Directors

Andy Goldring

Andy Goldring is Chief Executive of the Permaculture Association, the national charity supporting people to learn about and use the ethical and ecological design approach that is permaculture. Andy lives in Leeds and is an active teacher and designer in the Leeds Permaculture Network. He advises both urban and rural projects and is currently working on a series of international network building projects - the European Permaculture Community Forum, Ecolise (bringing together Transition Towns, Ecovillage Networks, Permaculture and other Community Led Sustainability initiatives), the Permaculture International Research Network and the Permaculture Co-Lab - an action learning project that seeks to enhance the coherence and effectiveness of the global permaculture movement. He is current secretary of Leeds Love it Share It.

Helen Hart

Helen Hart has been involved in climate activism since 2013 when she became aware of the potential horrors of fracking in the UK. This led her on a journey of discovery about the injustices in both African and South American countries by energy corporations, where there is little environmental protection for indigenous people, and where it can be life threatening to oppose oil and coal extraction. In 2019, Helen studied Climate Change, The Science through an online course from Exeter University, achieving a score of 96%. One of the founding members of Our Future Leeds, Helen wants to enable the people of Leeds to understand both the potential impacts of climate change, but also that with strong communities we can transition to a more equitable and sustainable way of life.

David Barns

David Barns is a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds where he focuses primarily on economic, social, and policy aspects of heat decarbonisation and building energy efficiency. David has been an active part of the Leeds community for over 15 years, campaigning on climate emergency and social justice issues. Having worked closely with local authorities in Leeds and elsewhere in professional and research capacities, David brings a sound understanding of local government practices and processes which are critical to delivering real-world change. He has recently played a key role in the redesign of Leeds' planning policies to bring them into line with the council’s climate emergency commitments.