Meet the Pensions Board of Trustees
The Trustees of the Scheme are appointed and may be removed in accordance with the National Trust's Deed and Rules. There are eight Trustees – four are Member Nominated trustees chosen by members of the Scheme, the other four are chosen by the National Trust
Pensions Board of Trustees
Following the selection process for the two vacancies of Member Nominated Trustees in December 2024, the selected nominees are Richard Hill and Giles Hunt who will serve a three-year term of office.
Member Nominated Trustees
Richard Hill
Richard worked for the National Trust for 26 years, retiring in 2017 – he was involved in many significant projects, including Sutton Hoo's transformation and Knole's restoration. He lives in Norfolk in a historic house with a large garden which he and his wife decided to model on Anglesey Abbey. As well as growing, making and mending things, Richard is a passionate Arsenal football team supporter.
Giles Hunt
Giles is the National Trust’s Land and Estates Director, with strategic responsibility for all issues surrounding land and property across the Trust's let estate of over 200,000 hectares.
He studied Agricultural Business Management at Wye College, University of London before going on to study Rural Estate Management at the Royal Agricultural University. A qualified Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, he led teams in the Midlands and the South West before taking up the role of Head of Estate Management, then became a Director in September 2017.
Giles has been active within his profession serving as an APC examiner, sitting on various Boards and Committees for RICS and currently serves on the CAAV’s Property Committee. He has also worked with educational establishments as an external examiner and Advisory Board member.
Nick Lawrence
Nick Lawrence joined the National Trust 36 years ago and, although always based in Cornwall, has had various roles throughout his career.
A Chartered Surveyor, by background, he is currently Assistant Director – Consultancy. Nick is on the Board of The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership and is involved in other local charities and organisations.
Still living in Cornwall, he is passionate about the coast, the outdoors and walking, water sports and travel.
Peter Nixon
Peter retired from the National Trust after 32 years having worked in a variety of roles including Land Agent, Regional Director, Chief Agent and Director of Conservation.
More than 20 years on the Executive Team gave Peter thorough experience and understanding of the National Trust's pension scheme from the employee's perspective, and a deep appreciation of the scheme's importance to its members.
He continues to be interested in conservation, serving as Chairman of Harper Adams University governing body, a Trustee of a conservation board for the Clinton Devon Estate, and until recently, a Non-Executive Director representing the Forestry Commission on the board of Forest Holidays.
National Trust Nominated
Ian Bailey
Ian was an Associate of the CFA Society of the UK and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Securities Institute. He retired in 2016 from Aon, where he was Head of the Delegated Consulting Business in Europe. Before joining Aon, Ian was a Managing Director at BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited and its predecessor companies.
Ian has over 30 years of broad industry experience, including 15 years as a Fund Manager and 10 years as a Trustee of the Mercury Asset Management and Merrill Lynch UK Pension Plans.
Ross Russell
Ross has worked as an Independent Professional Trustee for 18 years. He works with UK defined benefit schemes sponsored by commercial or charity organisations. These are of all sizes, from £200m to £10bn, and he works as trustee chair, co- trustee or on investment panels. He has qualifications in pensions management, investment, corporate finance, law and as an actuary. He was with consulting actuaries Hymans Robertson for 18 years, ending as senior London partner and head of the actuarial practice for the firm.
Ross lives in Suffolk. Outside of his professional work he is an amateur luthier, bread-baker and wine-maker among other interests.
Janet Thomson (Chair)
Janet Thomson is an experienced Chair of Trustee Boards and Trustee with some 30 years’ experience in UK and Irish pensions, involving closed and open defined benefit (both final salary and career average) schemes and defined contribution (both trust and third party insurer) arrangements.
Having been a Trustee Director and Chair of the investment committee for nearly six years, Janet was appointed Chair of this Scheme in March 2023. She also chairs the Places for People Pension Scheme.
Janet enjoys travelling, photography and spending time with her husband and friends at their second home in France.
Nita Tinn
Nita is a solicitor and has been a Pension Trustee since 2001 before working as an independent trustee since 2005.
She retired in December 2022 but cannot stay away from the world of pensions so has joined the Board and will be chairing the investment committee. Nita has been involved with pension schemes of all shapes and sizes, both as a board member and a chair. Most recently she chaired the Association of Professional Pension Trustees, where she was instrumental in introducing an accreditation system for professional trustees to ensure high standards of governance.
Nita used to run marathons but now confines herself mostly to Nordic walking, climbing the odd mountain, visiting National Trust properties and spending time with her two small grandchildren when she can.
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