DIRECTORS

Hamish joined ENCON as a trustee in 2017 and became Chairman in 2018. Having grown up in Oxford, he moved to the area with his wife and three children in 2014. His children all attended Great Tew Primary School.

During his time on the ENCON board, Hamish has been particularly involved in local planning matters that have a risk on the area. This included ENCON’s engagement with the Mullin Motor Museum, the expansion of Soho Farmhouse and the renovation of Heythrop Park hotel (which ENCON supported).

Hamish is an investor in Oxfordshire based science and technology businesses, having qualified as an Accountant with KPMG. Previous pro bono roles include serving as an external member of the Nuffield College (Oxford University) Investment Committee and as a Governor of Kensington Wade, Europe’s first bi-lingual Anglo-Chinese school.

I have been a Director of Encon for over 20 years, having lived in Great Tew for 30 years. When I first joined the Board, Encon was considered to be largely a vehicle enabling Nimbys to object to planning proposals. It wasn't a fair view, but it did exist .I am pleased to say that the Charity has moved on considerably since then.
Of course we still object to planning that we consider detrimental to the countryside and our environment, the most recent example being our objection to the Mullin Motor museum. However when planning permission was granted, as a Board we considered it important that Encon continue to be involved with the project as it develops, and Hamish and I are both members of the Mullin Community Forum with input on the development plans. We see our role therefore as not only objecting to plans, if we consider that appropriate, but also working with developments for the benefit of the environment.
Another noticeable change in the Charity since I first joined is the development of a working relationship with WODC, who now listen to our voice as representative of the community. We have spent many hours in face to face meetings with the Council concerning noise and nuisance issues I relation to Both Oxfordshire Shooting School and Enstone Airfield Flying Clubs.
Attempting to improve local planning issues is part of our role; supporting the local environment is just as, if not more important, and here the lead is being taken up by our newest Board Members, who can take up the story.

Mary is a farmer’s daughter who, having lived in London all her adult life, moved to Church Enstone in 2019 to satisfy her nostalgia for ancient walls, wood pigeons, clean air and mud.

After a busy career, mostly in the education sector, Mary now leads an entirely non-executive life including chairing Pearson Education and the Dyson Institute.  She also has experience in the charity sector serving as a Trustee at River Learning Trust (a group of local academy schools) and as a former Chief executive of UCAS.

Mary joined the Trustees of ENCON in 2024 to support local heritage, environment and conservation.

Nigel moved from Surrey to Church Enstone in 2022 and became an ENCON trustee in 2024. He spent all his working life in business media running magazines, websites and events. Most recently he owned and ran The Bookseller media company and revived The British Book Awards. Whilst at The Bookseller, he was a frequent judge on the Wainwright Prize for nature and conservation writing.

Enthusiasm for nature and a desire to protect it have been a thread throughout Nigel’s life right from early days birdwatching on the North Kent Marshes. Wanting to be part of efforts to reduce CO2 and move to renewables led to becoming a director of Wey Valley Solar, which puts solar arrays on Surrey schools.

He is keen to help ENCON protect and enhance the natural environment around Enstone and the surrounding villages, with a particular interest in supporting efforts to improve and create habitats for wildlife.