Our Members have different skills and areas of expertise, interests and pastimes. One thing unites them – they love the Yorkshire Dales National Park and work to represent the National Park Authority in conserving, enhancing and promoting this wonderful place.
Information about each individual Member, including their current Register of Interests entry, can be seen on the pages below.
The Authority’s member champions are also indicated in the list below. Individual Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are appointed to ‘champion’ specific areas of the Authority’s work.
The key role of each Member Champion is to support the achievement of the Authority’s policies and objectives for that area of work. The exact way in which any Member Champion does this will depend on the individual Member and the particular area of work. Nonetheless, there are some general roles that form part of the job description for each Member Champion:
- represent and promote the area of work externally, including acting as a ‘public face’ of the Authority through the media;
- support officers in the implementation of the Authority’s policies, and the achievement of the Authority’s objectives for that area of work;
- assist officers in the formulation of new policy proposals before formal consideration by the Authority. They are expected to bring the wider `Members’ perspective’ to these discussions – and to seek early input from other Members when significant policy changes are being considered.
- champion the area of work within the Authority, including introducing relevant reports that come to the Authority and its committees, or speaking first in the debate.
- act as a ‘critical friend’ to officers and encourage improvement, for example where the Authority may not be meeting its objectives or targets for the area of work.
- participate in relevant ‘performance reviews’ instigated by the Audit and Review Committee;
We have a number of public committee meetings throughout the year. You can view upcoming and past meetings here.
Derek Twine CBE - Chair
Secretary of State appointees (National members)
Committees
Finance and Resources, Planning
Derek Twine is formerly Chief Executive for the UK Scout Association. He started his career on the academic staff of Bangor University, since when he has held management and leadership roles in youth work, adult training, corporate development and community engagement. He has held various national and international governance roles including with the National Trust and with the Church Urban Fund. He chaired the 2013 Voluntary Sector Governance Review and he has provided evidence to several Parliamentary Select Committees. He is an Honorary Canon and Chair of Council at Bradford Cathedral, and is Development Coordinator at All Saints Church Ilkley. He was appointed CBE in 2007 for services to young people.
Derek’s contributions across his professional and pro-bono roles have especially been to increase diversity, engage with and advocate for young people, foster sustainable communities, recruit and support volunteering, and encourage connection with the outdoors and environment.
Derek and his wife live in Burley-in-Wharfedale, and they enjoy walking in the Dales and on the moors with their adult children and their grandchildren who live nearby.
Lizzie Bushby - Deputy Chair
Secretary of State appointees (National members)
Committees
Audit and Review
Member Champion for
Recreation Management
Lizzie Bushby is a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute, and works on a variety of strategic landscape planning projects at CBA. She is passionate about the natural environment, and believes a landscape led approach to development and landscape management can contribute to tackling some of the big issues we face, like climate change and health and well-being. She is keen to ensure that landscapes are managed in a way that balances social, economic and ecological needs.
She first discovered the Yorkshire Dales when living in Leeds, where she developed a passion for landscape that led her to retrain as a landscape architect. Lizzie lives in Nottinghamshire with her family, and can often be found walking in the countryside, camping and gardening.
Dr Saira Ali (FLI)
Secretary of State appointees (National members)
Committees
Audit and Review, Planning
Dr Saira Ali (FLI) is an award-winning Landscape Architect and President Elect of the Landscape Institute. She is Team Leader of Landscape Design and Conservation at Bradford Council, where she is known for turning vision into action, delivering major placemaking and infrastructure projects, unlocking growth, and reshaping places through bold, collaborative partnerships.
With over 28 years’ experience across both the private and public sectors, Saira leads transformational, landscape-led projects that reconnect communities and deliver meaningful change through inclusive, co-designed public spaces. A Fellow of both the Landscape Institute and the RSA, she is a nationally recognised leader in climate-resilient placemaking, health-led greening, and heritage-led regeneration. Her work integrates blue green infrastructure, active travel, and child-friendly urban design to create places that promote wellbeing, equity, and long-term environmental and social resilience.
Saira is passionate about civic innovation and place based systems change that empowers underrepresented communities. She has delivered pioneering early years initiatives that support healthy child development through access to nature, play, and active urban environments. Her leadership has helped shape national policy, secured significant investment, and demonstrated how people centred, environmentally just design can address complex urban challenges.
