User:DreamweaverRob

Duncan Baker is a North Norfolk-based Chartered Accountant and Finance & IT Director of C T Baker Group (incorporating the Bakers and Larners of Holt department store, C T Baker Builders' Merchant and Budgens supermarkets.). His appointments include posts as Conservative North Norfolk District Councillor and Holt Town Mayor. He has been an active local politician since 2009.

Education
Duncan Baker's education commenced at Beeston Hall boarding preparatory school, before progressing to Gresham's School, Holt. His university studies were conducted at Nottingham Trent University where he graduated in 2002 with a 2:1 BA in Business Studies. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants in England and Wales and has a level 5 award in Leadership and Management from the City and Guilds of London Institute.

Career and business
Following graduation, Duncan Baker trained as a Chartered Accountant and Auditor for Baker Tilly International. Later positions included Audit Senior for Grant Thornton LLP and Finance Manager for regional newspaper group Archant.

In 2008, Duncan moved to the C T Baker Group, becoming its Finance and Business Development Manager. In 2012, he was promoted to the Group’s board of Directors. Since that time, he has been involved in many of the Group’s major projects and community initiatives — including the implementation of a new ERP system, the launch of the new ERP linked and mobile responsive Bakers & Larners of Holt website, and a role as Chairman of the Holt 1940s Weekend committee — an event launched and co-ordinated by the Bakers & Larners store and other Holt retailers and business figures.

Duncan Baker serves as Postmaster for the main Post Office branches situated at Budgens of Aylsham and Holt. In 2015, the Aylsham Post Office branch was named Post Office Retailer of the Year at the Retail Industry Awards.

Politics
Duncan Baker was elected to Holt Town Council in July 2009 when he was 29 [4]. In 2015, he stood as a District Councillor for the first time in Holt. Though he was unsuccessful in winning the seat to be a District Councillor, he was re-elected to Holt Town Council. Duncan was subsequently elected as the mayor of Holt on 11th May 2015.

Whilst serving as Mayor in his third term, Duncan ran in the District Council by-election. He was elected on 4th May 2017.

Duncan Baker remained a Town Councillor throughout the term but resigned from his mayoral role in late 2017. During 2017, the District Council saw a flurry of Conservatives leave the ruling group, which prompted a change in leader. Duncan was invited to join the cabinet but declined the offer given his work constraints. Asked again in late 2018, he accepted and was Finance, Revenue and Benefits Portfolio holder until the Liberal Democrats took control of the Council.

As well as being on Cabinet he has sat on the Governance, Audit and Risk committee and Standards Committee.

Community
During his time as Mayor of Holt, Duncan Baker was central to the development and launch of the Holt Owl Trail — a heritage trail revealing the history and secrets of the town of Holt.

Duncan Baker is the As Committee Chairman of the Holt 1940s Weekend. In 2018, the event hosted Britain's Got Talent finalists The D-Day Darlings. Organisations supported by the Holt 1940s Weekend have included Walking With the Wounded, Holt Community Centre and 1st Holt Scouts.

Over the years Duncan Baker has been Chairman of the Holt and Aylsham Round Table and has raised money for many local charities through various fundraising initiatives.

On a voluntary basis, Duncan has served as a Treasurer at the Holt Youth Centre.

Personal life
Duncan Baker lives in Aylmerton with his wife Nina and two daughters. He enjoys outdoor pursuits such as tennis, golf and walking, as well as spending time with his young family. In recent years he has been keen to learn DIY and gardening.