Candidate info
Particular qualifications:
I have a proven track record, over 25 years, of leadership, management and governance in complicated federations. Since 2020, I have been Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, the UK’s largest federated wildlife charity, consisting of 46 locally run organisations. Earlier in my career, I served on the Board of Friends of Earth International, and then also on the Board of Friends of the Earth Europe while Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth UK. This means I have an excellent understanding of the tensions that can sometimes exist between the member organisations of large federations and their coordinating secretariats, having experienced it from the perspective of a secretariat, a member organisation, and while serving on international boards. Most importantly, I have developed a sense of how to overcome these tensions, by driving greater strategic alignment and ensuring the different constituent parts of federations compliment rather than compete against each other. I have worked locally, nationally, regionally and internationally, and worked alongside people ranging from grassroots activists through to the CEOs of multinational companies, and world leaders. I am deeply committed to IUCN, having attended the last World Conservation Congress, all three IUCN Leaders Forums, and the World Protected Areas Leaders Forum 2024. I am an Elected Member of the IUCN National Commitee UK, and my organisation hosts the IUCN UK Peatland Programme.
Experience in fields of concern to IUCN:
Over the course of my career, I have worked across a wide range of sustainability issues, including nature conservation and restoration, climate change, community organising, equity, justice, communications, education and policy. I have undertaken field research in the UK, Mongolia and Canada, undertaken undercover investigations into the illegal wildlife trade in India, campaigned alongside communities against damaging oil and gas developments, worked on UK and EU climate and nature policy, and been active at the UN Climate and Nature COPs. I have experience and knowledge of Ecosystem Management (especially in support of Nature Based Solutions), Protected Areas Management, and the linkages between the climate and nature crises. I am a member of the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission, focussing on delivering a nature positive energy transition. I have long championed the need for much greater equality, diversity and inclusion in the global environment sector.