Her heritage conservation work and leadership in public realm design align strongly with the purposes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority: conserving and enhancing natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage, while also promoting opportunities for people of all backgrounds to understand and enjoy these special landscapes. She also shares the Authority’s commitment to supporting the economic and social wellbeing of local communities, recognising that thriving places depend on the integration of heritage, environment, and people.
Beyond her project work, Saira contributes her expertise nationally as an Independent Member of the Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, She also serves on the Editorial Advisory Panel for the Landscape Journal, the Professional Review Group Panel at the University of Sheffield, and the Historic Environment Advisory Group for the National Trust.
Libby Bateman
Secretary of State appointees (Parish members)
Committees
Finance and Resources, Planning
Libby lives in the parish of Ravenstonedale where she was raised, attending Ravenstonedale Primary School and then on to Settlebeck High School in Sedbergh for secondary education. From 2009, Libby worked on the development and delivery of the Upper Eden Community Plan, implementing a wide range of projects from renewable energy, broadband and community events to national planning reform. Libby has a keen interest in environment economics and is in her final year of studying for a degree in Politics, Philosophy & Economics with the Open University.
Libby Bateman is a parish councillor on Ravenstonedale Parish Council and a former Cumbria County Councillor, representing Kirkby Stephen Division from 2013 – 2017. Libby is a keen horse rider and has a deep understanding of the value of safe and enjoyable access to the countryside for everybody.
Mark Corner
Secretary of State appointees (National members)
Committees
Audit and Review, Planning, Standards
Member Champion for
Natural Environment
Mark Corner studied Chemical Engineering at Manchester University and has an MBA from Manchester Business School. He retired from Royal Dutch Shell plc in 2009 after 30 years working in a variety of roles including Chemicals, Corporate and Government Affairs, and as a senior executive in Global Exploration and Production. He has been resident and worked in the UK, Argentina, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Holland. He has lived with his family in Langcliffe since 2009, acquiring a home there several years before when the first of his four children started attending Giggleswick school.
Mark first visited the Dales on a camping holiday with his school in Sunderland and has been enthralled since then by its landscape and people. He knows the area well through his interest in walking, photography and, lately, sketching. He owns and manages two woodlands, for wildlife and amenity, and is a bee keeper. Mark has been an active trustee of Friends of the Dales and was its chairman for four years until mid-2019.
Felicity Cunliffe-Lister
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Finance and Resources
Felicity Cunliffe-Lister has lived in Masham since 2000, when she moved to North Yorkshire with her husband, Mark. Alongside building and leading their hospitality business interests over the years, she has played an active role in the local community, serving as a pre-school committee member, school governor and Almshouse Trustee, as well as raising their three children.
In 2006, Mark and Felicity took on the running of the Swinton Estate, which has evolved in recent years to include a strong focus on sustainability. The estate now delivers a range of environmental initiatives, including peatland restoration, renewable energy generation and biodiversity enhancement, and has been assessed as carbon negative.
At home, they keep a small flock of Masham ewes, which take part in the sheep racing at the annual Masham Sheep Fair. Felicity’s personal interests include walking, wild swimming, singing and playing tennis.
Felicity was elected as County Councillor for Masham & Fountains in February 2023, representing the Liberal Democrats.
Richard Foster
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Planning, Audit and Review
Richard is a farmer’s son from Kilnsey who has lived in Wharfedale all his life apart from studying in Newcastle for 3 years to gain a degree in agriculture.
He is currently self-employed and has been a Councillor on Craven District Council for the past 13 years, becoming Deputy Leader then Leader. He is a Councillor for North Yorkshire Council and was elected to the new Unitary Authority in May 2022. He is also Chair of the North Yorkshire, York and East Riding Housing Board and sits on the Health and Wellbeing Board.
