Committee Members

Committee Members

• Richard Williams

  Chairman

  Richard is a 30 year veteran in Financial Services, working in many diverse countries. He is currently a Business Mentor & Consultant to SME Business Owners in Sussex. His interests are Sports, rugby in particular as a Harlequins supporter. Supporting Charity leaders, through Charity Mentors Sussex.

  07703 270 485 richard@sanzmansolutions.com www.sanzmansolutions.com
• John Abbott

  Secretary

  Bio to follow soon.

  07947 051 118 john.abbott@uw.partners www.uw.co.uk
• John Kay

  Committee Member

  Bio to follow soon.

  01435 817 061 john@kayandpascoe.co.uk www.kayandpascoe.co.uk
• Richard Ridley

  Committee Member

  Richard is a retired Chartered Accountant. Previously the Financial Director of Public Advertising Agencies including Saatchi and Saatchi Ran an IT support company specialising in VOIP (similar to Skype). He is currently a Parish Councillor for Heathfield and Waldron since 2014, Chairman of Le Marché committee since 2013, Treasurer of H&W Twinning Association, member and past President of H&W Rotary Club.

  richard@ridleyassociates.co.uk
• Julian Wates

  Committee Member

  Julian runs his own local website design and marketing company, based in Heathfield high street. His primary task with the chamber is Digital Media (website), Social Media and Membership as well as organising the breakfast meetings that are held every couple of weeks.

  01435 817 226 julian@sokada.co.uk www.sokada.co.uk
• Cinzia Long

  Committee Member

  Cinzia was born and raised in a ski village in the Italian Alps. Her parents owned a hardware store, which is where her lifelong love for retail was born. Her other loves are the mountains, skiing and cheese. She graduated in Forestry and Environmental Science at l'Università degli Studi di Torino before starting work in the tourism industry. She has worked in her local tourism office, as a walking tour guide, manager for an exclusive private hotel and, since 2010, owner of Cuculo Cheese & Wine on Heathfield High Street, where she can share her excellence in the kitchen and passion for cheese with all.

  01435 862 596 enquiries@cuculo.co.uk https://www.cuculo.co.uk/
• James McNay

  Committee Member

  James graduated in English and History, before a stint as an English teacher in Italy led to a lifelong connection to that country. Subsequent work as a walking tour guide with high profile clients opened an introduction to the wine industry, in which he has worked as importer, retailer, writer and speaker since 2005. In recent years James has founded MacNay Travel and Wine, drawing together all of his interests. With Italian and French family, James holds Italian dual nationality, is fluent in Italian, less so in French, and an industry expert in Italian wine.

  01435 862 596 enquiries@cuculo.co.uk https://www.cuculo.co.uk/
• Chris Phipps

  Committee Member

  Chris owns and runs Hidden Spring Vineyard in Horam, on the outskirts of Heathfield. He studied viticulture at Plumpton College and now manages the vineyard, tourism and many other aspects of Hidden Spring. He also conducts regular tours of the vineyard, sharing his passion for wine, from grape to glass.

  01435 813078 chris@hiddenspring.co.uk https://www.HiddenSpring.co.uk
• Rachel Drinkwater

  Committee Member

  Rachel studied hotel management before embarking on a successful 20 year career in retail management with Specsavers Opticians. A love of the outdoors and trips to her parents home in South West France with family and dogs in tow, led to her founding Wanted on Voyage, a store providing innovative travel solutions and inspiration for outdoor adventures.

  07883 908 525 info@wantedon.voyage https://www.wantedon.voyage