Leadership Team
Mike Ward – CEO
Mike took up the role of Chief Executive Officer in April 2026, having joined the organisation in 2024. His career has spanned senior roles at Manchester Airports Group, where he was group head of retail, Transport for London, where he was head of retail and Network Rail where he held various roles including retail director and head of workplace. More recently he consulted on commercial strategy for organisations such as Peel L&P and Northern Trains. Mike is a trustee at Tatton Park Charitable Trust in Knutsford, as well as a magistrate in Manchester. He was born in Chester and grew up in north Wales and now lives in Bowdon, south Manchester with his dog, a ten-year-old rescued Jack Russell called Minnie.
Lin Whalley – Director of Operations
Lin joined PSVT in 2016 and commenced her role as Director of Operations in 2019. She is responsible for housing management, maintenance, landscape management, community and resident engagement, and volunteering, together with security and cleaning. Lin is a member of the Institute of Housing and gained her degree in Housing Studies from Salford University. She has worked in a number of Local Authorities and Housing Associations in the North West. Lin lives in Bebington and has two sons. In her spare time, she is a keen middle-distance runner.
Rachel Tudor – Director of Corporate Services
Rachel first worked for PSVT in 2006 to provide maternity cover and re-joined the organisation permanently in 2009. She is a qualified accountant and has previously worked in the public and housing sectors. She is responsible for all areas of finance including budget setting and cash flow forecasting, pay roll, and internal reporting and statutory accounts, as well as office administration and customer service standards. Rachel lives in Rock Ferry and has two young children.
Jean Milton – Director of Heritage
Jean is responsible for public programmes, conservation policy, lifelong learning, the historical collection and archive. She has a degree in The History of Art & Design from Manchester Metropolitan University, a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies from Manchester University and an MA in Participatory Arts in a Global Perspective from Staffordshire University (pt1). She previously worked for Stoke City Council Museums Service, the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester, The Whitworth Art Gallery and as a paid intern at Sotheby’s London. She is a Trustee for The Dudson Centre in Stoke.
Katherine Lynch – Director of Projects
Kath has worked for PSVT since 2008. Previously Director of Heritage, she is now Director of Projects. Kath is also a Blue Badge Tourist Guide for the Liverpool City Region and a council member for the Merseyside Civic Society. Kath has a degree in Ancient History from the University of Birmingham and a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester. She previously worked for Tyne & Wear Museums and Archives, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, and The Tank Museum in Dorset. Kath is an adopter, has a young daughter and home schools on a part-time basis.
Brian Pilkington – Head of Communications, Marketing & Retail
Brian joined the organisation in 2022. He is responsible for raising Port Sunlight Village Trust’s profile, growing and diversifying audiences, communicating with stakeholders, and increasing income generation through commercial activity. Brian has a degree in Fine Art and Art History from Plymouth University and an MA in Creative Writing from Edge Hill University. He has previously worked for the National Trust, Liverpool Biennial and Chetham’s School of Music. Brian lives in West Lancashire and has two dogs.
Trustees
Andrew Bowden – Chair
Andrew was born and raised in Liverpool and maintains close connections to the area. He spent over twenty years working within Local Government and the Third Sector prior to becoming the first Chief Executive Officer of a newly formed Housing Association in North Wales. Andrew is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FIoD) and has just joined Theatr Clwyd in Mold as a Trustee.
Louise Parnell – Vice Chair
Louise joined PSVT in October 2022, she is a Chartered Accountant with 15 years experience at Board level in the Charity Sector. Louise has also worked as a Trustee on two other Boards. Louise’s last position was as Finance Director at Autism Together, a care provider supporting adults with autism. Louise has lived on the Wirral for most of her life and has many links with Port Sunlight, including working at Unilever. She sees Port Sunlight as part of her heritage.
Steve Connolly
Steve has been a qualified Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors since 1991, and has more than 40 years’ experience in the construction industry. Steve’s last position was as MD of Poole Dick. Steve is an avid Manchester United fan and his devotion stretches right back to when he bunked off school in 1968 to attend the European Cup Final.
Andrew Croft
Andrew is an experienced heritage professional and director of a specialist environmental, landscape and heritage practice. He has over 20 years’ experience advising clients across the UK and internationally on approaches to the management of historic places and to the delivery of change in and around those places. He has particular expertise in World Heritage site management and previously advised PSVT on its aspirations for World Heritage status. He has a keen interest in the adaption of historic places and buildings to address, and adapt to, climate change.
Carolyn Dalton
Carolyn joined PSVT’s Board in September 2021. She currently manages Lancaster City’s museums having moved there in late 2018 from Doncaster where she was Heritage Services Manager. Carolyn has also worked for Norfolk, Poole and Lancashire Museum Services. She passionately believes in the value of museums and heritage to help build communities, create a sense of place and enhance wellbeing as well as contributing to the Visitor Economy and the external perception of a location. Carolyn is also a Leader in Residence at the University of Central Lancashire and is a Board member of the North West Regional Heritage Centre at Lancaster University and Treasurer of the Lancashire Place Name Survey – which has long been a personal interest.
Emily McArdle
Emily joined PSVT’s Board in 2019. She is a longstanding resident of the village and a passionate advocate for the community. Emily has worked within the NHS for over 30 years as a Speech and Language Therapist working with children and their families in schools and clinics. In addition to this, Emily is a consultant and trainer in person centred approaches, supporting organisations in health, education and social care to enable the people they support to have more choice and control in their lives. Emily is also a coach, supporting students on an international Leadership and Management workshop.
Anna Thomas
Anna joined the PSVT Board in September 2021 but already had close ties to Port Sunlight – working with Unilever for twenty years, and living in the village since 2012. Before joining industry, Anna obtained a PhD in child health and development and worked on public policy and health interventions. As a Director of Unilever Research & Development, Anna is responsible for driving scientific and technical innovation on projects across the UK, Europe, USA, India and Asia, building strategic, multi-sector partnerships across a range of sectors.
