TEAM

Whitley Fund for Nature is run by a small administrative team in London, steered by a Board of Trustees and with the support of our inspirational Patron and Ambassadors. WFN’s judging panel kindly offer their expertise voluntarily to determine our annual Whitley Award and Continuation Funding winners. Meet everyone below.

The Princess Royal became Patron of the Whitley Fund for Nature in 1999. Her Royal Highness attends and speaks at many of our events, including our annual Whitley Awards ceremony. The Princess Royal has also visited our winners in their home countries, to see their work first-hand. Most recently Her Royal Highness visited Associate Whitley Award winner, Dr Xianfeng Zhang in China, visiting the Institute of Hydrobiology to see conservation efforts for the protection of the endangered finless porpoise.

  

Lady Faulks has supported and worked with WFN for many years and was instrumental in developing the Friends of the WFN, of which she is Chair. She has a longstanding fascination and love of wildlife and has been a Fellow of ZSL for over 30 years. Catherine is a Partner in Vivien Thompson Property search, and ran her own business, The Special Photographers Company, for 16 years. She has been an RBKC Councillor since 2011, and is currently the cabinet member for the Economy and Employment. She is Governor of Fox Primary school and Federation.  Catherine became a Trustee of WFN in January 2005.

Ian is a partner in an executive search firm in London, Sainty, Hird & Partners. Previously he worked in the specialty insurance industry in London and New York. He has a BA from the University of York and an MBA from INSEAD. Ian has always been passionate about animals and birds and he has been involved in conservation for the last 17 years. Ian is a former Senior Independent Director of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and chairman of the Governance Committee. He is also the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Durrell UK. He was a trustee of Westminster School Society for 12 years. Ian has been a long term supporter of WFN and became a trustee in September 2016.

Francis joined WFN as a Trustee in July 2012. He is a Senior Adviser in Sustainability at HSBC, and also Chair of the Board of the Sustainable Biomass Program, and Deputy Chair of ResponsibleSteel. Prior to his time at HSBC, he worked for 20 years at WWF where he held a variety of leadership roles, including Director of Conservation for WWF-UK. Francis directed a successful forest conservation campaign for WWF-International and helped establish the Forest Stewardship Council and was a member of its international board for three years. He is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University.

Dino is an entomologist and evolutionary biologist with a Ph.D. from Harvard. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the Turkana Basin Institute, founded by Dr Richard Leakey. At the Turkana Basin Institute, he leads research at the intersection of climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development. Dr Martins served as Executive Director of the Mpala Research Centre, an international field research station located in Laikipia, Kenya from July 2015 to July 2022. In 2015, Dino received the Whitley Gold Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to conservation and joined WFN as a Trustee in 2021. Focusing on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation, for the past 20 years Dino has carried out research on insect-plant interactions, vector biology and coevolution in many parts of East Africa, as well in other parts of the world. His approach to conservation includes working with farmers to improve awareness of pollinators and the critical role they play in food production, develop pollinator friendly-agricultural practices and reduce the use of harmful pesticides to promote food security and pollinator conservation.

Danni’s grant-giving experience during her 13 years at WFN has covered Asia, Africa and Latin America, her work contributing to raising and distributing over £23m in conservation grants. As Director, Danni oversees the charity’s operations, fundraising partnerships, and conservation programmes, and leads on delivery of the Whitley Awards Ceremony. She is passionate about supporting grassroots environmental leaders to make a difference to people and planet and helping bring effective conservation solutions to scale. Gaining a BSc in Zoology from the University of Sheffield in 2008, Danni worked in Indonesia, before studying for an MSc in Conservation Science at Imperial College London, completing her thesis in human-wildlife conflict. Danni has worked for environmental organisations including Earthwatch and the British Ecological Society. She is a Trustee of WildTeam UK, part of the Strategic Advisory Board for Conservation Optimism, a Mentor and Advisory Board member at the Magnolia Incentive and Co-Chair of the Conservation Evidence Working Group. Danni is currently on maternity leave working on her own small mammal projects

As Deputy Director, Victoria works closely with Danni to ensure the charity operates within its mission and objectives to realise its ambitions; proactively driving forward organisational and strategic development, while supporting the team to flourish. Victoria has been with WFN since 2018, and holds a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Kings College London. She previously worked internationally on several grassroots sustainable development initiatives, most recently in Mexico and Peru. 

