Meet The Team - Brathay Trust

Meet The
Brathay Team

Senior Leadership Team

Brathay Trust CEO Teresa Jennings is a woman, white British. She is smiling at the camera, sitting in front of Brathay Hall, a grand Georgina Building. She wears a bright pink blazer and black top.

Teresa Jennings
Chief Executive

I am lucky to have witnessed, in abundance, the incredible impact charities have in making a real and lasting difference to people's lives. For 20+ years I have worked in the charitable sector. In my last CEO role I lead a Health and Social Care charity, which delivered across the North of England.

I feel privileged to be Brathay's Chief Executive. With 80 years of outcomes delivered for the children, and young people we have supported, makes this charity a very special place indeed. It is these outcomes that motivates and drives me to do more.

During my career, I've been involved in the leadership, management and growth of services for adults and young people, and I also have experience of working in local and central government setting's.

I have held various Trustee roles in the housing and charity sector over the years as part of my own learning, but also to give something back to the community.

[email protected]

Jennie Moore
Head of Delivery (Communities)

I joined the Brathay Team in January 2024. My role as Head of Delivery (Communities) combines my two greatest passions - the outdoors and making a genuine positive difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.

Working at Brathay as been a dream of mine since I had my own taster of the impact Brathay offers on a work placement here over 20 years ago. That time helped me choose my path to support and work with children and young people — particularly those who needed more support to enable them to access the opportunities to enable them to thrive — and benefitted me personally with increased self confidence and sense of self.

Since then, I have completed my Adventure Recreation degree and worked with children and young people in a wide range of settings, including schools, youth offending, Special Educational Needs and Disability and Early Help in the community, working for Local Authorities. I recognise the importance of truly listening and responding to the voices of children and young people to ensure that we provide the best opportunities for them and their families to thrive for their future.

I am delighted to be part of the Children and Young People’s team and lead the passionate and talented team in the next phase of development for Brathay.

I have a great passion for the outdoors and have first hand experience of the benefits it can provide. Outside of work I enjoy Obstacle Racing, Swimming, Cycling, Kayaking and Walking. I volunteer as a Run Leader for a social group of runners in my local area and have 5 years ago set up junior parkrun in St Neots and have volunteered at a Co-Event Director there since. Giving up my Sunday lie-ins is testament to the value I put on providing opportunities for children to be in the outdoors, exercise and most of all enjoy themselves!

[email protected]

Steve Randles
Head of Delivery (Ambleside)

I am a passionate advocate for the benefits of education and development, particularly in the sectors of Outdoor Learning, Hospitality, Agriculture, and Leadership & Management. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked in education as a practitioner, teacher, Head of Centre, and as part of senior leadership teams.

These roles have given me the opportunity to develop, educate, and support the growth of many young people and adults as they navigate their own personal journeys, both in the UK and internationally.

I’ve had the privilege of playing a pivotal role within the Trailblazers team, helping to create development opportunities in the Outdoor Education Sector—specifically the Level 3 Outdoor Activity Instructor and Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist Standards. I’ve also collaborated with a range of 'End Point Assessment Organisations' to help design and support a robust assessment process for these sector standards.

Currently, I serve as a Trustee for the Institute for Outdoor Learning and continue to contribute as a member of the Northern Regional Committee to support and strengthen the sector.

[email protected]

Martin Ashton
Head of Fundraising and Marketing

I’m thrilled to join Brathay Trust as Head of Fundraising and Marketing bringing nearly three decades of experience across national and regional fundraising, including campaigns, capital appeals, commercial and mission‑led engagement.

I have worked across most fundraising disciplines including corporate partnerships, philanthropy, community engagement and special events, trusts, mass participation and individual product marketing. I believe authentic passion, storytelling and connection are at the heart of making a difference, and it has been a privilege to help children and young people achieve their potential and enjoy brighter futures throughout my career.

I have been an admirer of Brathay for a long time, and great believer in the power of experiential learning. I am looking forward to bringing my experience to Brathay, to work with colleagues, supporters and all those connected with the Trust to celebrate this 80th year and to be part of the team laying the foundations for an even brighter and more impactful next 80 years.

Outside of work, I’m a lover of the outdoors - a keen mountain biker, cyclist, walker and occasional runner - and I’ve spent countless hours enjoying the Lake District, despite my terrible fear of heights! I am married to Helen, a primary school teacher, two children (Maddie 22yo and Charlie 20yo), and Hungarian Vizla (Duke) and I am a born and bred Boltonian.

