Jools Townsend

CEO of the Community Rail Network

Jools is an expert in, and passionate about, sustainability, community engagement, and achieving positive change from the grassroots. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in third sector communications, campaigns and engagement, especially supporting community-led action on sustainable travel and mobility.

Jools is chief executive of the Community Rail Network, a national organisation that supports and champions the community rail movement: 1,000+ community-based partnerships and groups that engage local people in connection with their railways. These groups promote sustainable and healthy travel, enable communities to have a voice in rail and transport development, and create more inclusive, connected communities – working alongside industry, local authorities and other partners.

Jools worked for 10 years at Brake, the road safety charity, leading influential campaigns and events, and headed up communications and policy at regional charities Better Start Bradford and East Thames Group.

She has also held various voluntary roles promoting sustainability, including chairing Streatham Common Community Garden, and is a village councilor, serving one of Yorkshire’s first rural communities to declare a climate emergency.

Jools has a Master’s in Political Communication, in which she studied how the community and voluntary sector can affect change on sustainability, and Bachelor’s in English. Jools loves being outdoors, walking, trail running and gardening.