including public and private sector businesses as well as educational, government and community organisations. She works collaboratively across various sector themes (including space/aerospace, Environmental Intelligence, Nature-based Solutions, agri-tech and microbiology).
Jenny is a Postgraduate Research Associate at the University of Exeter, specialising in the shelf sea carbon cycle and the impact of seafloor disturbances on carbon stored in seafloor sediments. She has strong technical expertise in remote sensing, data analysis using Python, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
Prior to her doctoral studies, Jenny was pursuing a career in the coastal sector following a MSc in Engineering in the Coastal Environment from the University of Southampton. This academic foundation led to several key roles over a period of three years. Starting as an Environmental Project Officer at the East Solent Coastal Partnership looking, she then worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Southampton, where she conducted flood and erosion risk analyses to inform the long-term management of coastal landfill sites. Her final role before embarking on her doctoral studies was as a Coastal Process Scientist at the South West Coastal Monitoring Programme, where she worked in a team to provide freely available high-quality data on coastal processes and assets to help inform effective coastal management.
Having put down roots in Falmouth, Jenny has developed a strong connection to Cornwall through her friends and family, as well as her love of sea swimming and hiking. She is passionate about raising awareness of flood risk and is committed to using her knowledge of coastal science and engineering alongside her expertise in science communication to help Cornish communities build resilience against flooding.
Community Engagement Officer
Amy started her role with the Forum in June 2023, after graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in Physical Geography. As Community Engagement Officer, Amy’s role involves meeting communities in Cornwall, helping them to draft their flood plan, providing flood warden training and organising CCFF’s annual conference. She also works alongside the Making Space for Sand project, engaging with communities and helping to create Community Resilience Action Briefs and Coastal Adaptation Plans.
Email: AmyR@volunteercornwall.org.uk
Phone: 07736 724365
Community Engagement Officer
Emma graduated with a degree in Disaster and Emergency Management from Coventry University, where she also completed a year in New Zealand working with Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Group. Her undergraduate research focused on community resilience and how communities can help prepare themselves for future disasters. Emma began her work with CCFF in September 2024, and works alongside Amy to engage with local communities, helping them to develop plans and become more resilient.
Email: EmmaN@volunteercornwall.org.uk
Phone: 07355 598858
CCFF are advised by expert individuals from Cornwall Council, the Environment Agency, the Cornwall Catchment Partnership and South West Water who attend whenever possible:
CCFF Advisor, Cornwall Catchment Partnership
Jade Neville is the Catchment Partnership Officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust and works to support the Cornwall Catchment Partnership to improve the water environment in Cornwall for people and wildlife. As part of the national Catchment Based Approach movement, Jade’s role is to help bring together local people, communities, organisations and businesses to make decisions on managing the streams, rivers, and lakes of Cornwall.
Before joining Cornwall Wildlife Trust in August 2021 Jade held various roles in the environmental sector and in community development, following completion of an MSci in Environmental Geoscience at the University of Bristol. Jade’s previous roles included working in climate change communications at GRID-Arendal, a UNEP collaboration centre in Norway, working in the Environmental Sustainability team at the University of Oxford and managing food-growing spaces to provide social and therapeutic activities for Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change. Jade has also been on the core delivery team for the Oxford Real Farming Conference since 2014 and is co-secretary of the Friends of Coosebean community group in Truro.
CCFF Advisor, Environment Agency
Liz has worked in flood risk management for over 15 years. She started work as a flood risk asset inspector for the Environment Agency in Bedford, but since then her roles have ranged from flood forecasting to supporting partner organisations with delivering flood risk projects. Liz joined the Flood Resilience Team in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in 2019 with her role focussing on helping communities to prepare, respond and recover from the impacts of flooding.
“We need to build a nation ready to respond and adapt to flooding and coastal change, by ensuring local people understand their risk to flooding and coastal change and know their responsibilities and how to take action. By working together with Cornwall Community Flood Forum and Cornwall Council, Liz and the Environment Agency want to empower people to be able to take actions to prepare in advance of flooding – reducing the impacts and devastation that flooding can have on individuals and communities.”
Members of the Flood Forum are entitled to attend the quarterly meetings of the Board of Trustees and to vote. You can find out more about becoming a member of the Flood Forum and join up today here.
CCFF Chairperson – We are looking for a new Chairperson to lead the charity into the future. You will have the chance to job shadow our current Chair until December 2026, to give you an understanding about the role and its requirements. If you are passionate about building community resilience here in Cornwall, then we would love to hear from you! If you are interested, please contact Gitty Ankers at gittyankers7@gmail.com or on 07768 278579 and find out more about the role here – Chair Role Description.
Honorary Secretary – We are looking for a Volunteer Honorary Secretary to support the Forum with organising meetings and taking minutes. If you are interested, please contact Gitty Ankers at gittyankers7@gmail.com or on 07768 278579 or click here to find out more about the role and how to apply: Honorary Secretary Role Description
Send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
