Churches Conservation Trust appointment: Peter Ainsworth
The Queen has approved that Peter Ainsworth be appointed Chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust.
The Queen has approved that Peter Michael Ainsworth, MA, be appointed Chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust for a term of 3 years from 1 July 2016.
Note for editors
Peter Ainsworth was educated at Bradfield College and Lincoln College, Oxford. He worked as a Researcher for a Member of the European Parliament before becoming an Investment Analyst in the City. He became a Director of Corporate Finance at Warburg Securities in 1986, a role which he resigned upon his election as Member of Parliament for East Surrey in 1992.
Having served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ministers in HM Treasury and the Department for National Heritage, he was promoted to the Whips’ Office in 1996 where he remained in Opposition as Deputy Chief Whip. In 1998 he became Shadow Secretary for Culture, Media & Sport, later becoming Shadow Environment Secretary.
In 2003 he was appointed Chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee before rejoining the Shadow Cabinet with the Environment brief in 2006. In 2009 he joined the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. In 2010 he left Parliament to pursue his interest in cultural and environmental matters.
He is currently Chairman of the Big Lottery Fund and a Board Member of the Environment Agency, and has chaired the Elgar Foundation and the wild plant charity Plantlife.
His interests include music, poetry and history.