Meet the team
A small team of volunteers and one member of staff deliver the work of Tidal. Our Coordinator and office volunteers look after our day-to-day activities, while the trustees on our Board meet around 6 times per year to oversee our strategy and make sure we’re operating effectively and within the law. Scroll down to meet the team and drop us a line.
Staff & Volunteers
Laura McFarlane-Shopes | Coordinator
Laura graduated from the University of Leeds after studying International Development. She took a year out during her degree to work as Communications and Internal Affairs officer at Leeds University Union. This experience included chairing the Union’s board of trustees and sitting on the University’s trustee board. She was also elected to chair the Ethical and Environmental committee of the NUS Services Limited where she also served as a board member.
Laura has been campaigning on a variety of issues for over ten years, from animal rights to higher education, freedom for Palestine to climate change. This more recent focus on climate change brought her to Tidal’s efforts, in particular the campaign against Leeds Bradford Airport Expansion.
Contact Laura at laura.mcfarlane-shopes [@] leedstidal.org
The Board
Richard Whitmill | Chair
Richard came to Leeds in 2004, where he studied Politics. He took a short respite from Leeds to study for an MA in Political Philosophy at York University, and upon his return began a stint volunteering with Tidal. During this time he underook a variety of projects including the administration of The Wave Express, the train which Tidal and our coalition parters chartered to London in December 2009, and the Fair 10 Challenge.
Richard spends his work days providing support for the third sector in Leeds at Leeds Christian Community Trust and Voluntary Action-Leeds. He has a passion for supporting voluntary groups within Leeds be it through practical help or strategic support. Although this keeps him busy he still has time for walking, supping the odd pint of real ale and even trying to brew his own (with varying success!).
Contact Richard at richard.whitmill [@] gmail.com
Lizzie Fellows | Vice Chair
Lizzie graduated from the University of Leeds in 2007 with a degree in Philosophy, and after graduating, worked in Leeds University Union as Welfare Officer where she was also a trustee of the organisation.
Lizzie works part-time for Sustain as a Food Co-ops Advisor and part-time as Coordinator of the Bardon Grange project, a student and community food growing project. Lizzie is doing a permaculture course and is involved in various environmental campaigns and projects in Leeds.
Contact Lizzie at lizziefellows [@] googlemail.com
Matt Carmichael
Matt is a local teacher and writer. Born in Tanzania, he became passionately aware of global justice issues from an early age, and recognised the intrinsic link between environmental and economic injustices.
Matt chaired the Stop Climate Chaos Leeds group from 2006 until it was fully merged with Tidal, speaks regularly on the topic of global warming, and runs the Schumacher North Windmill with his wife Kath at their home. He recently set up the Ecotarian Network.
Contact Matt at matt_carmichael [@] hotmail.com
Kay Morrison
Kay studied Sociology at Portsmouth University. She moved to Leeds in 2003 where she did an assortment of jobs including working for Pointed Arrow Theatre Company and Network:Leeds. Kay also volunteered with LASSN (Leeds Asylum Seeker Support Network) short stop programme and Joanna (a project working with women working in the sex trade).
Kay currently works at Leeds University Union with Faith & Culture and Political & Campaigning societies. She is currently learning sign language and enjoys cooking and knitting.
Contact Kay at morrisonkay [@] hotmail.com
Lindsey Pearson
Lindsey was a member of the Leeds Jubilee 2000 group, and became chair of Tidal when the group added Trade Justice to its campaigning in 2002. At that time she was a vicar in Seacroft and the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds World Development Officer. She moved to work for Christian Aid in 2004 and is the Yorkshire Regional Manager.
Highlights of her time with Tidal include the trains to Edinburgh and London for the Make Poverty History and Wave events (and before that Birmingham for J2000); Leeds becoming a Fair Trade City; the Trade Justice vigil and lobby of MPs; the Cut the Carbon March; and many more. She enjoys speaking to and with groups of all sizes about climate change, economic justice and other development issues.
Lindsey is Priest-in-Charge of Swillington in her spare time and is married to Andrew (also a vicar) and likes gardening, walking and composting.
Contact Lindsey at lpearson [@] christian-aid.org
Bill Phelps
Bill has been involved with global campaigning in Leeds for over 30 years. In 1998 he co-founded the Leeds Jubilee 2000 Rickshaw Freedom Riders, who pedalled an Indian cycle rickshaw to the Birmingham G8. Later that year he bought his own rickshaw and in 2001 led a team from Leeds over the Alps to Genoa. In 2005, as a joint Tidal/JDC venture, he initiated the Jubilee G8 Bike Rides – a dozen teams of cyclists from across the UK, all converging on the Edinburgh G8.
Bill is a graphic designer and, when not in the saddle, likes to explore other carbon reduction and community building activities.
Contact Bill at bill [@] wingfinger.co.uk