Dr. Michael Hanley
Local Authority Appointees – Westmorland and Furness Council
Committees
Planning, Audit and Review
Neil Heseltine
Secretary of State appointees (Parish members)
Committees
Finance and Resources
Member Champion for
Promoting Understanding
Neil Heseltine is a fourth generation farmer and was educated at Ermysteds Grammar School, Skipton and Seale Hayne Agricultural College. He spent time travelling and working on farms in New Zealand and Scotland before returning to Hill Top Farm, Malham, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park where he was born and brought up. He now farms Hill Top with his partner Leigh and they have a young daughter, Violet. The farm comprises 1100 acres, the majority of which is in Countryside Stewardship and this includes land rented from the National Trust. In 2003, as part of a conservation grazing scheme, he introduced 20 Belted Galloway cattle to the farm. This proved to be a defining time for Neil in terms of ethos and mind-set, as he sought more sustainable and environmentally friendly production methods. He has recently been closely involved with the National Trust in a trial payments by results scheme and was awarded the National Trust’s “Farming with Nature” award in 2019.
Neil was a member of the National Park England [NPE] Future of farming post Brexit task & finish group in 2016/17 who helped prepare the document ‘Farming in the English National Parks’ which enables NPE to make proposals to DEFRA on the future of farming in the English National Parks and he recently gave evidence to the North Yorkshire Rural Commission.
A keen rugby player and cricketer, he is a member of Malham Parish Council and is a former chairman of the Malham Show. Neil was appointed Chair of the Authority in June 2020 – 2024 having served as Deputy Chair since June 2019.
Robert Heseltine
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Audit and Review, Planning
Robert was born at Bolton Abbey and educated at Ermysteds Grammar School. His working life has centred around dales farming at the family farm at Bolton Abbey, retail, commerce, provision of care services for the elderly, interests in the hotel sector, and environmental consultancy. Pastimes include drystone walling, mountain walking, the environment, voluntary and charity work and of course the occasional pint of Guinness. He is a lifelong supporter of Burnley Football Club, and has a reputation as an internationally-renowned mole catcher.
In public life his services include nearly thirty years as a member of both North Yorkshire County Council and Craven District Council, and Skipton Town Council.
Nationally, he serves or has served on various policy and strategy committees including the Rural Needs Panel of the Association of District Councils and the Finance Group of the Association of County Councils. He has an abiding passion and concern for environmental, social, cultural and economic regeneration.
Robert is currently involved as a lead member on Economic Development and Rural Services, Planning and Regulatory functions. He is Vice Chairman of the National Rural Services Executive of the Local Government Association.
Dan Holmes
Secretary of State appointees (National members)
Committees
Finance and Resources, Planning
Dan Holmes is a Carbon Consultant of Ecollective and an Ambassador at Campaign for National Parks. He was formerly a Sustainability Associate at the University of Sussex.
Dan has a clear and sustained passion for national parks and protected landscapes, rooted in personal experience and reinforced by professional interests. His enthusiasm for the work of the Yorkshire Dales NPA is evident.
He has demonstrated strong engagement through a biodiversity consultation at the University of Sussex, leading to increased land for nature. His EDI work as a Brighton radio programming manager improved representation and content diversity.
He is a strategic thinker designing a decarbonisation plan for the Scottish Air Ambulance Service. He led the project end-to-end, navigating complex constraints and reputational risks while modelling alternative solutions.
He can draw on his tourism and business experience, particularly his work on behaviour change, low-carbon travel, and regenerative tourism. He would like to see improved access to relatively low-cost, high-impact interventions, such as increasing coach access.
Richard Ingram
Secretary of State appointees (Parish members)
Committees
Planning, Audit and Review
Here in the heart of the National Park I have, with my partner Vicky, spent the past few years renovating our 18th century home in which we reside, and that also offers luxury self-catering accommodation.
Along with my new role in YDNPA, I also currently serve as Chair of Buckden Parish Council, am Vice Chair and Governor of the Upper Wharfedale Primary Federation (four Primary schools) and volunteer as driver for the Upper Wharfedale Bus company.
David Ireton
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Audit and Review, Planning, Standards
I live with my family on a smallholding in Chapel-le-Dale in the heart of the Three Peaks.The Yorkshire Dales living landscape and the community of those who dwell and work here have always been close to my heart.
I was born into a farming family in Sedgewick near Kendal and educated at Kirkby Lonsdale. On leaving school I followed my ambition and served an apprenticeship in butchery, and in 1974 was able to purchase the butchers shop in Ingleton where I remained until retirement, selling the shop in 2005.
