AONB Unit

The AONB Unit team work on behalf of the Isle of Wight AONB Partnership to conserve and enhance the Islands finest landscapes.

The team consists of:

AONB LEAD OFFICER	AONB PLANNING OFFICER
AONB COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER	AONB ASSISTANT

Fiona joined the AONB Unit in July 2002 as the AONB Assistant, joining us from her role as Training/Conference Co-ordinator at the Isle of Wight Council's Learning Centre, and following re-organisation of the AONB Unit in 2005, was appointed to the role of AONB Communication Officer.

Fiona was born in Zambia, and first came to the Isle of Wight with her family when she was five.  Since then she has lived both on and off the Island but considers the Isle of Wight as home.  Fiona's working background has been in the catering and tourism sector, with a particular focus on customer service, personnel management and the co-ordination of finances and training.

Recently completing a Diploma in Environment and Development, Fiona is currently studying for a Degree in Environmental Studies through the Open University.

When the previous Lead Officer left to become a consultant, Fiona was successful in her application for this role, and was appointed AONB Lead Officer in August 2008.

This role is to promote policies and actions that will conserve, enhance and manage the AONB in line with the statutory AONB Management Plan.  The work, and that of the AONB Unit team, is overseen and directed by the AONB Partnership Steering Committee, and reported on yearly at the Annual General Meeting to the AONB Partnership and the public at our Annual Open Forum.

A key part of the role is to ensure commitment and encourage partnership working, of all of those who are involved or can influence the future of the AONB.

The incumbent leads on the review, preparation, adoption, publication and monitoring of the Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan.  This includes reporting on the AONB Partnership's activities, delivery of the AONB Management Plan and on the general condition of the AONB.

Financial control of the work of the AONB Partnership and overseeing the delivery of funding to others for projects that benefit the AONB is also part of the role.  This work includes the development of funding bids for the work of the AONB Unit, and for additional projects that the Partnership wishes to deliver.

The Lead Officer represents the Isle of Wight AONB on a number of external bodies, is a member of the South East Protected Landscapes Leadership group, and is the lead contact for our work with the National Association of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

fiona.hanna@wightaonb.org.uk

AONB PLANNING OFFICER - Nicky Rogers

Nicky Rogers joined the AONB Unit as AONB Planning Officer in August 2005.  Born on the Island and growing up in the AONB, Nicky left the Island to obtain her further education gaining a BSc (Hons.) in Geography.  Nicky joined us from her role as a Planning Officer in the Development Control team at Brentwood Borough Council in Essex, a 'Green Belt Authority'.

Nicky takes the planning and policy lead within the AONB Unit, on our work to influence strategic plans and policies of others.  This includes working to influence the emerging Local Development Framework and the Local Transport Plan.

Nicky also leads on the provision of pre-planning application advice, AONB comment on advertised planning applications, monitoring of planning decisions within the AONB, assessment of the effectiveness of conditions, and assessment of the outcome of all development control matters.  From this work we can then identify development pressures, and seek to influence and provide advice through design and other guidance notes.

Locally Nicky works with public bodies and individuals with permitted development rights, to ensure that the AONB is considered within their plans, policies and operations.

Nicky is the Isle of Wight AONB representative on the Regional Protected Landscapes Planning Officer group, which meets to discuss issues and share best practice.  This group also formulates a regional response to national and regional planning and policy documents such as the South East Plan.

Nicky works with John, the AONB Lead Officer, on the delivery and review of the policies of the AONB Management Plan, and also acts as his deputy in his absence.

nicky.rogers@wightaonb.org.uk

 AONB COMMUNICATION OFFICER - We are currently recruiting for this post

This role is the lead within the Unit on the promotion of the Isle of Wight AONB and its purpose, to various audiences through the production of newsletters, updates, leaflets, guides and through the maintenance and updating of the AONB website.  This includes working with partnership members and communities, to foster a greater sense of ownership and involvement in the promotion of the AONB and its management.

The administration of the AONB Sustainable Development Fund, and any other project funding we may have to distribute, lies with this role, including liaison with the different funding assesssment panel members.

The Communication Officer also acts as the lead on identifying external funding sources, existing and new partners for information provision, education and promotional work.

Within this role is the overseeing of the financial administration of the AONB Unit, including monthly reporting on budgets,m and in additional manages the in-house Geographic Information System (GIS) resource.

Carrie McDowell first joined the AONB Unit as temporary administration support in January 2004.  Following the re-organisation of the AONB Unit, Carrie joined us permanently as AONB Assistant in September 2005.

Carrie moved to the Isle of Wight in January 2003, having chosen to live here after many years of holidaying on the Island.  Carrie is a keen conservationist and also involved with the 'Green Gym'.  Carrie has experience of administration, personal assistant and secretarial roles, including many years spent in the private industry pensions sector.  Carrie has a keen interest in history, and has undertaken mature study at Advanced level in both English and European Mediaeval History.

Carrie provides the administration support role for the AONB Unit and AONB Partnership.  She ensures that our databases are up to date, our partnership members receive information on our work, and enquiries to the AONB Unit by e-mail, telephone or letter are actioned either by her or passed to the relevant member of the team.

The AONB Assistant manages the diaries of the AONB Unit team, and looks after the arrangements for meetings including sourcing venues, circulating papers and taking minutes.

Carrie is the lead within the Unit on our filing, archives and extensive photographic library, having catalogued this as an early task for her role.

Carrie works closely with Fiona on the production of the AONB Finest Landscapes newsletter.

carrie.mcdowell@wightaonb.org.uk

Isle of Wight AONB Unit, Seaclose Offices, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QS.

TELEPHONE: (01983) 823855                     FAX : (01983) 823850

The Unit is hosted by the Isle of Wight Council within the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate.