About Us | Trustees

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  Amy Coyte – Chair of Trustees

  Amy has spent her career in wildlife conservation. Roles have included Chief Executive of the Bat Conservation Trust, Director of the BBC Wildlife Fund, Director of Communications for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and Chair of Wildlife and Countryside Link. Amy is currently an Independent member of the Parole Board and a Trustee of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2021.

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  Dr Liam Lysaght – Trustee

  Liam Lysaght is Director of the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford Ireland where he heads up a small team of seven staff. He also serves as Head of Delegation for Ireland to the intergovernmental Global Biodiversity Information Facility, a global informatics network of 95 partners worldwide. Liam has a deep knowledge of nature conservation and biodiversity policy having previously worked with the Heritage Council providing independent heritage policy advice to the Government, and prior to that as a Park Ranger in the Burren National Park. In 2016, he co-authored the Atlas of Mammals in Ireland 2010-2015, the first atlas to map terrestrial and marine mammals in Ireland and its marine waters. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2018.

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  Professor Robbie McDonald – Trustee

  Robbie is based at the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus in Cornwall, where he holds a Chair in Natural Environment. He works on a wide range of interdisciplinary research projects in wildlife ecology and management. Robbie’s research career has focused on mustelids and he completed a PhD on weasels and stoats. He has also worked on Californian sea otters, martens, badgers, mink, ferrets and New Zealand and Irish stoats and currently collaborates with the VWT on marten and polecat research projects. Robbie joined the Board of Trustees in 2018.

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  Georgie Holmes-Skelton – Trustee

  Georgie is Head of Government Affairs at the National Trust, where she works on public policy engagement, particularly relating to heritage and environment. Her background is in Parliament and public policy, having worked as a clerk in the House of Commons for nearly 10 years, supporting MPs and the work of Parliament, its committees, procedures and practices. She has also worked in the Civil Service, advising Ministers and civil servants on parliamentary business and engagement. Georgie joined the Board of Trustees in 2019.

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  Sarah Binstead – Trustee

  Sarah is the Chief Risk Officer at Triodos Bank UK Ltd, which she joined in July 2017, and where she leads the second line of defence covering enterprise risk, credit risk, financial risk, operational risk, legal and compliance. Prior to this, having qualified as a chartered accountant, she has worked for KPMG, Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide Building Society in a variety of roles in external audit, internal audit, risk and finance. Sarah joined the Board of Trustees in December 2019.

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  Shelly Moledina – Trustee

  Shelly holds a senior investment role in a pension fund based in London. She has more than 25 years of investment experience, primarily in corporate bonds, with an increasing focus on investing to improve social and environmental outcomes. Shelly holds an MA in Economics and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. She is also interested in wildlife photography and joined the Board in 2020.

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  Mark Hollinworth – Trustee

  Mark works in a senior supervisory role for the Financial Conduct Authority based in London, having previously worked as a chartered wealth manager and investment manager both in the UK and overseas. Mark has 15 years’ experience in the wealth management and investment industry, advising high net worth individuals, trusts and corporate entities. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (FCSI) and holds a MSc in Finance. Mark joined the Board of Trustees in March 2023.

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  Chris Ellam – Trustee

  Chris is an Associate Director at Russell Investments where he helps asset owners find solutions to their investment challenges. Previously, he worked as an investment consultant focusing on implementation efficiency. Chris also spent a significant portion of his career working in Global Equity Portfolio Management. He joined the Board of Trustees in March 2023.