Our board

Chris Davy (Chair) is the owner of the Rose and Crown at Romaldkirk. Chris chaired the CDTP task group. He is Deputy Chair of the County Durham Economic Partnership. He is also chair of the British Hospitality Association Northern Committee and former elected member on the National Council of the British Institute of Innkeeping.

David Harker (Audit Committee Chair, Remuneration Committee) is CEO of Durham County Cricket Club. He is a board member of Sport England North East Sports Board. David was also on the CDTP task group.

Sue Parkinson (Audit Committee) has been with the Chester-le-Street and City of Durham Enterprise Agency for over 20 years, a not-for-profit public/private sector partnership supporting local businesses. She is a member of the County Durham Economic Partnership and chairs its Business and Enterprise Working Group.

John Poland (Deputy Chair) formerly managing director of Metromail, is currently a member of the Durham Learning and Skills Council, a Princes Trust business mentor and a trustee and director of the Willow Burn Hospice at Lanchester.

Carolyn Ramsbotham (ATMAP Committee) runs a 4-star holiday cottage in Wolsingham and is a member of the Weardale Visitor Network. As well as being a member of the team at Auckland Castle she works in PR looking after specialist hotel and travel clients. She is a former chair of the Durham Shopping Extravaganza.

John Robinson (ATMAP Committee Chair, Remuneration Committee) has 26 years experience as a councillor in local government. He is Deputy Mayor for Sedgefield Borough Council, a magistrate for South Durham and a board member of the Durham Rural Community Council.

Melanie Sensicle (CEO) has worked in tourism for over nine years as Head of Marketing at VisitBrighton until moving to Durham. She is a member of the Tourism Management Institute's Continuing Professional Development Group and represents Destinations on the England Quality Visioning Group.

Helen Strangward (ATMAP Committee) is Commercial Director of Durham University. She has over 20 years experience in the hotel industry and extensive sales and marketing experience with Marriott, Swallow and Trust House Forte hotels.

Michele Hodgson is a councillor representing the Annfield Plain division. She is a cabinet member for Durham County Council and holds the Corporate Services, Libraries and Culture portfolios. Together with her husband Alan she runs a retail fishing tackle business.