Tir Coed’s Chief Executive stepping down after stellar contribution to development

The Board of Trustees for Welsh Charity Tir Coed has today announced that Ffion Farnell will be stepping down from her role as CEO from October 2022.

Ffion Farnell, Chief Executive Officer for Tir Coed, will be handing over leadership of the organisation in the Autumn after 12 years with the organisation – nine years as CEO, a year as Development Officer and two further years delivering woodland activities. In her time at the charity, around 8,000 people have been supported, many of whom have progressed into work, education, or training. 

During Ffion’s leadership, the organisation has gone from strength to strength, successfully delivering a wide range of educational, training and community wellbeing projects across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Powys and increasing turnover from £207,305 in 2012 to around £600,000 this year. The staff team has also grown from four to 30 roles.  Ffion has worked tirelessly to lead, shape, streamline and promote the organisation and has established innovative working partnerships with major land managers in the Elan Links project, with the Royal Forestry Society in establishing Dysgu am Natur, and with grassroots regeneration organisations around Wales as part of the Llechi Glo a Chefn Gwlad project, to name but a few.  Her flair for design and communications has shaped Tir Coed’s striking branding and unique models for engagement and progression. She has also future-proofed the organisation through the development of Tir Coed’s new AnTir programme which will broaden the organisation’s delivery of land-based wellbeing and training activities to include food growing and regenerative land practices in addition to woodland-based and estate management skills.  Ffion’s love and knowledge of rural Wales has kept Tir Coed developments reactive to the local communities it exists to serve, gaining a reputation as a charity that is inclusive, forward –thinking and fully engaged with the local community. 

Chair of Trustees Adrian Wells said: “Since taking up the role of CEO in 2013, Ffion has made a stellar contribution to Tir Coed, growing the organisation from a local statutory supported partnership to a fully-fledged regional charity with a massive impact on local places and the lives of local people.  She leaves the charity in a very strong position and we are exceptionally grateful to her for all her work.  And we are very sorry to see her go.”

Over the coming months, Ffion will continue to work part-time while handing over responsibility to the senior management team. She will also be leading the search for a talented, experienced and passionate new CEO.