Board Profiles

Rob Dewing (Chairman)

Northerwood Systems Ltd.
Federation of Small Businesses
Rob runs a small business providing websites, Computer Aided Draughting and Design and other technical services to local businesses. He has lived and worked in southern Hampshire for over 20 years and now lives in Lyndhurst. He represents over 600 New Forest members of the Federation of Small Businesses, and is Chair of the local FSB branch.

Mike Jackson (Vice Chairman)

Old Enterprise Ltd.
Mike has been a Fordingbridge resident for over 30 years, and has involved himself in the local community whilst running a successful local business. He has spent time as a parish councillor and school governor and held numerous positions within the sporting and Rotary world. Whilst not promoting any particular sector interest on the NFBP he is keen to raise the profile of the north west corner of the New Forest which is frequently overlooked when funding and policy issues are decided.

Andrew Ashcroft

Ambassador Communications
Kool Skools
Andrew joined the board having won the Best New Business category at the 2009 Brilliance in Business Awards for this company Ambassador Communications, a consultancy services complimenting Government services offered to exporters through UKTI. The business assists UK companies looking to set up overseas operations or to move into certain overseas markets/countries for the first time. Andrew also runs Kool Skools offering ethical school clothing.

Matt Callaghan

New Forest District Council
In his role as Business Development Officer, Matt provides information, advice and support to local companies. Much of his time is spent co-ordinating the activities of the NFBP and developing the Brand New Forest Campaign including the Card Scheme. He works closely with partner organisations throughout the New Forest and other local authorities in Hampshire to deliver joint programmes including South Hampshire Meet the Buyers and the New Forest Sustainable Business Network.

Anthony Climpson OBE

New Forest District Council
Trained as an artist and designer, working in recycling, sales and publishing before being seduced by tourism, Anthony has been Destination Manager in the New Forest for the past twenty-one years. With the recent merging of Economic Development and Tourism within the Council, Anthony has taken on the new role as Employment and Tourism Manager. Being totally focused on local inclusion and sustainability, he is looking forward to new challenges.

David Fairchild

Wessex Petroleum
Managing Director Wessex Petroleum Ltd, David has worked within the fuel distribution business for the past 22 years. He has been Managing Director of 6 different distributorships around the country and had contractual arrangements with most of the leading oil companies including Esso, BP, Gulf Oil, Total, Elf and Murco. Currently Managing Director and shareholder of Wessex Petroleum who are Esso’s principal distributor for the south coast based at Fawley Oil Refinery.

Sarah Fitzgerald

In These Shoes
Sarah sits on the board as winner of the 2010/11 Best New Business Category at NFBP’s Brilliance in Business Awards. She runs In These Shoes, a shoe and handbag store in Lymington which specialises in shoe parties allowing ladies to chose their ideal style and accessories.

Peter Frost

New Forest National Park Authority
Peter is one of the six members of the Paul Authority to be appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He runs his own small printing business close to his home in Netley Marsh. He was elected to Netley Marsh Parish Council in 1979 and has been on the New Forest Consultative Panel since 1980, representing various organisations. Peter was Chairman of the New Forest Association from 1990 to 2001. He was appointed to the Verderers Court by the Countryside Agency in 2001.

Chris Herbert

Totton College
Chris Herbert is the Head of Business Development and Engagement at Totton College. Working with the ‘Services to Business Team’, Chris looks to develop the links between the local business community and the college. As a Centre of Vocational Excellence Totton College Services to Business specialise in providing high quality training for business.

Steve Lorton

Paulton’s Park
New Forest Tourism Association
Steve joined Paultons Park in 2003 as Commercial Director having previously spent 23 years working in the Automotive Aftermarket. During this time he gained experience in General and Supply Chain Management, Sales, Marketing and Manufacturing. Responsibilities at Paultons encompass all the commercial activities of the Park. Since 2004 Stephen has served on the Steering Group of New Forest Tourism Association which included 3 years as Chairman and currently holds the position of Vice Chairman.

Derek Mather

Brockenhurst College
Director of Adults, Skills and Higher Education at the College, Derek’s responsibilities include Business Services, the College’s training offer for employers. Brockenhurst College holds the Training Quality Standard in recognition of the quality and responsiveness of its training provision. The College is a significant provider of apprenticeship and customised training for businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Derek has worked at the College for 18 years and lives just outside Fordingbridge

Kiki Maurey

Kiki Maurey
Kiki runs her own limited company specialising in professional effectiveness coach-mentoring and training. She’s worked on the enterprise agenda for years with the Regional Development Agencies and Government, and has delivered marketing and business growth workshops to over 7,000 SMEs for Barclays Bank and Business Link.

Kiki’s held senior positions with Prowess, the Office of Public Management, and Common Purpose as well as being a policy adviser to Government Departments. She’s an experienced public appointee including being member of the national Ethnic Minority Business Task Force, and Chair of South Central Connexions Partnership Ltd.

Barry L Olorenshaw

Moving to the New Forest in 1983, for the next 16 years Barry was responsible for Taylor Woodrow’s property investment and commercial development programme in Southern England. In 1999 he set up Property Investment & Management Ltd, a commercial property consultancy and investment vehicle. He has served on a number of business, charitable and fundraising committees in the Solent Region and chairs the youth club for his village, Minstead, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

Ian Payne

LloydsTSB
Ian Payne Business Manager LloydsTSB – Ian has been the local Business Banking Manager, primarily covering Ringwood, Fordingbridge & Verwood, since 2001 working with a wide variety of businesses. Originally from Bournemouth, he has lived & worked in Hampshire & Dorset for over 30 years, having joined the Bank in 1978.

Cllr Barry Rickman

New Forest District Council
Barry sits on the NFBP Board at Leader of New Forest District Council and as the elected member whose Portfolio covers the Employment and Tourism Service at the Authority. Representing the Boldre and Sway Ward, Barry has run a photography business in the New Forest for 30 years and have been involved in local government for over 25 years

Chris Shephard

Hampshire County Council
Chris is Economic Projects Manager at Hampshire County Council. Before working in the public sector, Chris spent 5 years in industry working for a national recruitment company. Subsequently, he went on to become an experienced economic development professional, gaining extensive knowledge of the business support services and commercial property networks available in Hampshire.

David Simpson

Simpson Hilder Associates
Based in Lyndhurst, Simpson Hilder Associates are a medium sized multi disciplinary architecture and surveying practice. David and his team have been involved with a number of schemes in and around the New Forest including developments at Ampress Park since the practice was formed in 1988. Business clients include B&Q, Citroën and Henry Lloyd.