Trustee Elections 2025

Dr Anna Dimitropoulou 

Growing up in a busy urban environment, I always found peace and joy when I could escape into nature. Yorkshire is a special place for me, with its rolling green hills, wildlife-rich moors, beautiful coastline, and vibrant cities. Whether I’m out walking or simply sitting in the fresh air, I feel most at peace when surrounded by wildlife. These places mean so much to me, and I want to help protect them for the future.

Nature faces significant challenges, but I believe that when people work together, real change is possible. Being a trustee would allow me to work alongside like-minded individuals to safeguard nature, while also inspiring and engaging local communities – including those who, like me, grew up in cities – to experience the outdoors and understand why we need to protect it.

I don’t have all the answers, but I bring energy, commitment, and a willingness to learn. I’m eager to get involved, share ideas, and help where I can. Alongside my passion for nature, I have an academic and professional background in environmental law and policy, which equips me to navigate complex issues, think critically, and stay focused on the bigger picture.
 

Dr Mick Armitage
 

I have been a trustee with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust since 2020.  During that period, I have been an active member of the Finance & Risk Committee and the Nature Recovery Committee.  For the past two years I have also been the Honorary Treasurer for the trust.   I have enjoyed my time as a trustee and think I am able to bring useful insight to the Board of Trustees.

I have had a lifetime passion for wildlife.  I obtained a degree in Marine Biology at university and followed this up with a PhD studying the ecology of mountain streams in Wales.  This combination has given me a good understanding of the natural environment and its complexities and challenges.

I subsequently had a 30-year career in business, specialising in providing technology and business process advice to global corporations, government departments and NGOs.  I am now retired and believe that my combination of scientific, business and technology skills have proven a useful combination that adds value to the trust.  Going forward I am interested in helping the trust shape how it responds to digital opportunities in the delivery of its aims.
 

Neil Bramley 

I’ve long felt a deep connection to Yorkshire’s landscapes and communities, alongside growing concern about the pressures facing our wildlife and natural environment. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s mission speaks directly to my values, and I’m keen to contribute to its vital work in a thoughtful, collaborative way as a Trustee.

I bring 20 years’ experience of strategic transformation, change and operational leadership across commercial and not-for-profit sectors. At Barclays, I led complex change portfolios—developing strategy, embedding digital capabilities, and working across the organisation to build high-performing teams. I also have expertise in managing major external partnerships and delivering lasting improvements in performance and resilience.

More recently, I’ve transitioned into the conservation and charity sector at the RSPB, supporting stronger governance, delivery and financial sustainability. My focus has been on embedding more agile and impactful ways of working—drawing thoughtfully on commercial tools and processes to support mission-led work.

Since 2021, I’ve also served as a Trustee at Unity Works, a social enterprise supporting people with learning disabilities into employment and training. I’ve helped shape board strategy and strengthen operational resilience.
 

Nick Perks 

I have worked for more than 25 years in the charity sector, including formerly as the first paid co-ordinator of the Environmental Funders Network, and as Trust Secretary of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. For the past six years I have been a freelance charity consultant, and continue to have good links across philanthropic and environmental organisations. I am also the founder of the Funder Commitment on Climate Change, and an accredited Carbon Literacy Trainer. I live in York. 
 

I have always loved the outdoors, and am passionate about restoring nature. I joined the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Board in 2020, and it is a pleasure and a privilege to be part of a wonderful group of trustees, staff, volunteers, members and supporters. I have been an active trustee over the past five years, and was honoured to take over as Chair in autumn 2024. I hope that members will support me to continue as a trustee for a second term. 
 

Suzannah Rockett 

I have lived in Yorkshire for twenty years – the majority of my adult life – and feel a deep connection to the nature and wildlife here. Whilst many will sing the praises of the Dales and Moors National Parks, I am rooted to the post-industrial landscapes in the south and east of the region. I find hope in the Ings, the old pit tips supporting unnoticed skylarks and the former quarries turned into abundant wetlands. My motivation for applying for this role is because I want to be a part of that; to ensure the future of these places and make them accessible to everyone.

Since working in the RSPB, I have rapidly developed an understanding of some of our most complex conservation challenges linked with Curlew: working with farmers at scale, agri-environment schemes, peatland restoration, reforestation, gamebird and grouse moor management, predator control and wildlife persecution have all been aspects of the Curlew LIFE project. Working in these areas has given me a strong grasp of the complexity of wildlife conservation within the UK. It has also given me the opportunity, through the running of local and national workshops, of creating a network of colleagues in Natural England, JNCC, the BTO and GWCT. I am open-minded, intellectually rigorous person with a genuine interest in new perspectives and different voices.

Professor Alastair Fitter CBE FRS

Alastair Fitter is an ecologist and naturalist.  He retired from the University of York in 2012, where he is Professor Emeritus of Ecology.  He was awarded a CBE in 2007 for services to environmental science and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2005. He is a past president of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union, president of the River Foss Society and was a trustee of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust from 2008-2012 and again from 2016-2024.

I have been a naturalist from an early age, a passion fostered by botanising with my father, the naturalist Richard Fitter; these days moths and other insects also enthuse me. My career was in ecology, where my research focussed on soil, plant roots and symbiotic fungi, and especially their importance in climate change. I have hugely enjoyed my time on the Board of Trustees of YWT, and it was a privilege to be the first chair of the new Nature Recovery Committee, set up to advise the Board on ecological and conservation issues. The high point of this time was the publication of the State of Yorkshire’s Nature (SoYN) report in 2024.

I’ve been a member of the Trust for over 50 years, introduced to it by my involvement with our founding reserve – Askham Bog. The Trust goes from strength to strength and its superpower is the members, who ensure that our reach is so great.  Yorkshire’s wildlife is still exceptional, even if threatened – as SoYN showed – but how wonderful it would be to restore some of its past glory. We have the opportunity now to do that and we must seize that chance.