Trustees
Richard Lister OBE (Chair)
Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, Richard has also worked at Brunel, Hull, and Essex Universities. He chairs 4YP and the Ipswich Social Mobility Alliance and serves on the Food Museum board.
Vanessa Trevelyan (Deputy Chair)
Vanessa is a former Director of Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service and past President of the Museums Association, now advising independent museums.
Anne Harrison (Company Secretary and Treasurer)
A qualified accountant and Director of Colour Marketing Services Ltd, Anne has lived in Suffolk for nearly 40 years and is active in local history, charities and her church.
Melissa Strauss
Melissa works at the National Lottery Heritage Fund on museums and community engagement, is a Clore Fellow, co-founded Museum Space Invaders and has researched community participation in museum governance.
Bill Seaman
Bill grew up on a South Norfolk farm, trained as a teacher, worked in theatre and museums for 30 years, and is now a museum consultant, trainer, musician and National Trust advisor.
Clare Barlow
Clare is the Director of the People’s History Museum, Manchester. She has curated Being Human (Wellcome Collection) and Queer British Art, 1863–1967 (Tate Britain) and champions inclusion in museums.
Jon Pattle
Qualified as an architect in 1980 and a partner at Ipswich-based Poole & Pattle, Jon has extensive experience in conservation and innovative design. A long-standing museum volunteer and Life Member, he is also active in numerous local organisations including Stowmarket's Civic Society and the Pickerel Project.
Jon Brighton
Jon has lived in Stowmarket for over 20 years. A retired senior Suffolk police officer, he is now chair of Cotman Housing Association, a school governor, and enjoys walking, football, and golf.
Simon Hooton
Simon has lived in Suffolk for over 35 years, working in countryside management and environmental education, and is active locally as a councillor, school governor, wildlife group chair and arts centre director.
Jenny Cousins (Museum Director)
Jenny, Museum Director since 2016, has led projects at English Heritage and Imperial War Museums. She chairs Stowmarket Culture Group and sits on the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce board.
Laura Pryke
Laura is Retail Manager & Buyer at Kettle's Yard, Cambridge, overseeing product development, e-commerce and publishing, with over ten years' experience in mission-led commercial activity within arts and heritage.
Paul Coppin
Paul is a litigation lawyer with over three decades of experience at Eversheds-Sutherland, specialising in complex claims and health and safety risk management. Now semi-retired, he is also a qualified mediator and has lived in Needham Market for over 25 years.
Bee Farrell
A food anthropologist and author-illustrator, Bee founded Still Room Studio in 2023 to curate exhibitions and programmes exploring food's connection to ecological, social and economic health. She is a member of the Guild of Food Writers, the RSA and the Food Museum.
Haley Bell
A Registered Nutritionist (Public Health), Haley helps brands translate food and nutrition trends into credible, commercially compelling products and messaging. She also volunteers with Alzheimer's Research UK and Nutrition Graduates.
