JCT welcomes its new CEO, Luke Rake

An Oxford-educated zoologist, Luke Rake FLS is an experienced CEO, a specialist biology and outdoor education specialist, and a passionate advocate for engagement with nature and the outdoors. As a Devon native with relatives living in the west of the World Heritage Site, and an experienced climber with experience across Portland and Purbeck, as well as teaching biology and geography, he brings a wealth of experience  to the role.  Most recently Luke successfully led a merger of Kingston Maurward College and Weymouth College to provide a coherent post-16 technical education offer for the rural county. 

During the last 8 years as Principal and CEO of Kingston Maurward, this included developing the College's profile and assets. These included gaining University Centre status, successfully gaining major capital investments from government inlcuding a £3.2M University and Rural Business Centre, as well as significantly opening up public access to the estate. During this time he sat on the Dorset LEP board, chaired both the Rural and Skills committees, and is currently chair of Dorset's Local Nature Partnership. 

Luke adds:  "I'm thrilled to build on the excellent work of the Jurassic Coast Trust team and its outgoing CEO, Lucy, in ensuring that we continue to maintain this special status for Dorset and East Devon. I love this place and have taught it, walked it and climbed it. As the only entirely natural world heritage site in England, with a key role in providing research, beauty and in many cases a living to our residents, I'm looking forward to working with everyone who has a stake in this coastline to ensure its position as a jewel in the crown of the UK landscape is both protected as well as wider engagement enhanced, thus enabling greater connection for everyone who loves this place."