Stephen Tyrrell Chair of Trustees & T/C Director Expand Telephone: 01392466666 Email: [email protected] Stephen started his career with IBM leading him to a background in the manufacturing, technology, aviation and automotive sectors. Most recently he has been helping SME businesses to greater success and profitability. Stephen is a family man, based in South Devon with a wife, son and two dogs. His passions involve anything on the water. Stephen is now seeking his next ‘hands on’ business adventure!
Simon Denton Trading Company Director & Chair Expand Telephone: 01392466666 Email: [email protected] Simon settled in Devon as a 16 year old and after doing his A levels in Tavistock and degree in Plymouth set out on a career as an accountant. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1994, as a Chartered Tax Advisor in 1997 and as a Trust and Estate Practitioner in 2007. Having trained for a small firm, Simon spent over 5 years work for Big 4 firms before joining Milsted Langdon in 2000. He was admitted as a partner to the practice in 2005. Simon specialises in advising businesses on minimising their tax liabilities whilst still achieving their commercial objectives. Simon lives in East Devon with his three children and when time allows can be found undertaking some sporting endeavour such as a cyclosportive, triathlon or open sea swim.
Margaret Davies Trustee Expand Telephone: 01392466666 Email: [email protected] Margaret Davies joined the DAA board of trustees in September 2017. Margaret is a registered Occupational Psychologist with particular expertise in the area of leadership and gender. She previously worked as a senior marketing manager for a number of large companies, and is the co-founder of The Glass Lift, an organisation working to change the face of leadership by championing equality, diversity and inclusion. As well as being a main board member, Margaret will also sit on the Charity's HR Committee.
Paddy Dixon Trading Company Director Expand E.P. Dixon (Paddy) joined the RAF in Logistics and Material Management. Worked for Lockheed Aircraft in Saudi Arabia as project management for the Civil Air Traffic control systems for the whole of Saudi from the desert upwards. He joined McAlpine Helicopters, Eurocopter, Airbus Helicopters. Worked on many projects including PBH,SBH, RBH and FMP to support the police and air ambulance helicopters.
Julie Hawker Trustee Expand Telephone: 01392 466666 Email: [email protected] Julie is Chief Executive of Cosmic, a digital skills agency based in Honiton and has a very personal connection to the Charity – she was airlifted by DAA following a serious riding accident and has spent 6 years supporting the charity through fundraising, volunteering and offering staff training. She is an enthusiast for the ways in which digital technologies will improve businesses, organisations and lives in the coming years, and regularly speaks on these subjects at local, regional and national events. Julie contributes to the development and delivery of major consultancy projects at Cosmic, and is learning director and trainer on Cosmic's digital leadership programme. Julie works in a variety of roles at national, regional and local levels to improve the collaboration in advancing digital skills, digital transformation for businesses, and also the economic environment for social enterprise, keeping a sharp focus on digital inclusion and its benefits to the wider economy. Julie is also Board member with the SW Business Council, the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Bank of England Panel in the region, Board member for the Exeter & Heart of Devon Skills Partnership. We are fortunate that Julie has brought her expertise and experience to the Devon Air Ambulance Board of Trustees.
Deborah Fraser Trustee Expand Telephone: 01392 466666 Email: [email protected] Deborah Fraser, Regional Director - South West, CBI Deborah was appointed director, CBI south west in June 2014. Her role involves running the member relationship function for all CBI members based or with an interest in the south west, representing the business community on key policy issues, ensuring that businesses in the region have a strong voice within the CBI’s campaigns and strategically influencing the regional devolution agenda. She has grown the membership base of the south west to create the CBI’s second largest region in the UK outside of London and the south east. Before joining the CBI Deborah was previously responsible for Education Business Partnership – South West (now CSW Ltd). Here she successfully converted EBP-SW from a small grant funded Devon focused organisation to a profitable million-pound turnover social enterprise. Deborah has also previously worked in the coal mining sector and civil service. She graduated from the University of Manchester with a M.A. (Econ) Politics in 1999 after which she spent some time in Thailand and Laos with World Vision.
Tony Hudson Trustee Expand Telephone: 01392466666 Email: [email protected] Dr Tony Hudson is currently Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the RD&E, with a special interest in caring for patients who have suffered traumatic injuries. Tony has previously worked as an Emergency Department Consultant in Yeovil and at Derriford and, before this, was a Medical Officer in the Royal Navy, serving with the Royal Marines. In his spare time, Tony enjoys getting outdoors particularly sailing (including across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans!), kayaking, hill walking and has taken part in a mountain marathon.
Richard Plunkett Trustee Expand Telephone: 01392466666 Email: [email protected] Richard Plunkett worked for 4 years in professional practice in Plymouth before qualifying as an accountant. He moved into industry for 10 years, working for the majority of that time at Flybe, ultimately being appointed as the company's Director of Airline Finance. Having enjoyed the advisory aspect of his roles, as poacher turned gamekeeper he returned to professional practice and worked at a senior level for one of the largest independent firms of accountants in the South West for 9 years - over 5 of which were as the firm's Corporate Finance Partner. In October 2010, seeking a fresh challenge, accountancy firm Plunkett Yates was born, based in Exeter. When not counting beans, Richard can occasionally be seen driving his 'toy' kit car or more regularly enjoying meandering along the amazing beaches and countryside of the South West.
Edmund Probert Trading Company Director Expand Telephone: 01392466666 Email: [email protected] Edmund has practised as a commercial lawyer in Devon for the past 30 years. He is married with four children and has an unhealthy interest in old French cars.
Dick Richardson Trading Company Director Expand Telephone: 01392466666 Email: [email protected] W A (Dick) Richardson was unusually trained by the RAF both as a helicopter pilot and engineer officer. Amongst many other military missions he was a maintenance test pilot and the engineering officer procuring the Chinook from Boeing. After reaching senior rank he commenced a second career in the civil helicopter industry and was Engineering Director for McAlpine Helicopters and then Commercial Director for Airbus Helicopters UK. He pioneered the use of helicopters by the UK Police and Ambulance Services, becoming very familiar with both helicopter MRO and the design and installation of complex upgrades. He introduced “power-by-the-Hour” to the UK helicopter industry. Since February 2012 he has run his own consultancy, Luxopus Ltd. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.