Our Board

Yvette Farrell (Chair)

Yvette worked in horticulture for 16 years, gaining extensive plant knowledge and their associations with food and applied her knowledge within the corporate world. She secured the contract for supply of floral decorations to Number 10 Downing Street, Houses of Parliament and all the major UK airports with a portfolio value of £1.2million. Yvette opened Harts Barn Cookery School in 2011 and has through recession, developed a thriving business offering cookery and dining experiences and developed ‘A Taste of the Forest’ – a cuisine based on ingredients from local suppliers and natural products (wild boar, wild garlic and more). 

Helen O’Kane (Marketing Subgroup Lead)

Helen has previously managed Puzzlewood for 12 years and had grown the business from a relatively small attraction to one of the leading attractions in the area. The business has gone from strength to strength and attracted worldwide attraction through film tourism with Star Wars, helping to put the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley on the map. 

Julie Pritchard (Partnership Support Subgroup Lead)

My family have strong roots in the Forest of Dean- my father Ray, along with his siblings, was born in the Ostrich pub in Newland and my family life, although involving extensive travelling overseas, always brought us back to this area. I have lived in Newland since 2004 and introduced other visitors to this beautiful area, through my own successful self catering holiday let. My career has included working in the art world, retail and most recently for GCC. I did a variety of roles in the authority, including training as a dementia care worker, organising successful business breakfasts for Gloucestershire College to promote their apprenticeship schemes to the county’s employers along with training sessions to ensure CPD within the organisations I have worked in. Looking for a change in my professional life, I recently achieved the Leith Certificate in Nutrition in Culinary Practice (I regularly cater for small and large gatherings in the community), and a qualification in Aromatherapy (my website is up and running).

Ed Drewitt (Sustainability Subgroup Lead)

With 15 years of experience as a tour guide, both within the UK and internationally, Ed brings a wealth of knowledge in wildlife and tourism. He currently runs Wildlife Safaris in the Forest of Dean. Ed's involvement as a committee member and chair of the Communicate conference and bird clubs demonstrate Ed's leadership and organisational skills and a background in learning and engagement highlights his expertise in working with diverse audiences. Ed's experience uniquely positions him to understand both guest and deliverer perspectives and suggest strategies to enhance services while promoting environmental sustainability. 

Louise McGuinness

Before establishing her business, Louise worked for 15 years with Monmouthshire County Council's Adventa programme as Festival and Events Co-ordinator. Prior to that, she served as Community and Education Link at the Royal Forest of Dean College. Both roles involved extensive collaboration with diverse sectors and stakeholders. Her responsibilities included marketing and promotion, event development, health and safety education, and implementation while adhering to procurement rules and government standards.

Naomi Hands (Governance Subgroup Lead)

Naomi's lifelong immersion in hospitality has given her a deep understanding of the industry. Her role as Director at The Speech House Hotel has provided invaluable experience in managing and growing a thriving establishment, even during challenging economic times. This experience honed her leadership and strategic thinking skills, which she believes will be valuable assets to FDWVT.

Her commitment to exceptional service aligns with FDWVT's goal of caring for the destination, its resources, and people. Naomi believes tourism thrives when focused on sustainability, community engagement, and responsible practices, and she is eager to contribute to FDWVT's efforts in these areas.

As Chairperson for the Dean Trail Volunteers, Naomi demonstrates her commitment to the Forest of Dean. She actively builds and maintains trails, promotes outdoor activities, and works with stakeholders to ensure the Forest remains an attractive destination.

Owen Towndrow

As Visitor Engagement Officer at Hereford Cathedral, Owen oversees public visitor activities, including Cathedral, Tower, and Garden tours, as well as group travel trade. 

Behind these activities is Owen's coordination of the volunteers who bring the cathedral to life for visitors. His management ensures volunteers feel heard, rewarded, and valued. He has also led volunteer recruitment programs that contribute to securing visitor services for the future. 

Alongside volunteer coordination, Owen's experience includes writing departmental budgets, ensuring risk assessments for visitor activities, and close collaboration with the Marketing and Communications team to promote visitor activities, group travel, and volunteer recruitment.

Advisors 

In addition to our formal board of directors we have three advisors to the baord. Advisors to the board of directors offer specialised expertise and guidance to support the board in making informed, strategic decisions. These advisors can come from diverse fields such as finance, marketing, law, or industry-specific areas, providing valuable insights and perspectives. Unlike board members, advisors do not have fiduciary responsibilities or voting power, but they play a crucial role in shaping the company's direction. Our advisors are: 

Mark Terry-Lush

Mark has been a member of the board since 2014 and a member of Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism for about 10 years running a self-catering business in Chaxhill; outside the area he owns a self-catering business in France. He is a former press photographer and today runs an international communications agency with offices in London, USA and China. 

Nemia MacLachlan

Nemia runs Nuthatch Retreat Holiday Cottage in Blakeney. Nemia brings a varied and relevant portfolio of skills and experience. Beginning with project management, events and marketing experience in the creative sector, she has good insight into the value of bringing, or highlighting, cultural activity to/in a region for both local audiences and visitors alike. Having worked on collaborations with commercial stakeholders during this time, as part of Business Improvement District programmes Nemia also have a good understanding of the importance of community and commercial partnerships to raise the profile of an area.

Hayley Court

Hayley's passion for tourism is evident in her BA (Hons) in Tourism Business Management, obtained from Birmingham University in 2003. She brings extensive travel experience and a diverse background in tourism and hospitality roles. After years in business development and managerial positions across various industries, she returned to her passion by founding Forest Retreats in 2015. Recognizing a niche market for yoga and wellness retreats in the Wye Valley, she successfully launched the business and, in 2018, expanded with the purchase of Hill Farm as a retreat centre and glamping site.

Despite challenges like COVID-19, Brexit, and economic pressures, Forest Retreats has maintained positive feedback and growth. Notable achievements include features in The Guardian and strong customer loyalty. Hayley emphasises adaptability as essential for a tourism business.

Hayley is passionate about promoting the region while prioritising environmental protection. Her previous board experience includes St. Werburgh's City Farm.