PORT SUNLIGHT VILLAGE TRUST - Key Persons


Andrew Croft

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
Andrew is an experienced heritage professional and director of a specialist environmental, landscape and heritage practice. He has over 20 years' experience advising clients across the UK and internationally on approaches to the management of historic places and to the delivery of change in and around those places. He has particular expertise in World Heritage site management and previously advised PSVT on its aspirations for World Heritage status. He has a keen interest in the adaption of historic places and buildings to address, and adapt to, climate change.

Anna Thomas

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
Anna joined the PSVT Board in September 2021 but already had close ties to Port Sunlight - working with Unilever for twenty years, and living in the village since 2012. Before joining industry, Anna obtained a PhD in child health and development and worked on public policy and health interventions. As a Director of Unilever Research & Development, Anna is responsible for driving scientific and technical innovation on projects across the UK, Europe, USA, India and Asia, building strategic, multi-sector partnerships across a range of sectors.

Brian Pilkington

Job Titles:
  • Marketing and Communications Manager, by

Carolyn Dalton

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • New Member of the PSVT Board
Carolyn is a new member of the PSVT Board having joined in September 2021. She currently manages Lancaster City's museums having moved there in late 2018 from Doncaster where she was Heritage Services Manager. Carolyn has also worked for Norfolk, Poole and Lancashire Museum Services. She passionately believes in the value of museums and heritage to help build communities, create a sense of place and enhance wellbeing as well as contributing to the Visitor Economy and the external perception of a location. Carolyn is also a Leader in Residence at the University of Central Lancashire and is a Board member of the North West Regional Heritage Centre at Lancaster University and Treasurer of the Lancashire Place Name Survey - which has long been a personal interest.

Emily McArdle

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • New Member of the PSVT Board
Emily is a relatively new member of the PSVT Board having joined in late 2019. She is a longstanding resident of the village and a passionate advocate for the community. Emily has worked within the NHS for over 30 years as a Speech and Language Therapist working with children and their families in schools and clinics. In addition to this, Emily is a consultant and trainer in person centred approaches, supporting organisations in health, education and social care to enable the people they support to have more choice and control in their lives. Emily is also a coach, supporting students on an international Leadership and Management workshop.

Jean Milton

Job Titles:
  • Director of Heritage ( Temporary )
Jean is covering the post of Director of Heritage for one year. She is responsible for marketing and PR, public programmes, visitor services, conservation policy, lifelong learning, resident engagement, fundraising, the historical collection and archive. She has a degree in The History of Art & Design from Manchester Metropolitan University, a Master's Degree in Museum Studies from Manchester University and an MA in Participatorily Arts in a Global Perspective from Staffordshire University (pt1). She previously worked for Stoke City Council Museums Service, the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester, The Whitworth Art Gallery and as a paid intern at Sotheby's London. She is a Trustee for The Dudson Centre in Stoke.

Katherine Lynch

Job Titles:
  • Director of Heritage ( Currently on Parental Leave )
Kath has worked for PSVT since 2008. She is responsible for marketing and PR, public programmes, visitor services, conservation policy, lifelong learning, resident engagement, fundraising and the historical collection and archive. She has a degree in Ancient History from the University of Birmingham and a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester. She previously worked for Tyne & Wear Museums and Archives, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, and The Tank Museum in Dorset. She mentors Congleton Museum and Cheshire Military Museum and is a Board member of the Cooperative Heritage Trust. Kath lives in Liverpool. She is a big sports fan and enjoys running.

Kelly Mullen

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Entertainment Strategist
Kelly is an entertainment strategist for global brands with over 20 years of experience crafting stories that break through in culture. She has executive produced the Academy Award-nominated and WGA Award-winning film Trumbo starring Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren and the documentary Dads starring Will Smith, Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien on AppleTV+. Kelly currently leads Unilever Entertainment, the pop culture storytelling studio for Unilever's 400+ brands. Her work has won numerous awards including Cannes Lions, Clios, the Shorty Social Good Award, the SABRE, and the Women's Wear Daily Marketing Campaign of the Year. Kelly joined the PSVT Board in September 2021.

Lin Whalley - COO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Operations
Lin joined PSVT in January 2016 and commenced her role as Director of Operations in November 2019. She is responsible for housing management, maintenance, landscape management, together with security and sleaning. Lin is a member of the Institute of Housing and gained her degree in Housing Studies from Salford University. She has worked in a number of Local Authorities and Housing Associations in the North West. Lin lives in Bebington and has two sons. In her spare time, she is a keen middle-distance runner.

Lis Robinson

Job Titles:
  • Housing Officer

Louise Parnell

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
Louise joined PSVT in October 2022, she is a Chartered Accountant with 15 years experience at Board level in the Charity Sector. Louise has also worked as a Trustee on two other Boards. Louise is currently the Finance Director at Autism Together, a care provider supporting adults with autism. Louise has lived on the Wirral for most of her life and has many links with Port Sunlight, including working at Unilever. She sees Port Sunlight as part of her heritage.

Maggie Sparks

Job Titles:
  • Honorary President
Maggie was appointed Honorary President in 2017. She is a founding Trustee of Port Sunlight Village Trust and was Chair of the Board from 2007 to 2017. Maggie has more than 30 years' experience working in housing management and development. She was Chief Executive of Family Housing from 1983-2002, and during that time purchased approximately 75 properties in Port Sunlight from Unilever. Maggie has also chaired both Wirral Partnership Homes (now Magenta Living) and Pierhead Housing Association, now Prima Group where she was appointed Chair of the Commercial Board in 2017.

Paul Harris - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive
Paul joined Port Sunlight Village Trust in March 2015. He is an experienced leader with a proven track record in developing and implementing strategic plans in the public, private and voluntary sectors. He has previously held senior positions at PSS - Health and Social Care Charity, Ashbury Homes, Hornby Homes and CDS Housing Association. Paul possesses excellent business skills and commercial acumen, and his approach is always people-focused. He lives in Liverpool, has two young children and is a devout Evertonian.

Rachel Tudor

Job Titles:
  • Director of Corporate Services
Rachel first worked for PSVT in 2006 to provide maternity cover and re-joined the organisation permanently in 2009. She is a qualified accountant and has previously worked in the public and housing sectors. She is responsible for all areas of finance including budget setting and cash flow forecasting, pay roll, and internal reporting and statutory accounts, as well as office administration and customer service standards. Rachel lives in Rock Ferry and has two young children. She is a keen swimmer and is heavily involved with her local church.

Rob Young - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • Trustee
Rob became Chair of the Board in 2017. Now retired, he worked in housing for more than 40 years, at companies across Merseyside, Manchester and north Cheshire. He has spent more than 30 years managing change at a senior and corporate level. Rob was Group Chief Executive of a large North West housing provider and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Sarah Preston

Job Titles:
  • Business Development Officer

Steve Connolly

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Steve has been a qualified Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors since 1991, and has more than 40 years' experience in the construction industry. Steve is currently Managing Director of Poole Dick. Steve is an avid Manchester United fan and his devotion stretches right back to when he bunked off school in 1968 to attend the European Cup Final.