Dr Gerard Bertrand
Honorary President
With 35 years’ experience in environmental science and conservation, Jerry Bertrand’s primary interest has always revolved around the preservation of habitat and species. After serving as a science advisor in the Executive Offices of Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter, Jerry became head of International Affairs for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He was Executive President of Massachusetts Audubon Society for many years and former Chairman of BirdLife International. Jerry was a co-founder of World Land Trust in 1989 and has been actively involved ever since. Jerry has an MS and PhD in marine science and oceanography, and he also holds a degree in environmental law.
Myles Archibald
Chair of Trustees
Currently Publisher at Collins Natural History, Myles started nature watching at an early age – he recalls his first exciting bird watching experience as watching a hoopoe in Suffolk when he was eight. He has been a keen birdwatcher ever since, but is a life-long zoologist, reading zoology at the University of Bristol. He is very fond of the wild places of the British Isles – particularly the West Coast of Scotland and Ireland. Also Publisher of the New Naturalist series at Collins.
Myles served as WLT Honorary Treasurer from December 2012 until December 2022 and was appointed as WLT Chair of Trustees in December 2022.
Claire Ashby
Honorary Treasurer
Claire is a chartered accountant and chartered internal auditor with 25 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector. She runs her own consultancy providing internal audit services, charity governance, risk management, finance and business process advice to the arts and cultural sector. She works with some of the UK’s leading cultural institutions including the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Southbank Centre as well as with smaller arts charities and other non-for-profit organisations. Earlier in her career, Claire qualified as a chartered accountant with a global accountancy firm and was Head of Operational Audit at the BBC.
Claire is passionate about protecting our planet, holds an MSc in Environmental Management and is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. She has volunteered on re-wilding and conservation projects in Patagonia and has been privileged to travel to some of the world’s remote and wild places whilst pursuing her love of hiking and kayaking.
Claire was appointed as WLT Honorary Treasurer in December 2022.
Dr Julius Arinaitwe
Trustee
Dr Julius Arinaitwe is a Ugandan environmental scientist and ornithologist with a PhD in Environmental science and M.Sc in Zoology from Makerere University. His conservation career started in 1998 as the first Executive Officer of the fledgling Nature Uganda and blossomed at BirdLife International Secretariat.
He served BirdLife in various capacities starting as Regional Project Manager and reaching the position of Global Director in charge of the Partnership, Communities and Capacity Development. He spent eight years as the Regional Director for Africa where he drove growth of the BirdLife Partnership in Africa in terms of policy influence, capacity and resources for conservation action and innovation in engagement with local communities.
Julius is currently setting up a social enterprise to enhance ecosystem restoration in Kabale, Uganda and engaging with Kabale University to advance research and teaching through developing partnerships with universities abroad.
Andrew Balmford
Trustee
Andrew is Professor of Conservation Science in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, where his research focuses on how to reconcile biodiversity conservation with meeting human food needs and other land-demanding activities; the costs and benefits of retaining intact ecosystems; and what works in conservation. He works primarily in the Global South and collaborates closely with conservation practitioners and with colleagues in other disciplines, including economics and psychology.
In his book Wild Hope he argues that cautious, evidence-based optimism is vital in tackling environmental challenges. Andrew helped establish the Student Conference on Conservation Science, the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, and Earth Optimism.
Andrew was appointed as a trustee in December 2022.
Ken Burnett
Trustee
Ken Burnett is a writer, inspirational speaker and author of several books on donor development and communication. Chairman of Trustees at ActionAid from 1998 to 2003, Ken began his fundraising career with that charity in 1977 and, since then, has been a leading fundraising strategist in the UK and around the world. A former trustee of the Disasters Emergency Committee and co-founder of the Commission on the Donor Experience, Ken is now a Trustee of World Land Trust and founder and managing trustee of SOFII. In 2015 Ken was guest speaker at the 1st China Fundraising Conference in Beijing – the only non-Chinese speaker at the event.
Philip Shapiro
Trustee
Philip is the founder and Managing Partner of Synova, a leading investor into UK companies, where he focusses on helping businesses achieve strong sustainable growth.
Philip has a long-standing passion for nature and conservation, supporting conservation projects across Central and South America. He is also a keen wildlife photographer and diver and has traveled widely across the Americas, Africa and Asia.
Philip was delighted to be appointed as a trustee in December 2022.
Lawrence Simanowitz
Trustee
Lawrie Simanowitz is a partner in the charities team at law firm Bates Wells where he supports and advises many environmental charities. Bates Wells was the first law firm to become a B-corps and has strong credentials on carbon emissions.
Lawrie lives in North London, but loves hiking in the British countryside. Last year he joined with two friends to set up a Community Interest Company which has bought low grade farmland in Somerset adjoining a site of ancient woodland, on which they plan to plant 7,000 trees to sequester carbon and encourage greater biodiversity.
Emma Tozer
Trustee
Emma is co-founder and Director of Operations and HR at Media Bounty, a creative and media advertising agency and certified B Corp. Emma has been involved with WLT since 2009 through Media Bounty as corporate donor and as a WLT Ambassador. With a lifelong passion for wildlife and the environment, Emma was delighted to be appointed a trustee in December 2019.