Tom was brought up on the River Eden at the family farm near Appleby. He trained as a fisheries biologist at Liverpool University. Following a few years travelling the world and working on the family farm he eventually secured a junior job at the National Rivers Authority – where he met is wife Anna, also a freshwater biologist. At the NRA and its successor organisation, the Environment Agency, Tom worked on catchment plans for the Tees, Wear, Tyne and the Northumbrian Rivers. His wife Anna was instrumental in setting up the Northumbria Rivers Trust by securing its first large grant allocation from the EU’s Objective 5b Fund.

In 1999 Tom moved to work for the Regional Development Agency in the North East. After several years working there he then worked for the Government’s housing agency in the North East and the North West undertaking large scale property deals. In 2013 he then moved to Newcastle City Council as their Director of Investment and Development and subsequently held a number of different Director positions. He finished is career with a short stint as Interim Chief Executive at Newcastle City Council. He retired in 2022 and has been pursuing his passion of travel and photography. This has included three trips to India, including an 1100 kms trek from the source of the River Ganges to its confluence with the Yamuna at the city of Prayagraj.