Desi Dillingham, MBE
Chair
Desi was Founding Chair of British Dressage (1997-2007), President of the British Horse Society (2007-2011) and Chair of the Animal Health Trust ‘British Equestrian Awards’ 2002-2012. Her career spans all equestrian circles including having a major involvement in British breeding and playing a central role in fundraising for the Equestrian section of the British Olympic Team since the 1980’s.
Andrew Dowden
Vice Chair
Andy was born in Bristol and grew up in the south of the city. He has a long career in construction and civil engineering and has run his business, Brandwells Construction Co Ltd since its formation in 1973. He now lives in North Somerset and in his spare time enjoys golf, gardening and walking in the countryside.
Annette Newman
Annette is the Managing Director of Exeter based KOR Communications, a strategic communications consultancy which she founded in 2006, specialising in publicity, reputation management and engagement. Annette joined the HorseWorld Board of Trustees in 2017 and is proud to support this long-established charity with her professional experience and lifelong interest in horses and their therapeutic benefits.
John Newman
John has been a trustee of HorseWorld since 2007 and was appointed Chairman from 2009-2020.He retired in 2006 after a career at senior and general management levels in corporate and merchant banking with mainstream UK and continental European banks and in latter years as a consultant to the commodity trading subsidiary of a major French bank. John is also a director of the charity’s trading subsidiary.
Duncan Ballard
BVM & S Cert EP MRCVS
Duncan qualified from Edinburgh University in 2000. After working in equine practice in Derbyshire and Yorkshire, he moved to the Royal Veterinary College to build their equine practice. Duncan moved to the B&W Equine Group in 2006 and become a Director in 2009. Duncan is based at their Failand Clinic.
Nigel Daniel
Nigel retired in 2015 from National Westminster Bank after 39 years; most recently he was a Relationship Director for large not-for-profit organisations, primarily in the Care and Education sectors. Nigel, a Bristolian, is a non-executive Director and Treasurer for a number of Charities and other Community Bodies.
Mike Neale
Mike was a Director of Assurance and Business Services at accountancy firm, Evelyn Partners. He qualified with the firm in 1978 and was made a partner in 1983.He specialised in advising owner managed businesses in the small to medium sized enterprise (SME) sector. Mike acted for a diverse range of clients and his depth of knowledge allowed him to advise on all aspects of the client’s business and assist with the growth of the company.
Kerry Gwyther
Kerry is a Partner in the National Law Firm TLT and is Head of its Regulatory team. Kerry advises businesses of all shapes and sizes, Directors and Trustees on all aspects of Regulatory Compliance such as Environmental duties, Health and Safety and Corporate Governance. Kerry has been involved with HorseWorld since the 1980’s as an advisor to the Board and has been involved in many of its key decisions and changes over the year. He is currently a Trustee of the main Board of HorseWorld and lives in the South West.
Cathryn Mitchell
Cathryn Mitchell is an engineering professor at the University of Bath. She was the inaugural director of the University Doctoral College, leading the transformation of management and support processes for doctoral students. She is a Royal Society Industry Fellow and a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. Over her career she has served on many national and international research panels. She has a lifelong interest in horses and in evidence-based approaches to their training and welfare. She lives in Somerset and has two rescue horses.
Duncan Attwell
On leaving the British Army in Spring 2022 Duncan has set up a building consultancy specialising in improving energy efficiency in older and listed buildings, he is also Assistant Commandant of Gloucestershire Army Cadet Force responsible for Youth, Civil and Employer Engagement in the county.
Duncan is married to Anna, has two daughters in their early twenties and has a keen interest in ponies and horses, he helps out with Yeomanry volunteer work at Badminton Horse Trails, The Yeomanry Ride and Tent Pegging at Frampton Country Fair. The family are keen sailors and keep a small yacht in the River Yealm.
Emmaline Pell
Emmaline has owned horses since the age of 12, when much to her parent's dismay, she saved up enough pocket money and it was time to uphold their end of the bargain. Emmaline currently owns 2 horses, including Albert, who she recently adopted from us here at HorseWorld.
Emmaline is an Equine & Canine McTimoney Chiropractor, practicing for 12 years in the Bristol area following completion of her BSc in Equine Science and MSc from the McTimoney College of Chiropractic in 2012. Emmaline has a side line career in Communications and Business Management, the majority spent as a Civil Servant.
Julie White
Julie is a specialist teacher and assessor for students and adults with additional (special) educational needs (SEN), as well as a teacher of English and English as an Additional Language. She holds qualifications to diagnose and support dyslexia, and a Master of Education specialising in Special Educational Needs and is a Fellow of Dyslexia Action, a leading dyslexia charity. Her undergraduate training is in Linguistics. Julie has worked in a variety of educational management positions, in the UK and overseas, as well as in boarding houses supporting young people away from home. She has undertaken additional training in a range of other neurodivergent profiles, such as autism, ADHD and trauma-related management.
Julie works at Millfield, a large independent school in Somerset, where she manages the learning support department, assessment of need and the whole school policy and strategy for SEN. She has worked in education for 30 years and still finds wonder in the young people she meets. She believes firmly in quality teacher training and continuing professional development as a crucial step in developing teachers and learners in today’s educational environment.