Steve, RR's founder, has a broad experience, from practical work to senior management and policy level, with a consistent involvement in facilitation and training throughout. He has significant management experience in many teams and projects. His real strength is working with and through people, building partnerships. He has a natural ability to rapidly learn and adapt to complex situations.

Steve has a particular experience in project startup and creative input. He has a thorough grounding in participatory technique, with a track record in adaptation and innovation. Steve's work has involved him in a variety of rural development, business, forestry and conservation positions in the UK and overseas, including Alaska, Nicaragua, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa. Steve is also a trustee of Harvest Help.

Thematic lead: Community Resources and Economic Resources

Irene specialises in project management, monitoring and evaluation and developing organisational capacity in small organisations. She is an accomplished researcher with an eye for detail and a high competence in managing project systems. Irene has been involved in a wide range of community projects as well as numerous projects in support of the public sector, in many of which she has designed and implemented participatory approaches to the work.

Her technical background includes environmental management systems for forestry, M & E systems for rural development and more recently access policy for clients including Shell International, Concern Worldwide and the Countryside Agency. Irene has experience in Alaska and Tanzania as well as Norway, South Africa and South America.

Thematic lead: Organisational Resources

Joy specialises in community action planning, community natural resource and heritage management and community forestry. She brings a systematic approach and an eye for detail to all her work. Joy has been involved in a wide variety of contracts where she brings her structured approach into community and project work through consultation, action planning, managing the process and research.

Joy also often manages contract teams, specifically where they involve consulting in natural resource use and broader aspects of community development. Joy has worked previously with the Forest of Mercia Community Forest, the Forest of Dean and in the private sector practical woodland and habitat management.

Key Roles: Contract management; research; designing systematic approaches; standard setting; community consultation & strategic work.

Thematic lead: Environmental Resources

Phil is a real people person, with a natural ability at working with both individuals and groups, he brings a wide variety of associated people-focused skills and qualifications. Whilst his background lies in town planning, training, social and community work, he has developed an expertise in enabling community involvement.

In particular, he has worked with young people, mental health and group development. The latter has involved him in the development of small organisations which complements Irene's skills. Phil has also worked in Sudan and Indonesia.

Key roles: Training; facilitation; group development; partnership development; community field work.

Thematic lead: Learning Resources

Debbie has a real eye for detail and as Office manager and Personal Assistant to Steve, she provides a clear overall structure to the office systems and contract management. She has qualifications in and experience of research and information management, combined with a strong interest in environmental and rural planning issues.

Debbie's work experience includes being a field officer for a Rural Community Council, research and development work for the Department of Health, dissemination of information to disabled people, and undertaking an Information audit for a local charity.

Key Roles: Office management; systems design and enforcement; research.

Sue is often the person you will get when you first call in. She works four days a week and provides office and team support with all the various back up jobs required in a busy office environment. Sue has developed a staggering typing and data entry speed, along with skills in Web and data research and initial questionnaire data compilation. Sue also brings a useful artistic flair to the team and a significant amount of patience!

Key roles: general administration and support; research data entry; preparation of consultation tool kit art work.

Derek is an independent book-keeper who works with Rural Resources one day a week. His experience in accounting and systems management helps ensure our working practices fully conform. He also helps to ensure that our financial management systems are in place for larger contracts, as well as running all the day to day PAYE, financial and management accounting. In addition to his current expertise, Derek's past work in psychology and as a teacher brings useful complementary support skills on which we occasionally draw!

Key Roles: Financial management and accounting systems; employment management and advice; management systems design support.

Neil works in a number of areas, including enterprise support, training and 'blue-chip' consultancy focussing on the facilitation of issue resolution.

Experienced in business (having started a number of successful businesses), community (working with community groups and running publicly-funded projects) and creative (web development, and Art & Design) arenas , as well as teacher/training experience and a strong creative background in sculpture and photography.

Key Roles: Business planning, training, business development, web development.

Thematic lead: Economic Resources