Mike Hildesley, Chair
Mike has lived in Barnes since 1982. He became a Committee Member of the Friends of Barnes Common on taking early retirement in 1998, knowing little about the Common or nature conservation, but believing the Common to be a vital asset for the community.
In the years that followed Mike coordinated conservation, chaired the Association, raised funds for conservation equipment and built membership and volunteer numbers. He led the drive to work in partnership with Richmond Council on management of the Common and took the Chair of Barnes Common when it was established as a charity in 2013.
Mike brings expertise in finance, and risk management from his career in investment banking, and he also has experience working with and chairing charities in the arts and education, hospitality and nature conservation.
Interests include innovation and creativity in the fields of biodiversity, climate change, music and the arts, education and community engagement, especially the preservation of Commons and creating healthier rivers.
Myszka Guzkowska, Vice Chair
Myszka has been volunteering with Barnes Common for 8 years and became a trustee in 2020. As an environmental scientist, she has specific research expertise in urban waterbodies, forestry and climate change. She has also been a Reserve Army Officer. Myszka is widely experienced in senior executive and non-executive leadership across academic and military fields; most recently, as Deputy Vice Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University and as Assistant Director at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. She was an Advisor to the Department of Education and Employment and a Non-Executive Director for the MOD. She now divides her time between volunteering in the community, independent consultancy projects, and academic teaching and research. Her current teaching spans Environmental Resilience and Science Diplomacy, Defense Diplomacy, Corporate Governance and Ethics, Design Thinking and Communications.
Myszka was awarded the Queens Volunteer Reserve Medal in 2009. She is a former Oxford Ice-Hockey ‘Blue’ and still skates and skis when she can; she enjoys hiking and cycling and is a Duke of Edinburgh gold assessor. She has three children and enjoys time with her family.
Adrian Podmore
Adrian has been involved with Barnes Common since volunteering in the mid 2000s, becoming Manager when a formal partnership with Richmond Borough began in 2013. For the three years in post, he wrote a new management plan and saw the initiation of projects such as the Community Growers, Goods Yard orchard and butterfly transects.
Adrian has a post grad diploma in ecology and conservation, holds a dormouse license and also leads birdwatching and butterfly walks for various groups, including the Barnes Swift group. Originally with a background in investment accounting, he became a trustee of Barnes Common in 2017 and is currently the treasurer.
As a keen walker and birdwatcher, once Adrian has prised himself off his laptop he will generally be found outdoors in the countryside, preferably the west coast of Scotland.
Christopher Thomas
Chris became a Trustee of Barnes Common in 2013, having been a member of the Friends of Barnes Common. His family has lived in the Barnes area on and off since 1975. Chris qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked in the US and Caribbean before returning to the UK. He worked within the food sector in various senior roles and has spent the last ten years assisting a number of private companies. He was a JP in central London from 2007-2015. Finally retired and ‘downsized’ (to a house he and Nimi first owned in 1979) Chris is now collaborating with his labradoodle ‘Coco’ who assists him with his litter-picking across the Common. A keen photographer and walker he and Nimi intend to spend more time travelling – mainly in Asia.
Ian Tottman
Ian has lived in Barnes since 1992 and began his relationship with Barnes Common as a volunteer, keen to help with conservation and biodiversity improvement works. He’s been a trustee since 2021. Ian’s career included a range of board level roles in marketing and sales within the food and consumer sectors. Since retirement he has assisted several companies with their branding, commercial planning and strategy. He contributes to Barnes Common both as a volunteer and a trustee, with focus on fundraising, communications and strategy. Previously Ian was a trustee at Coeliac UK. He keeps fit by cycling, padel games and gym work, supplemented by Wednesday volunteering sessions on Barnes Common.
Sarah Wilson
Sarah has lived in Barnes since 2007 and, together with her family, enjoyed walking on Barnes Common and around Leg O’Mutton Reservoir. She has a keen amateur interest in the natural world, supporting biodiversity, and the ways this can help us all thrive. She is learning to garden, volunteers at the Community Growing Project, and became a trustee of Barnes Common in 2026.
Sarah was previously Chair of The Barnes Fund, which gave her a wide appreciation of the local community. Her earlier career as economist and regulator was followed by being Deputy CEO at Voluntary Service Overseas, a charity which – like Barnes Common – benefits from volunteers. As non-exec / trustee, Sarah has held roles in further and higher education and on the board of a large childcare social enterprise. She is currently Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit Committee at National Citizens Advice.