Introducing our current Trustees
Our Trustees serve in a voluntary capacity. They act as guardians and we seek to represent a broad range of different backgrounds, areas of expertise and perspectives on the Board. Trustees are frequently leaders in their fields. They include experts in maritime history, and leaders in business.
Alexandra Bolitho (President)
Alexandra is the daughter of Rear Admiral Morgan Morgan Giles, and grand-daughter of the Teignmouth based yacht designer Francis Morgan Giles. By profession an interior designer, she has run her own business and has been responsible for the renovation and care of many properties, both historic and modern.
She supports several Cornish Charities, including as President of the West Cornwall NSPCC, and County Patron of Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Alexandra has a large extended family, both in the UK and Australia. She is married to Colonel Edward Bolitho (Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall), lives near Penzance and has three grown up children, twin daughters and a son.
Simon Sherrard (Chairman)
Simon started his career at Samuel Montagu & Co Ltd, merchant bankers, and after seven years moved to Jardine Matheson & Co Ltd where he worked in Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. In 1985 he joined the shipping company, Bibby Line Group Ltd, in Liverpool as Managing Director becoming non-executive Chairman in 2000. He has also been Chairman of the Port of London Authority, Deputy Chairman of Lloyds Register and Chairman of A & P Group. He is an Elder Brother of Trinity House, the Vice President of the RNLI and Chairman of the Trustees of the Cornwall Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre. In 2010 he was Prime Warden of The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and is a Freeman of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen. He is currently the Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall. Simon lives with his wife, Sara, on the north coast of Cornwall.
Rob Holmes (Chair, Audit and Finance Committee)
Rob was appointed Director of Finance in 2014 having been in the deputy post since 1998 and joining the University in 1992. During that time he has been involved with finances across the institution from the early days of European funding and the acquisition of the Penryn Campus, the establishment of the joint venture, Falmouth Exeter Plus, the merger with Dartington College of Arts and in achieving University title.
He is responsible for all aspects of finance across the University, including procurement, and is responsible for financial planning. The importance of working with staff across the institution to de-mystify finances is at the forefront of Rob’s approach to finance, supported by tight controls and rigorous financial management and analysis.
Before working at the University, Rob ran the small business unit for a regional accountancy practice having trained both in practice and commerce; his first finance job being with the regional bus company. Rob is a Chartered Certified Accountant, a member of the Chartered Management Institute and successfully completed the General Management Programme with Cranfield University in 2013.
Sue Bradbury
Sue is a former Royal Navy officer whose last appointment in uniform included responsibility for all public relations and search and rescue communications activity at RNAS Culdrose. Seven years as a successful freelance journalist followed, with feature length articles on a variety of topics published in national newspapers and magazines.
After re-joining Culdrose during a three-year period as a government communications officer, Sue was appointed Head of Public Relations at the University of Plymouth. In that role, she chaired the Peninsula Medical School PR campaign group and played her part in establishing Cornwall’s first university campus at Tremough.
As well as launching her own PR consultancy business, SBPR Ltd, more than twenty years ago, Sue has authored five published books: The Story of Tremough, Secret Cornwall, Hidden Cornwall, Dog Walks Cornwall and Secret Devon.
She continues to write commissioned travel features whenever the opportunity arises and loves nothing better than spending time with her daughters and grandchildren.
Mike Carr
A qualified Naval Architect, Mike studied at Southampton University before joining Vosper Thornycroft in 1982. He later joined Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth in 1989 and went on to lead a Management buyout in 1994 with his friend & colleague Henk Wiekens. Over the last 30 years the pair oversaw the development and growth of the business from its early infancy to now being regarded as one of the worlds leading SuperYacht companies.
As a significant local employer here in Falmouth, Pendennis also operates from its satellite bases in Norfolk and Vilanova in Spain, specialising the construction, restoration and refitting. Key to its success has been its acclaimed and Nationally recognised apprenticeship program.
After 35 years Mike has recently retired as CEO but continues as Chairman of the Board. He is member of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights he lists sailing, walking and running round after his grandchildren amongst his interests. Mike and his wife Jill live locally in Falmouth.
Peter Davies
Peter has previously been Vice Chair of the SW Regional Advisory Board of the National Trust and been chair of Trustees at the Hall for Cornwall, a non-executive Director and Chair of three NHS Trusts and was Director of Personnel and Chief Executive of Cornwall County Council retiring in 2002. Peter was appointed MBE in 2009 for services to the community in Cornwall and he is also Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall.
Coralie Green
Coralie has worked in public service and the Voluntary/Charitable Sector for much of her career, including time at Citizens Advice in Ely, Cambridgeshire as a Trustee and Chairman, and in fundraising and event management at Ely Cathedral.
She was an elected District Councillor in East Cambridgeshire 2015-2019 where she held the portfolio for Strategic Planning.
Having moved to Cornwall in 2019, she is Vice Chair and serves on the Management Committee of the Children’s Sailing Trust, is a Volunteer Visitor for Henry Smith Charity and a Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall.
Michael Griffiths
Michael was born and bred in the South West and has spent all his leisure time since the early 50’s sailing in the Helford River and western approaches. His father, who introduced Sir Francis Chichester to sailing, bought him a boat at the age of five.
Before his retirement in 2015, Michael was a solicitor acting for commercial clients until he developed a specialism in employment law in which field he acted in a judicial capacity for 20 years. He moved to Falmouth with his wife 15 years ago and spends his time in a number of voluntary posts together with as much sailing as possible with his grandchildren.
Sam Hunt
Sam Hunt was until recently Executive Director of the Association of Independent Museums and now works as a freelance museums consultant. Previously he was Chief Executive of the SW Museums Libraries and Archives Council, the regional development agency for museums in the South West, and the Chief Executive of the South West Museums Council. He has been associated with a number of major projects in Cornwall and the South West and has a wide experience of museums and museum practice. As Head of Bath Museums, Sam was responsible for running the Roman Baths Museum, the Museum of Costume and City Marketing Unit. He has also played an important part in the development of this Museum.
Dame Shan Morgan
Shan’s career has spanned a wide range of roles in the Civil Service and Diplomatic Service. On graduation from Kent University, she joined the Employment Department, working in the Manpower Services Commission in a variety of employment and training policy roles.
From 1994-1997 Shan was the UK Government delegate to the International Labour Organisation’s Governing Body before a secondment to the British Embassy in Paris as Labour and Social Affairs Attaché. She then took up her first appointment to the UK Representation in Brussels as the Counsellor responsible for Social, Environmental and Regional affairs.
On return to London in 2006 after the UK Presidency of the EU, Shan transferred to the Diplomatic Service as Director, European Union in the Foreign Office, responsible for negotiations on the Lisbon Treaty and leading the UK parliamentary process of ratification.
Shan was HM Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay from 2008-2012, a period which included the 30th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Falklands. She returned to UKRep, Brussels, as Deputy Permanent Representative in 2012, representing the UK on the Committee of Representatives of the Member States (Coreper I) in the Council. She was responsible for leading negotiations across a wide range of subject areas including climate change, environment, energy, fisheries, social affairs, health, transport, and other Single Market issues.
Ben Statham-Wilkins
As Young People Cornwall’s Head of Marketing, Ben drives impactful campaigns to support Cornwall’s youth. Through strategic branding and engaging communication, he amplifies the charity’s mission, driving community involvement and vital support.
Through his creative approach and strategic insight, Ben has played a pivotal role in driving increased community involvement and garnering vital support for Young People Cornwall’s initiatives. His dedication to making a meaningful impact has seen the organisation’s reach expand and its impact grow, creating positive change for young people across the region.
Simon Tregoning
After leaving University, where he studied Economics and Business Economics, Simon joined the Bank of England and gained experience in Management Accounting and Banking Supervision. In 1989, after five years at the Bank, he left to become a partner at Classic Cottages, a family company marketing holiday homes. Now Chairman, Classic Cottages have a staff of 60 and market a portfolio of some 1,300 properties spread from Land’s End to the Isle of Wight. In the last six years they have acquired two more agencies, Boutique Retreats and Aspects Holidays, taking the group portfolio to 2,000 properties and total staff in the group to over 120.
Simon has chaired the Cornwall Commercial Tourism Federation, the Cornwall Association of Holiday Home Agencies and been a board member of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP. He is also a keen skier and a wannabe surfer!
