New appointments at Canal & River Trust

THE Canal & River Trust has confirmed three appointments to its board following approval at its recent council AGM. David Orr became the new chairman, with Bronagh Kennedy and Ian Peters joining as trustees.

These appointments are for an initial three-year term and bring the trust’s board to 11 members, with the charity’s outgoing chairman, Allan Leighton, and trustee Ben Gordon having stepped down on completion of their terms of office.

The trustees are unpaid voluntary roles; they lead the trust’s decision-making on policy and strategy, have legal oversight of the wide range of statutory duties, and provide direction to the chief executive and his team.

Bronagh Kennedy retires later this year from her role as group company secretary and general counsel at Severn Trent Water. She has held previous executive roles at Mitchells & Butlers, has non-executive roles at Wolseley UK and British Canoeing, and also sits on the advisory board of EMR.

Ian Peters is chair of the UK Health Security Agency and three companies involved in the energy transition sector. His previous roles include chief executive of British Gas, vice chair of the Peabody Trust, and chair at Bart’s Health NHS Trust.