Meet the team
The Trust is made up of a voluntary board of trustees and several paid specialists.
Trustees
Dr Harry White
Chairman
Harry has been a member of the Museum Action Group since its inception in 2008 and has been chairman since 2015. He retired from Molson Coors at the end of 2007, where he had been Global Director of Technical Compliance and Director of Quality Assurance as part of 25 years’ experience with Bass.
Bob Heaver
Treasurer
Bob joined the Trust in 2014 and is the Treasurer. Bob worked for thirty years in financial / strategic planning, investment appraisal and acquisitions / divestment for Bass PLC, Bass Leisure and finally for Bass Brewers / Coors.
Brett Rathbone
Vice Chairman
Brett joined the Trust in 2022 after a 35-year career with Bass, Coors, and Molson Coors. His experience includes a series of global IT leadership roles in the UK and USA with considerable experience leading major change projects.
Chris Holden
Marketing & Membership Secretary
Chris Holden has over 30 years’ experience in the UK hospitality industry in brand management and category development roles, as well as senior research and insight positions with Molson Coors. In 2012 he set up Ashdale Business Consulting Ltd, building partnerships with clients to help them make more profitable decisions. He is also a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University.
Janet Dean
Janet’s extensive public service includes becoming a Staffordshire County councillor in 1981 and an East Staffordshire District councillor in 1991. In 1997 she was elected as MP for Burton upon Trent and stood until 2010. She was instrumental in the formation of the Trust in 2008 and has been a Trustee since it was incorporated.
Chris Else
Chris is the founding Partner of Else Solicitors and has over 25 years’ experience as a commercial solicitor dealing mainly with commercial disputes. He is also an accredited Mediator.
Anthony Hughes
Anthony Hughes is the Founder of Lincoln Green Brewing Company Limited, an independent brewery and pub company based in Nottinghamshire. Anthony had a long career in retail, before deciding to turn a life-long hobby into a business. Lincoln Green was established in 2012.
Robert Humphreys
Robert’s long career with Bass culminated as Director of Public Relations for its brewing division. He ran the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group from 1993 to 2014 and has been Chair of the UK Proof of Age Standards Scheme, Vice-Chair of Best Bar None and director of the British Guild of Beer Writers. He was awarded MBE for services to alcohol policy in 2015.
Sir Alan Meale
Sir Alan Meale was the MP for Mansfield from 1987 to 2017. He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State under John Prescott from 1998 to 1999. He became a government whip Council of Europe Delegation in 2007 and acting Leader of the UK Delegation in 2010. He was knighted in 2011 and was the first chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group.
Tom Stainer
Tom Stainer has spent almost three decades involved in the pub, brewing and wider hospitality sector. Moving to the Campaign for Real Ale 20 years ago, he was editor of What’s Brewing, and launched and edited BEER magazine, before serving as Head of Communications, Chief of Campaigns and Communications, and for the last five years as CAMRA Chief Executive.
Steph Sykes-Dugmore
Steph is the Head of Collections and Research at the Silverstone Museum at Silverstone Circuit. Steph has managed the collection of the British Racing Drivers’ Club since 2009, and has taken the collection from boxes in a farmhouse to state-of-the-art museum. Today she works with the team to produce new exhibitions annually.
Helen Taylor
Helen is the Museum Manager at the West Midlands Police Museum, where she leads collections management, volunteer engagement and collections policy. She played a key role in relocating the museum’s collection and successfully opening its new site in 2022, ensuring the preservation and accessibility of police heritage for future generations.
Amrit Virk
Amrit is the Assistant Principal at Burton & South Derbyshire College with responsibility for Marketing, Business Development and International students. He will represent the College on the board as we look to work more closely with them on the development of a brewery heritage and social history experience in Burton upon Trent.
Contractor team
Helen Jarvis
Office Manager
Helen joined us in the summer of 2024. With a career that includes business relationship roles in the pub sector, she is a highly experienced Operations and Office Manager. She manages the Trust office as well as the volunteer team in the Brewery Heritage Centre.
Stephanie Nield
Archivist
Stephanie joined us in summer 2024, with nearly 2 decades’ experience in archives and heritage engagement projects. She holds a Masters in Archives and Records Management and is responsible for the care and conservation of the Archive.
Jenny Procter
Marketing Manager
Jenny joined us in spring 2024 and manages our marketing strategy including social media, digital and content marketing. Her 25 years’ experience in marketing covers small businesses, local government, NHS and social housing organisations.
Laura Waters
Collections Officer
Laura started working with the Trust in spring 2023. Qualified in Heritage Management, her extensive experience includes working with the National Trust, several local authority collections and a large UK charity. She is responsible for the care of the artefacts in the Collection.