Gemma PARKES

With over 20 years’ experience as a global strategic communications leader across the non-profit, public and private sectors in organizations both large and small, Gemma is Head of Communications with the Nature Positive Initiative. Prior to this, Gemma was a Communications Lead in the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate, heading communications for nature, forest initiatives and the ocean.

As a senior consultant, meanwhile, Gemma delivered a range of strategic communications work for a variety of international initiatives; she has also worked for Dreamscape as a motion capture actor, alongside voiceover assignments. She served as Head of PR and Artist Liaison at Oxfam GB, Executive Communications Manager at WWF International, Account Executive at Hill+Knowlton and Press Officer at the European Environmental Bureau, among others. 

Gemma holds an MA in International Politics from the Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales et Stratégiques in Brussels, a Chartered Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translation, and a BA Hons. in Modern Languages from the University of Exeter. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and is also an actor. Her lifelong love of nature – both blue and green – underpins her passionate commitment to a nature-positive world.