Alan Porter, Chair
Alan is a Yorkshireman and former secondary school science teacher. He was an executive member of the National Teacher's Union, and still serves on the Gloucestershire branch. Alan is a councillor at Churchdown and is serving his first year as GAPTC Executive chair.
Richard Page, Vice-Chair
Richard is chairman of Norton Parish Council and represents GAPTC at the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). He also serves on the NALC policy committee and was re-elected vice-chair of GAPTC in September 2023.
Isaac Bamfield
Isaac is a councillor at Berkeley Town Council and is a chartered engineer; he works as a project manager on large programmes, where he is involved in risk management, contracts, finance, leading teams and managing schedules and stakeholders.
Ray Cotton
Ray's career in law enforcement and public service made becoming a councillor and working for his community a natural transition. He is chair of Awre Parish Council in the Forest of Dean. He champions public engagement and transparency.
Amanda Davis
Amanda has enjoyed two lengthy careers, with the NHS, and as a Secondary maths teacher. She organised and led 150 street volunteers in Bourton on the Water during the Covid pandemic, where she is a councillor, and champions the Civility & Respect agenda in local councils.
Jim Harmsworth Cowles
Jim is a councillor at Dumbleton Parish Council in the Tewkesbury Borough and owns a graphic design house; GAPTC consults him on all things digital. He believes that local councils can have a significant impact on the communities they serve.
Carol Harris
Carol has come full circle: she was born in Lydney, travelled extensively due to military commitments and returned in 2005 where she joined a local news agency. She has served on Lydney Town Council for 14 years, including a stint as district councillor for the Forest of Dean.
Steve Ponting
Steve became a parish councillor for Rodborough in 2015 and served as the chairman for four years. He was appointed to the GAPTC executive committee in October 2021 and served as chair from 2022-2023.
Dr Madan Samuel
Madan is a retired Consultant Paediatric Surgeon who has received commendations from the UK Prime Minister and the President of India. He serves as a Parish Councillor in Bourton-on-the-Water, is an accomplished author, lecturer, and advocate. He actively promotes diversity in the UK.
Tasha Saunders
Tasha has lived in the Forest since she was seventeen. She has worked in retail and owned a cake artistry business. She was inspired to become a councillor during the pandemic and was elected mayor a year after joining Lydney Town Council.
Richard Crighton, Clerk
Richard is GAPTC's clerks' representative. He was among the first 10 clerks in the country to be CiLCA accredited and is now clerk to Newland and Staunton Coleford parishes in the Forest. He worked on the District Council's Parish Code of Conduct, and GAPTC's Internal Audit Service. He is the independent member on the District Council Standards Panel.