The Canal & River Trust has announced two new appointments to its Board of Trustees, to help its work over the coming years.

David Orr CBE, Chair, said: “Following approval at the Canal & River Trust’s Council AGM on 20 September 2023, the Board is pleased to be welcoming Sir James Bevan and Chris Fellingham as new Trustees for an initial three-year term. Together they bring huge depth and breadth of relevant experience and knowledge from the public and private sectors, and both have a passion for the waterways. Their appointments come as the Board and Executive of the Trust are working to develop a new strategy to keep canals in England and Wales open, alive and contributing the many public benefits that they do, in the face of well-publicised funding challenges, ever more challenging weather events and the nature crisis.

“All of us at the Canal & River Trust look forward immensely to working with both Sir James and Chris and adding their individual skills and experience to those of our existing Board members.

“As their terms as Trustees comes to an end, we would like to thank Susan Wilkinson and Sarah Whitney sincerely for their many valuable contributions and wish them the very best in their future endeavours.”

The charity’s Trustees are unpaid voluntary roles. They lead the Trust’s decision-making on policy and strategy, have legal oversight of the Trust’s wide range of statutory duties and provide direction to the Trust’s Chief Executive and his team.

Sir James Bevan

As Chief Executive of the Environment Agency from 2015 to 2023, Sir James has been a passionate and influential leader of sustainability – in particular, action to make the UK more resilient to the impact of climate change and to cut carbon emissions. He brings highly relevant experience in managing an organisation with similar challenges and opportunities to the Trust and in working closely with government, business and other organisations. The Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency are the two largest navigation authorities in the UK.

Prior to this Sir James had a long career at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, including four years leading the UK’s largest diplomatic presence in the world, as High Commissioner to India, and four years as Chief Operating Officer, responsible for change and modernisation of a global network.

His unique combination of expertise in policy, executive leadership, risk management and environmental issues will be tremendously beneficial for the Trust.

Sir James says: “The restoration of the canals and revitalising of our rivers is one of the greatest success stories of my lifetime. I am delighted to join the Canal & River Trust as a Trustee and be able to play a part in that story in the coming years. There is still much to do both to secure that past legacy and to sustain and develop it for future generations.”

Chris Fellingham

Chris is a highly experienced leader in asset management who will join the Board after a career in the City of London managing investment portfolios. He has experience across all asset classes and a strong track record in building businesses and delivering for clients across the fixed income and multi asset sectors.

Chris’s most recent role was Global Head and Chief Investment Officer of the Multi Asset Solutions Team at Manulife Asset Management, which enjoyed strong growth under his leadership. Prior to this he was Chief Investment Officer at Ignis Asset Management before its takeover by Standard Life, CEO and Partner of Soros Fund Management UK LLP, and has worked at BlackRock.

Chris’s expertise in asset management, managing investments based on both capital and environmental concerns, will be of immense value to the Board.

Chris says: “Over many years I have travelled extensively on the canals. From the peaceful helm of a 65-foot canal boat I appreciated the healing and relaxing effect the water environment has on mental and physical health. I also understood the origins and history of the network as well as the ongoing challenges of keeping it in good repair, which were evident even in the 1990s. I see my role as a Trustee at the Canal & River Trust as a way for me to help preserve this essential network for future generations.”

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