Governance

CCGP Governance Structure

The Cross Channel Geopark Transmanche Advisory Board

As a key part of the bottom-up approach of the Cross-Channel Global Geopark we have established a Cross-Channel Advisory Board – this is very widely framed and inclusive with members including the Geopark Ambassadors, Businesses, members from the National Level Structures, Executive and Geoscience Committee, communities, education establishments, businesses, artists, farmers, land managers tourism professionals, other UNESCO designated sites, historians, leaders in intangible heritage, etc.

The Advisory Board comes together once a year at a Partners’ Conference and Festival but otherwise support the Geopark through their advice, support, expertise or in other ways.

Members of the Board receive regular updates on the Geopark, have the opportunity to influence our plans and our work, have a chance to join smaller task and finish groups focusing on specialist subjects from farming to dancing, from nature to geology and from history to architecture.

Within the framework of the Advisory Board Communities of Practice and Special Interest Groups are developing. These are distinct – Communities of Practice being more long term and iterative where Special Interest Groups more likely to be ‘task and finish’ groups.

Examples of Task and Finish activities include the teams setting up and delivering the Geopark Festivals/ Advisory Board meetings.

Community of Practice groups are already emerging including, crosschannel artists, the Anglo/French Geopark Ambassadors, education resources and exchange.

Special Interest Groups are likely to emerge around Farming and Land Management including Viticulture; Geopark branding and Business Partnerships; Green Finance; Tourism; Influencers (digital and political); Geosite management, etc

Both the Communities of Practice and Advisory Board will be supported where appropriate by the Geopark Team where a need has been identified by the Management Plan, Advisory Board, Executive, UNESCO or others.

Our Geoscience Committee

The Cross-Channel Global Geopark Science Committee brings together leading experts to guide the scientific understanding and conservation of one of Europe’s most impressive geological landscapes. The Cross-Channel Geopark spans southern England and northern France, linking iconic chalk cliffs, fossil-rich sediments, coastal landforms, and the historic chalk landbridge that once connected Britain and France.

The committee’s role is to ensure that all Geopark activities, from research and monitoring to interpretation and education, are informed by the latest science.

Their advice helps protect rare chalk landscapes, supports sustainable tourism, and promotes cross-border collaboration between UK and French partners. By doing so, their work contributes towards the Geopark objectives: conserving geodiversity, celebrating cultural and natural heritage, and inspiring communities and visitors alike.

The committee is multidisciplinary, drawing expertise from geology, palaeontology, geomorphology, and environmental science. Members include academics, museum curators, and conservation specialists who understand the unique features of the Cross-Channel region:

  • Gaëlle Guyetant – Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels des Hauts-de-France

  • Prof. Alain Trentesaux – Sedimentologist, Lille University and LOG

  • Prof. Olivier Averbuch – Geologist, Lille University and Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences (LOG)

  • Prof. Sanjeev Gupta – Imperial College London

  • Dr. Jonathan Larwood – Geologist, Natural England

  • Prof. Julian Murton – Professor of Permafrost Science, University of Sussex

  • Frédéric Fasquel – Directeur délégué, Parc Naturel Marin des estuaires picards et de la mer d’Opale (Office de la Biodiversité)

  • Arnaud Hamelin – Geologist, Carrières du Boulonnais

  • Prof. Jenny Collier – Imperial College London

Through their work, the Geoscience Committee helps the Cross-Channel Geopark remain a leading example of geological heritage, showcasing the links between the UK and France, and ensuring that this extraordinary landscape continues to educate, inspire, and connect people with the deep history of the Earth.

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