The Cold War Network operates as a Community Interest Company (CIC), which means it is a type of social enterprise designed to use its profits and assets for the public good. As a CIC, the organization is structured to ensure that its activities benefit the community and support its mission related to Cold War history, education, and preservation.
The governance of the Cold War Network is overseen by a Board of Directors, comprising distinguished individuals dedicated to its mission:
Dr. Peter Robinson – Chair
Peter is Head of Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University. He is an award-winning author and has published both academic books and peer-reviewed journals, as well as books covering a range of transport, tourism and landscape histories. He has appeared on several television and radio programmes discussing the travel and tourism industry.
Peter is a Fellow of the Tourism Management Institute and the Yorkshire and Humber representative, a Fellow of the Tourism Society, a Fellow of the Institute of Travel and Tourism, and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is Co-Chair of The Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE), a Director of The Institute of Travel and Tourism and he represents ATHE on the Tourism Society Board. He is Chair of the Tourism Consultants Network and is also part of an ABTA Working Group on skills and qualifications. He is Chair of a charity co-delivering a multi-million-pound regeneration project for the historic house and country park at Elvaston in Derbyshire and is the Education and Outreach Officer for the Airfield Research Group. He was formerly Vice-Chair of The Museum of Carpet.
Peter has owned businesses in photography, travel, ICT, waste management and publishing, and has delivered consultancy work for organisations in a several industry sectors worldwide. In 2021 Peter was Awarded the Victor Middleton Prize for Education and Scholarship by the Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE).
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-peter-robinson-164707b/
Ryan John Ellis – Vice Chair and Company Secretary
Ryan John Ellis is a WRoCAH (AHRC) funded PhD student at the University of York. In collaboration with the RAF Museum, his research investigates the heritage significance of former RAF Changi. Through archival research, fieldwork, and oral histories, it explores contested narratives around militarism, colonial legacy, and memory to inform heritage practices and museum representation.
As well as his role with the Cold War Network, Ryan currently serves as a member of the Youth Advisory Board at the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Previously, he captured more than 250 hours of oral history testimony as the Head of Storytelling at the Royal Signals Museum. His interviews span the end of the Second World War, including the daring exploits of the Special Operations Executive, to the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation (Operation PITTING). He also specialises in digital storytelling, launching curated content on the free and globally accessible Bloomberg Connects platform. In 2024, in recognition of this work, he featured on the inaugural BBC History Magazine/HistoryExtra ’30 under 30′ list.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryanjohnellis
Dr. Kathryn Bedford – Chair of the Advisory Board
Kathryn is an experienced Curator with a background in Heritage Education. Across her career she has created and delivered tours, activity sessions, exhibitions, and conferences aimed at audiences of all ages and levels of expertise. She developed an interest in the Cold War while caring for and researching the collections associated with RSG12 at Dover Castle and has been an active member of the Cold War Network since its inception.
She is keen to help the Network expand, growing its audience and exposing more people to this surprisingly little-known period of history, while encouraging the development and sharing of sector best practice between Network members. She currently Co-supervises a PhD student working on heritage value in Cold War collections.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-bedford-b44446a4
Nigel Heaps MBE – Treasurer
Nigel Kevin Heaps MBE is a distinguished leader and advocate with a career spanning over four decades, focused on public service, community development, and preserving historical heritage. He was awarded an MBE in 2016 for his contributions to the British Nuclear Veteran Community. He has played a crucial role in championing the rights and recognition of nuclear test survivors in the UK and internationally.
As the Director of the BNTVA Museum CIC and the BH group of companies, Nigel oversees projects to safeguard the legacy of British nuclear history and support non-profi t organisations through grant management and strategic operational provision.
His extensive experience includes roles in law enforcement, intelligence, and education and voluntary leadership positions, such as Chairman of the Centre for Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents at Brunel University. Nigel is also a passionate advocate for education and serves as a Governor at his local college. Through his work, Nigel demonstrates a strong commitment to creating a lasting impact through collaboration, innovation, and unwavering dedication to the community.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-heaps-mbe-7a346168/
Glen Pearce
Glen is the Property Operations Manager for the National Trust Orford Ness, with day-to-day operational responsibility for the running of this former top-secret military test site. His work on-site has seen a focus on visitor engagement, commercial and programming development and research partnerships to share the yet untold stories of Suffolk’s secret coast. Glen has represented the National Trust in several TV and radio programmes about Orford Ness and its history.
Prior to joining the National Trust Glen worked in a number of event management, press and communications roles, mainly focussed on internal communications, business partnering and colleague and stakeholder engagement. Having seen the growth of interest of visitors to Orford Ness in Cold War History, he is keen to help bring these stories to a wider audience.
