A LEADING education charity based in Fairford has welcomed a new trustee to its board.

Jenefer Greenwood OBE joined the Ernest Cook Trust (ECT) on April 5 following a highly-successful career in the property sector.

A qualified chartered surveyor, she worked for the Grosvenor Estate, initially as retail strategist and then as director of sales & lettings for the UK and Ireland.

Jenefer, who lives in Fairford, was also a commissioner of The Crown Estate from 2004-2011 and brings valuable experience in education and training.

She was chairman of the National Skills Academy for Retail, set up in 2008 to help young people establish careers in retail and hospitality.

What’s more, Jenefer was awarded the OBE in the 2014 Birthday Honours list for services to UK Real Estate and voluntary service to young people.

She is also deputy chairman of governors at Westonbirt School.

“I’m very much looking forward to taking on this trusteeship,” she said. “Through my connection with The Crown Estate and Grosvenor, I have experience of the management of rural estates, as well as education through the Skills Academy and my role as a school governor.

“So these different aspects of the Trust’s work, managing land for the benefit of education, rather ties things together for me.”

Victoria Edwards, chief executive of the trust, said: “It is really lovely to see Jenefer joining the board of trustees.

“She brings a wealth of experience and expertise, as well as being local to our headquarters.”

ECT is one of the UK's leading educational charities, and is rooted in the conservation and management of the countryside.

It owns and manages 22,000 acres of landed estates across five counties in England.

ECT actively encourages children and young people to learn from the land through education programmes on its estates, and by giving grants.

Each year its trustees distribute around £1.8m to a range of education initiatives.