Meet the Team

A founder member of the CLT, Max has 50 years’ experience of project implementation and management, R&D and technology transfer. He has lived in Sussex for nearly
40 years and just outside Ringmer for four years. Max says: ‘I have strong family connections to Ringmer. Inspired by the legacy of Jubilee Cottages, given to Ringmer by my wife’s uncle, I was immediately interested in supporting the creation of a Community Land Trust to provide affordable housing and other community assets for our local villages in perpetuity. Please come and join us and help build even stronger local communities and maintain the thriving villages that we all wish to live in.’

David grew up in Ringmer and returned in 2014 after living and working around the world. He has 25 years’ management experience in sales, marketing, operations, finance and business transformation. David is an East Sussex Charity Mentor, a Ringmer Parish Councillor and a prospective local District Councilor. He says: ‘I helped to set up the RACLT as I am a believer in community-led development. I strongly believe that local people need to take control of their local environment and be able to live and work locally, not have to move away from their networks. A key element of our CLT will be to provide truly affordable housing for local people to  enhance our local community.’

Gavin is a local business owner, providing Housing Rental Management, Estate Agency and Property Development, previously worked for Barclays Bank. 

In his 40 year career in architecture, Sy worked in private practice in the UK and abroad. He founded Axiom Architects, specialising in leisure projects for major national companies. He has spent ten years as Chair of the Lewes Planning Committee and is also Chair of Lewes Priory Trust, the charity that manages the heritage site for Lewes Town Council. Since 2012, he has been Convenor of North Ringmer Residents Group, coordinating local interests in relation to the Bishops Field/Potters Field development.
He says: ‘Recent events have shown that commercial developers are motivated solely by profit and do not provide houses of the type and cost which are so badly needed
by local people. The RACLT is a unique opportunity to take the initiative.’

Gordon is a freelance HR consultant, originally with the Royal Mail Group. He is Vice-Chair of governors at Seaford Head Academy and a trustee of the Now! Charity Group. He was previously Chair of Eastbourne Homes, an ALMO managing properties and delivering ‘Decent Homes’ for Eastbourne BC (2006–2013).