Vice Chancellor on board of regeneration firm

Paul Wellings vice-chancellor of Lancaster University and professor of population ecology will join the board of the new Cumbria Rural Regeneration Company.

The North West Development Agency and Cumbria County Council announced the appointment of eight people who will joining John Dunning of NWDA, Rex Toft leader of the county council, Eden businessman Freddy Markham and three district authority councillors.

Professor Wellings will specialise in higher education, ICT development and environmental matters. The other board members are: Mr Markham of Morland, founder and chairman of Travelling Light, will specialise in rural diversification, branding, business and employment; James Carr, chairman of Cumberland Building Society and formerly chairman of the regeneration subgroup of the Cumbria Foot and Mouth Disease Task Force; David Brockbank, developer of an industrial estate at Staveley, near Kendal, who will specialise in rural business and social inclusion matters; Kate Braithwaite, chief executive of Voluntary Action Cumbria who will specialise in voluntary sectors and social inclusion matters; Bob Clark chief executive of Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency, who will specialise in business, ICT and agricultural matters; Tom Bryson, former director of the countryside management centre at Wye College, University of London, who will specialise in agriculture and training and education in farming communities; and Chris Collier, chief executive of Cumbria Tourist Board, who will specialise in tourism matters, including ICT development.