Our Trustees

Our Trustees

The Trustees/Directors are responsible for the overall governance of the charity under its Memorandum of Association. This includes the development of the strategic business plan and keeping up with legislation and best practice. All our Trustees are unpaid volunteers.

Gordon Jackson - Chairman of the Society

Having lived in Surrey for over 60 years, I have grown up with a passion for the Surrey Hills. I retired as a partner (specialising in Corporate Law) of an international City of London law firm in 2010. Shortly after that, I was elected as a Guildford Borough Councillor and I served on a wide variety of committees on the Council before retiring in March 2021. In addition to my love of the countryside, I have a particular interest in the arts and heritage and a fascination with the innovative research and businesses that are a crucial part of our local economy. I believe it is essential that we embrace forward thinking practices and technologies to sustainably manage the environment in which we live and the wildlife with which we share it. I was Mayor of Guildford in 2016/17 and was delighted to nominate the Surrey Hills Trust as one of my chosen charities. During my mayoral year, my wife, Sue, and I particularly enjoyed meeting the many volunteers, who do so much in so many different ways to support our local communities and the surrounding countryside. In our free time, Sue and I love to travel, and I am a keen photographer. We walk a lot both on holiday and at home and are frequent concert and theatregoers. I also play both golf and tennis extremely badly!

Martin Cantor – Finance Director

I am a Chartered Company Secretary and have been involved as a Director or Company Secretary of many companies for more than 30 years. I have extensive experience in running the financial and administrative aspects of businesses and have wide knowledge of a range of issues encompassing, for example, Income and Corporate taxes, VAT, HR, Payroll and FCA Compliance and Pensions Administration.

I run my own business from my home in Buckland and am pleased to be able to help in looking after the finances of the Surrey Hills Society. Having lived in the Surrey Hills for nearly 40 years, I appreciate and value everything that living here offers.

The Society exists to help promote and protect the wonderful landscapes of the area and to assist in developing viable economic opportunities for those who wish to live and work locally and these are themes that I support wholeheartedly.

In my spare time I like to travel, play the piano, play golf and walk the hills with the family dog. I would also like to find time to play a bit of tennis again but fear those days may now be gone.

Peter Salisbury - Trustee and Administrator

Having always lived in Reigate or Redhill I have a great interest in the Surrey Hills. My wife and I joined the Society soon after it was formed and are Founder Members.

After a few years attending events and getting to know members, I felt the urge to do more. In my present role as the Society’s Administrator and a Trustee, I enjoy helping manage the Society. I take the Minutes of the Trustees, Management and Events committees’ meetings and send round the monthly emails telling members about forthcoming events. I also help producing the confirmations for our events and have recently accepted to manage the Society’s shop. My role evolves according to my wishes and availability.

Away from the Society, I have several other interests to keep me busy, including being a National Trust volunteer and a Bluebell Railway volunteer. I have also been a member of the Scout Association for almost 50 years and have held a variety of leadership and administrative roles.

Claire Harris

I am the Community Engagement Manager at Surrey Wildlife Trust. Her main responsibility is to lead community support and volunteering across the organisation.

One of my recent achievements includes developing the Wilder Communities programme, which empowers communities from across Surrey to take action for nature in their local area. I have extensive experience in supporting a wide range of volunteers and played an integral role in securing the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2018, which recognises the outstanding contributions of Trust volunteers.

I have worked in the environmental sector for 16 years in various roles, all with a focus on people engagement and nature restoration. Before moving to Surrey in 2013, I worked for the National Trust, BTCV and North Somerset Council.

I love spending time outdoors, paddleboarding, cycling, walking and wildlife gardening.

Catherine McCusker

I have enjoyed a varied career which took me from acting to Human Resources, running a corporate training facility to teaching, fundraising and organising large and small community events before landing the role of running the Learning and Events department at Box Hill for the National Trust. 11 years later I now find myself as a Visitor Operations and Experiences Manager for Surrey Hills East, most recently looking after Leith Hill Place and Tower. The natural world is in my toolkit for life, and I believe passionately that we humans need to reconnect with the natural world which is the best healer, life coach and inspiration available. I'm looking forward to being able to compliment my work with the National Trust with becoming involved with the Surrey Hills Society to great ends; ‘Just like approaching conservation on a landscape level, if we all work together, we can achieve more.’

Shauna Robinson

I am a senior partner at Deloitte and a Fellow and Council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. I have more than 27 years of global business experience working with some of the world’s largest companies across a variety of sectors. I have lived in the Surrey Hills with my husband Matt and our two children for the past 13 years. As a family, along with our two dogs, we are keen walkers and passionate about the local landscape and the health benefits of being outdoors. I am committed to helping to preserve and promote this beautiful part of the world for current and future generations.

Karen Clark

Karen’s varied career has seen her working as a lawyer, talent adviser, head-hunter and coach before moving to her current role as Managing Director of the independent business network, the Performance and Reward Centre (PARC). Karen has a passion for the outdoors and exploring the landscape, hills and mountains of the UK, and further afield. A keen hiker and rambler she values the physical and mental benefits of being on the trails. As a local resident she’s been enjoying the Surrey Hills’ routes for the last 20 years. She believes that interaction with our natural environment, via physical or non-physical activities, can make a positive contribution to wellbeing and health, however defined by an individual. She’s delighted to be part of an organisation that has a focus on ensuring the sustainability of the Surrey National Landscape for those working, creating, learning and exploring in the area. She’s also a strong supporter of the ongoing drive and passion of the Society to champion accessibility and inclusion for all via member events, volunteering opportunities, environmental projects and other community initiatives.

Sat Luthra

Born and brought up in Uganda, I trained as a teacher in the UK and moved here permanently in 1972 following Idi Amin’s expulsion of Indians from Uganda. I now live near Newlands Corner, a place that reminds me of the Rift Valley in East Africa and reflects my love for open spaces. I believe it's essential to protect these areas for future generations. I am retired from Surrey County Council, where I specialised in teaching English to children from diverse linguistic backgrounds. I also taught cookery at adult education centres. My guiding principle is ‘service,’ and I strive to live by it. Over the years, I have been involved in fundraising for charities such as Mencap, the Fountain Centre, and the Royal Surrey County Hospital, for which I took on the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro. I also support the Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum and act as a liaison for Surrey Hills. In my spare time, I enjoy participating in U3A activities, including Chi Gung, calligraphy, and organised trips with the Anthropology group.

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