I was honoured to be asked to become involved in serving the wider community, and in 1998 was elected to Craven District Council serving as its chairman from 2006 to 2008. In 1999 I became a councillor on North Yorkshire County Council; I continue to serve in both roles to this day.
A sustainable future for our countryside is of vital importance to everybody; for those who earn their livelihood here and act as stewards of this very special environment, and for those who visit.
Peter Jackson
Local Authority Appointees – Lancaster City Council
Committees
Finance and Resources
Born in Blackpool and educated at Helsby Grammar School in Cheshire before reading Modern History at Wadham College, Oxford University, Peter has spent a long career working in sales and business management. He runs an import and distribution business in North Lancashire.
Once a keen runner on roads and fells, his outdoor activities are limited to walking nowadays, he particularly enjoys Malham and the Howgill Fells. He also is an enthusiastic player of contract bridge and a former chair of Lancaster Bridge Club. Peter is a follower of national hunt racing and a regular visitor to the Cheltenham Festival.
Peter was elected to Lancaster City Council in May 2023 to represent a large rural ward in the Lune Valley and welcomes the opportunity to serve on the National Park Authority.
Allen Kirkbride
Secretary of State appointees (Parish members)
Committees
Planning, Audit and Review, Standards
Allen has always lived and farmed in Askrigg, Wensleydale, having been educated at Wensleydale School. He is married with 3 children, one who works on the farm, one in hotel management and one in the NHS.
Allen is Chairman of Askrigg Parish Council and a member of Yorebridge Educational Foundation.He is a trustee of Askrigg Foundation and the Cumbria and Yorkshire Dales Farmers Network. He is also Vice-Chairman of Hawes Farmers Auction Mart and a director of the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership and Yorebridge Sports & Leisure.
Allen likes the countryside and any sport but especially Burnley Football Club. He dislikes cities, queuing and crowds!
Ian Mitchell
Local Authority Appointees – Westmorland and Furness Council
Committees
Planning, Standards, Finance and Resources
Member Champion for
Corporate Management
Born in Lancaster, Ian Mitchell has lived in Dent all his life, he is deeply involved with the local community, having worked in one of Dent’s two pubs ‘The George and Dragon’ for 15 years – the last 3 as manager. Ian also serves as vice chair on Dent Parish Council as well as being a governor to Dent C of E Primary School.
Having served on South Lakeland District Council, representing the Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale ward from May 2018, Ian is now an elected Councillor for Westmorland and Furness Council.
Ian is highly involved with Dent Football Club and a member of the local pool team.
Andrew Murday
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Planning, Finance and Resources, Standards
Member Champion for
Sustainable Development
Dr Andrew Murday runs a smallholding just outside Glasshouses.
Before moving to Nidderdale 12 years ago, he was an NHS heart surgeon and director of heart and lung surgery in the West of Scotland. More recently he has been working in the Covid vaccination team in Leeds.
As well as running his smallholding near Glasshouses, Andrew is actively involved in the community, playing in the Summerbridge and Dacre Silver Prize Band and the Nidderdale Community Orchestra as well as volunteering at the Pateley Bridge museum.
David Noland
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Finance and Resources, Planning
Member Champion for
Cultural Heritage
Born in Hertfordshire and after school in Harrogate and university in Manchester, David worked as a teacher in London, Shropshire, Cumbria and Essex. He gained a love of the Dales in Derbyshire and then Yorkshire, settling in Skipton in 2000. He was elected to Craven District Council and later, NYCC in May 2022 for the division of Skipton North and Embsay with Eastby, some of which lies in the National Park, and now is a Councillor on North Yorkshire Council.
David lives with his partner in Skipton. His two children attend local high schools. He played cricket for Skipton CC for many Saturdays but mostly just coaches juniors now. He loves to explore the Dales on foot or bicycle in search of the best cake that cafes can offer although he is a keen baker himself. He is an avid reader of history, novels, transport, energy and economics. He is keen to address the challenges facing modern farmers and the wider community as well as exploring how we can support a sustainable future for our countryside but also welcome the many people who wish to visit.
