The Transrural Trust Team

Trustee and project adviser

After graduating from York University, Gillian spent ten years in journal publishing before joining a civil engineering company working in developing countries. As Marketing Manager she was responsible for identifying opportunities, liaising with agencies, and co-ordinating proposals and document preparation.

She joined the Plunkett Foundation in 1992, transferring her skills and experience from the built environment to rural development. She helped to develop the Foundation's activities in eastern and central Europe, managing a series of projects in ex-communist countries during the 1990's, the decade of transition from a command to a market economy.

In Transrural Trust since 1998, she further developed programmes in eastern Europe, as well as widening her experience to include south Asia, as Projects Director. She has been involved Albania and Nepal, with responsibilities for environmental projects and the development of women's groups and women's enterprise; in Kosovo, where she managed a livelihood development programme for bereaved women; and in Romania, supporting a women's craft project. She has carried out training, advisory, management, monitoring and evaluation activities concerned with group development and small enterprise. 

 

Chair of Trustees

Trevor has more than 30 years’ experience in rural development in Asia, Africa, and eastern Europe. The focus of his work has been the establishment and strengthening of rural organisations throughout the world, including agricultural co-operatives, farmers' associations, federations and groups. As Development Director at Plunkett Foundation from 1990-1997, he was directly involved in social enterprise and rural association projects in Eastern Europe (Albania, Poland, Moldova), EU member states (UK, France, Denmark), and developing countries (Burkina Faso, China, Mali, Uganda). Each project incorporated a strong element of participative training. From 1983-90, he held senior posts at the Paris-based International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) for seven years, responsible for advocacy and policy development through representative farmers' organisations in Africa, and Asia. Prior to this, he was responsible for ActionAid’s agricultural programme in Burundi.

 

 

Rebecca has worked in public relations for over ten years and has a BSc in media and communication studies from Loughborough University. Her career to date has covered all aspects of internal and external communications in both the public and private sector. Since 2007 Rebecca has been working freelance, providing PR and communications support to various organisations and businesses in Oxfordshire and further afield.