New Council Members

Anthony Matusch

Anthony Matusch lives Yarmouth and has sailed on the Solent for 50 years. Trained as Chartered Accountant, Antony was Chairman of his family manufacturing business for many years until retirement and Vice-President and then President of Industry Association in Brussels 1998-2005. He is Member of Royal Yacht Squadron (past Rear Commodore), Royal Thames and Royal Solent Yacht Clubs and Chairman of a Commission of ISAF.

Graham Rabbits

Graham Rabbbits trained as a Naval Architect and joined Associated British Ports, initially as Business Development Manager. For the last 12 years before retirement, he was Environment Manager for the ABP group of 22 ports around the UK, and was involved in responding to the flood of European and UK environmental legislation during the 1990s and in setting up seven European Marine Sites including the Severn, the Humber and the Solent. As a Director of ABP Research (now ABPMer) he was involved in the development of the Dibden Bay proposals, and established the machinery for dialogue with the environmental community, including Natural England and NGOs such as RSPB.

Graham lives in the Southampton area and, now retired, keeps a yacht on the Solent and is a co-opted member of the British Marine Federation South committee.

Philip Couchman

After a sales and business management career in London, Philip Couchman moved to the south coast to join Chichester Harbour Conservancy in 1974. Philip worked as Environmental Manager, dealing with the complexity of coastal zone management and later as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB) Manager.

Philip has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Change and was an early full Member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management in which he retains an interest as a retired member. Following his retirement in 2006 Philip was award in MBE for services to Conservation. He continues to monitor the current debates regarding Coastal Zone Management which, because of the changes likely to come to the coast through climate change, are highly relevant to the management of the Solent.

A keen sailor for over 30 years, Philip also enjoys walking in the Lake District and spending time in France.