Stuart Parsons
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Finance and Resources
Yvonne Peacock MBE
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Audit and Review, Planning
Yvonne Peacock, a farmer’s daughter, has lived all her life in Bainbridge. She is in partnership with her two sons in the James Peacock Solid Fuel and Private Hire Business and also The Corn Mill Tearoom.
She has served as a Councillor on Richmondshire District Council for over 20 years; and was leader from 2015 to 2019; and just recently become a North Yorkshire County Councillor.
Over the years Yvonne has chaired many committees including resources and housing. Her interests include helping the community to gain funding for local charities and groups.
Yvonne leads a very busy life so no real hobbies but enjoys reading and her favourite authors are John Grisham, Lee Childs, Jeffery Archer and Anna Jacobs.
Karin Sedgwick
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Finance and Resources
Karin has been an elected councillor since 2015 and is the North Yorkshire Council representative for the Leyburn and Middleham Ward, which includes an area of the National Park.
Karin cares passionately about people, particularly the young, elderly and disadvantaged and seeks to assist them wherever possible. Karin is currently Chair of North Yorkshire Council’s Care and Independence Overview Scrutiny and the Scrutiny Board. She also works with the schools and elderly provision within her area.
Working with the community, Karin is active with the many parish councils within her ward and has helped fund many successful community projects and initiatives with her locality budget.
Living in the Dales gives Karin the opportunity to spend time in these beautiful surroundings. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, music and walking.
Steve Shaw-Wright
Local Authority Appointees – North Yorkshire Council
Committees
Audit and Review, Planning
Graham Simpkins
Local Authority Appointees – Westmorland and Furness Council
Committees
Planning, Audit and Review
Born and bred in Westmorland much of which is now The Westmorland Dales, within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. My school life was spent in both Kendal Westmorland and Adelaide Australia. My academic undertakings since leaving school at the age of fifteen have included studies with the Chartered Institute of Transport followed by degrees in Economics, Politics and Transportation Management at Bradford and Cranfield Universities. My working life has largely been in the transport, tourism & logistics industries. I have been employed in Scotland working in the incoming tourism market, transporting vast numbers of foreign nationals around the country. I have also worked with and for quangos, local & regional government developing sustainable transport initiatives largely, but not exclusively, in the south east of England. My wife a Yorkshire lass and I are now retired and I’m looking forward to utilising my skills for the benefit of both resident and visitor of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Nigel Swales
Local Authority Appointees – Lancashire County Council
Committees
Finance and Resources
Nigel is the County Councillor for Skelmersdale East in the Lancashire County Council and also a Parish Councillor for Up Holland.
He requested to be a member of the Yorkshire Dales Authority because he was born and bred in Yorkshire and is passionate about the heritage and maintaining the National Park. He still has family in the Yorkshire area (near Skipton and near Northallerton) and visits frequently, always choosing to travel over the ‘Dales.
He lives in West Lancashire with his wife and young family. He has worked in the NHS for the last fourteen years. As a keen biker he spends quite a lot of his free time travelling around the Yorkshire Dales.
Katie Norgate
Co-opted Members (not appointed )
Committees
Finance and Resources
Katie grew up in Surrey and she attended school in Hawley, Hampshire. In 2018 she was awarded the Cranleigh and South Eastern Agricultural grant, this enabled her to visit Durrell Wildlife Conservatory in Jersey, which enhanced her passion for animals and conservation. In 2020, Katie obtained a Bsc in Animal Science at Reading University. She moved to County Durham in 2022 and is now living in Northallerton where she works as a civil servant.
Katie enjoys hiking and has enjoyed many visits to the Yorkshire Dales. She is a keen horse rider, having previously competed at low level eventing and now has a young Highland pony. Katie is looking forward to working with the authority and helping to make the park accessible to all
Zac Anderson
Co-opted Members (not appointed )
Committees
Finance and Resources
I’m an employee at the Ministry of Justice, and I have a keen interest in expanding the reach of the Yorkshire Dales to a wider audience. I have grown up with a love for hiking and the outdoors, and studying Land Economy at Cambridge University helped hone my respect for the natural environment. I want to take what I’ve learnt and use it to improve the nation’s understanding of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
I have a love for the Yorkshire Dales that was sparked by a working stay at a small hold farm near Sedbergh. I still keep up my love for the outdoors, and I enjoy playing a wide array of sports in my spare time.
