Although the Partnership was first constituted in 2008, its membership has evolved over time to reflect the ever-changing challenges facing the river and all of us who live, work, and play on it. Formally, the DEP management arrangements are as as shown below, but the actual involvement of each member will vary from day to day, task to task as we seek to make best use of all the skills, expertise, and resources available across the Partnership to arrive at the best outcome.
DEP Steering Group Members
| Member Organisation | Current Representative |
| River Deben Association | Colin Nicholson |
| Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB | Bev McClean |
| Landowners – Agriculture | David Brien (Bawdsey Estate) |
| Landowners – Business | Luke Roberts (PGL) |
| Landowners – Environment | Matt Wilson (National Trust) |
| Parishes – East Bank | Helen Cook (Sutton) |
| Parishes – West Bank | Sue Quick (Waldringfield) |
| Woodbridge / Melton / Martlesham | Mark Packard (Martlesham and Purdis Farm) |
| Felixstowe Ferry / Estuary Mouth | Jamie Whittle/tbd |
| Business Interests | Ben Grundy |
| Recreational / Access Interests | Rob Bellfield |
| Natural Environment & Biodiversity | Jane Healy |
| Youth Representatives | Oscar Hayter (5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts) |
| DEPL Trustees | Graham Kill |
| DEPL Trustees | Simon Read |
| Co-opted (scientific guidance / citizen science) | Helene Burningham |
Initial Parties:-
Instigated by
Environment Agency
English Nature (now Natural England)
Suffolk Coastal District Council (now East Suffolk Council)
Founding Partners
Suffolk County Council
Suffolk Coastal District Council (now East Suffolk Council)
Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Unit (now Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths Natural Landscape)
The River Deben Association
Deben Estuary Partnership and Local Government
Suffolk County Council – Divisions
Felixstowe Clifflands – Michael Hadwen
Martlesham – Patti Mulcahy
Woodbridge – Ruth Leach
Wilford – Jonathan Ramsay
East Suffolk Council – Wards
Eastern Felixstowe – Jan Candy Seamus Bennett Mark Jepson
Orwell and Villages – Mike Ninnmey Lee Reeves
Martlesham and Purdis Farm – Mark Packard Edward Thompson
Woodbridge – Ruth Leach Stephen Molyneux
Melton – Rachel Smith-Lyte
Deben – James Mallinder
Parish Councils
| West Bank | East Bank |
| Felixstowe Falkenham Kirton Hemley Newbourne Waldringfield Martlesham Woodbridge | Bromeswell Sutton Sutton Heath Shottisham Ramsholt Alderton Bawdsey |