[email protected]

Paul Johnson
Chair of Trustees

Paul is Managing Director of 3Dk Solutions.

Paul is a qualified social worker, holds an MBA, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and sits on the Institute for Fiscal Studies Council.

He has been an Executive in two of the country’s largest Housing Associations. He founded his talent development business in 2004 and he and his team coach CEOs, MDs, Executives, Entrepreneurs, NEDs and Elite Athletes across many business and other sectors.

Nigel Aitchison
Vice Chair of Trustees

Nigel who lives in Ambleside recently retired from his role as Partner and Head of Infrastructure at Foresight Group PLC, who are a sustainability led alternative asset manager.

He started his career in the waste management industry and spent 19 years within various operational and business development roles. At Foresight he gained a wide range of international, senior executive and board level experience through investing and managing assets and businesses within the renewable energy and core infrastructure sectors.

Beth Lockhart
Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee

Beth is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years' experience working in large and complex organisations in both private and Higher Education sectors. She is currently the Deputy Director of Finance at Heriot-Watt University.

In her free time, she enjoys trail running and has completed several ultra marathons both in the Lake District and in Scotland.

Andy Watson

Andy has had a long and successful career in financial services, working for, amongst others, Co-operative Insurance, Direct Line and, more recently, Ageas. He was CEO of Ageas UK for 7+ years.

Andy now chairs the boards of life insurer Canada Life, and the Sale Sharks Foundation.

Lucie Smith

Lucie is a Management Accountant with over 20 years’ experience working within the property industry, in regeneration, social housing, and most recently as fractional finance director for start-ups, charities and SMEs.

In her spare time, she is either enjoying the outdoors – walking, swimming, paddle-boarding, attending live music events and festivals, or on the Yoga mat.

David Roberts

David is a retired Chartered Surveyor who has specialised in urban regeneration for 30 years. From 2002 David was Director and Deputy Chief Executive of sustainable urban developer Igloo.

Upon retirement in 2022 David was retained as an advisor to Wirral Council’s Birkenhead 2040 regeneration programme.

David co-founded Common Good in 2021 as a non-profit sharing best practice in design and development across the North of England. He is currently Trustee of The Quality of Life Foundation, Design Review Panellist at the NW Architecture Centre, a judge for the National Housing Design Awards, and Non-Exec Director of Design for Homes.

Sarah Hodgson-Jones

Sarah lives in Windermere and is Co-Founder and MD of Icicle Mountaineering, an award-winning international travel business. Her previous career was in City of London hospitality and licenced retail, and she is a Fellow of the British Institute of Innkeeping.

A serial entrepreneur and property developer, Sarah helps charities with marketing, campaigns, and fundraising. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has been a trustee of a Lake District environmental charity.

Sarah is a Mountain Leader, an England Athletics Coach, Track & Endurance Official, elected representative on the North-West Council for England Athletics, and she oversees the junior section of Ambleside Athletics Club.

Julie Randles

Julie is CEO of a national youth charity, Power2. She spent the first half of her career in the commercial sector, before moving to Save the Children where she was Head of the Families and Schools Together programme.

She is passionate about supporting children and young people experiencing vulnerabilities and disadvantages to improve their life chances and is proud to be a neurodivergent leader. She’s also a trustee of York City of Sanctuary.

Jennifer MacDuff

Jenni currently works for the Department for Education, as their English Hubs Delivery Lead. Prior to that she was a freelancer in NGO development as well as being a past Lead for Brathay’s Children and Young People Services.

Jenni also has 6 years’ experience working in Local Government.

Rachael Dennis

Rachael is an experienced Executive and Non Executive Director. She has been CEO at Incommunities Ltd since Feb 2021. Previously Managing Director of the Southeast Region at Taylor Wimpey plc.

Rachael has 20 years’ experience in Social Housing. Extensive track record in strategic leadership, delivering change and business improvement, strategic finance and governance.

Richard Bracewell

Richard retired in 2024 from his role as Managing Director at James Cropper – the Cumbrian based advanced materials and specialist paper manufacturer.

He began his career in marketing and spent 19 years at Shell working in various international roles, leading to him being appointed the Head of Global Sponsorships.

Richard is a keen fell walker and conservation volunteer and is also a trustee for the Lake District Foundation, a charity supporting nature, heritage and communities within the Lake District and Cumbria.