Board

The Organisation

A UNESCO Global Geopark is a designation awarded by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to an area that has outstanding geological heritage.

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The Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, ensures compliance with UNESCO Global Geoparks requirements, protects the Asset Lock, and oversees the ERGCIC’s financial sustainability and community benefit. A balanced and skilled Board is essential for effective governance.

The ERGCIC is governed by a small, effective Board of volunteer directors.

    • Independent & skills-based directors

    • Local authority representative (1 seat)

    • Core Partner representation (optional, 1–2 seats, possibly rotating)

    • Community / inclusion representation

  • All directors:

    • Uphold the ERGCIC’s community purpose

    • Follow UNESCO values and compliance requirements

    • Maintain independence and avoid conflicts of interest

    • Act collectively, not on behalf of any partner organisation

    • Commit time for meetings, ambassadorial roles, and UNESCO-related duties

  • The Board collectively holds skills in the following areas:

    • Governance & risk

    • Finance / audit / accounting

    • Heritage, geoscience or natural environment

    • Community engagement / inclusion

    • Education / interpretation / public engagement

    • Partnership development / multi-agency working

    • Environmental management / conservation

    • Visitor economy / tourism

    • Communications & branding

    • Digital / website strategy

    • Fundraising / income generation

    • Local business networks

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Nick Powe

  • Nick Powe ran Torquay’s famous caves at Kents Cavern, Britain’s oldest known human dwelling,  for over two decades.  He was instrumental in achieving Global Geopark status for Torbay and dedicates much of his time to maintaining this prestigious UNESCO status for South Devon.

    He is chair of Torquay Museum, President of the Devonshire Association (2026), director at VisitDevon and sits on Exeter Cathedral’s enterprise board.  As a senior UNESCO Geopark assessor he evaluates Geoparks around the World. He is a Deputy Lieutenant for Devon.

    Nick lives in Torquay and brings experience in balancing curatorial responsibility with commercial endeavour to ensure the Geopark status adds value, social and economic, to the local area.  He was educated in France and England, trained as a Chartered Accountant, and prior to becoming managing director at Kents Cavern in 2000, he worked with Spontex, Dalgety Plc, Spillers Petfoods and Nestlé in the UK and US.

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Rachael Kiddey

A woman and two young girls sitting on a rocky shoreline near the water, enjoying a meal together, with a cloudy sky, sailboats in the distance, and houses on a hill.