The new Coventry Society chair for 2024-26 is Trevor Cornfoot.
Trevor spent his working career in town planning and economic development. He has a strong belief in the importance of well-resourced and planned local and regional economic development. In following this, he worked in a variety of public bodies, at all scales – from urban development corporations and local authorities to the European Commission. Most relevant locally, in the 1990’s he was Head of Economic Development at Coventry City Council and then established the Coventry/Solihull/Warwickshire economic partnership. He then worked as Head of Strategy and Tourism at our regional development agency Advantage West Midlands until its untimely closure by the Tory/LibDem coalition.
Trevor has been a member of the Coventry Society for five years. In his view “If we are to protect our historic buildings and our modern built and green environments we need a strong, purposeful civic society which can, with authority, voice the views of members and understand the public mood on relevant matters of local interest”. Trevor wants the local pride evident among Society members to be used to influence investors, developers and the City Council so as to improve the living conditions and the environment for all Coventry residents. He believes that more urban and economic planning can lead to a better planned and more prosperous Coventry.
Trevor is a sports fan and enjoys travel and walking. He is a life member of the YHA – and was a Board member in the early ‘noughties’ – and of the Coventry Way Association. He is the current chair of the Friends of The War Memorial Park.