Sumbul Baig joins WFN as a Communications Assistant, supporting across a range of communications tasks, including social media, PR outreach and events, and assisting with internal communications and office support. Since earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Bedfordshire, Sumbul has honed her expertise in public relations, social media management, copywriting, and event organisation. Her career spans dynamic roles at leading B2B marketing agencies like Publitek and Metia, where she crafted compelling narratives and elevated brand presence across digital platforms. Sumbul brings to the role a diverse skill set and a passion for wildlife conservation. She is dedicated to enhancing the charity’s online communications and engaging audiences through innovative content creation. Her experience in event management complements her ability to support the team in organising impactful initiatives that align with WFN’s mission to foster grassroots conservation efforts. With a keen eye for design and a commitment to effective storytelling, Sumbul aims to contribute to WFN’s vision of a healthy planet where communities and wildlife thrive together.

kasia brookes – head of grants

Kasia joins WFN as Head of Grants following 10 years of grant-making experience with organisations working across climate change, social justice, environment and health and wellbeing research – most recently at Ashden Climate Solutions and the Wellcome Trust. She has a BSc in Anthropology from University College London and an MSc in Ecology and Conservation from the University of East Anglia. She has practical experience working on conservation and agriculture projects in the UK, US and Honduras and is passionate about listening to and amplifying the voices of local experts who know best about what is happening on the ground. One of her proudest achievements has been starting a thriving community food-growing garden for local people in South London. Joining WFN in 2023, Kasia leads on our grant giving and application processes across the Whitley Award and Continuation Funding programmes.

Sarah Harris – operations Manager

As Operations Manager, Sarah ensures the smooth running of WFN’s London office and provides operational support to the team across events, fundraising, conservation programmes and communications. She joined the charity in August 2022 having spent the last nine years overseeing the ecotourism operations at Blue Ventures, a marine conservation NGO. Prior to that, she worked in a variety of conservation and operational roles both in the UK and overseas, and holds an MSc in Conservation Science from Imperial College London. Sarah loves all things nature based and in her spare time is a Forest School Practitioner, sharing this passion with the next generation of budding conservationists.

Carol Roussel – HEAD OF Media relations

Carol leads media relations for WFN with the aim of building the charity’s profile and that of our winners in the national and international press. She joins the team from a background in business journalism across Europe, the US and Asia. She has worked as a staff journalist at The Daily Telegraph, Bloomberg News in Tokyo and Paris and BBC Radio Four and 5 Live as well as an independent writer in New York. Her work has also been published in The Economist and the International New York Times.

Josephine leads on the communications and engagement strategy, working across digital and print platforms and PR to amplify the work of WFN winners and raise the charity’s profile. She joined WFN in February 2025, after spending over a decade leading strategic communications campaigns for mission-led organisations. She has previously worked at the Natural History Museum in London, the World Press Photo Foundation in Amsterdam, and the Centre for Curating the Archive in Cape Town. Josephine holds a First Class Master of Arts in Fine Arts degree from the University of Cape Town.

Yasemin is Head of Partnerships at WFN, bringing extensive experience in conservation project development, management, and strategic fundraising. Prior to joining the team in 2024, she completed an Executive Master’s in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge. Yasemin previously worked with the Mediterranean Conservation Society (AKD), a Turkish NGO focused on marine ecosystem restoration and the co-management of marine protected areas (MPAs), where she continues to serve as a Board Member. At AKD, she secured funding, built partnerships with international donors and corporates, and represented the organization at major events, including the UN Ocean Conference in 2022 and The Economist’s Regional Ocean Summit in 2024. She has also worked at the United Nations Population Fund and has experience in investment consulting within the private sector. Her academic background includes a postgraduate degree in Sustainable Resource Economics and Policy from University College London, and a degree in Anthropology and Development from the London School of Economics. Yasemin’s interests and research lie at the intersection of social and ecological issues, with a focus on ecosystem-based fisheries management. She is inspired by the power of partnerships, which fuels her optimism about the future of conservation.

Lisa leads on WFN’s Winner Network Development programme, supporting and creating connections among the 200-strong global Winner Network to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration, and build capacity. She also supports WFN’s grants programmes, including managing WFN’s grants in Asia. Lisa joins from Galapagos Conservation Trust, where she worked for over seven years in a number of roles across project management and operations. She has also volunteered on conservation projects in South Africa and the UK, worked for Botanic Gardens Conservation International as a Tree Red List Assessor, and holds a MSc in Conservation Science. She is passionate about habitat restoration, the conservation of endemic species and inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders.

SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, OM, CH, CVO, CBE

Britain’s best-known natural history film-maker, Sir David’s distinguished career in broadcasting spans over 50 years. Originally a zoologist and geologist by training, David has travelled to some of the world’s remotest regions, and is an enthusiastic advocate of international action to save wildlife and their habitat from destruction by human activities. He inspires audiences around the world to preserve our planet, through ground-breaking series such as BBC’s Planet Earth II, Netflix’s Our Planet and most recently Wild Isles, which combine stunning footage with sombre truths about humanity’s impact on the environment. Sir David was knighted in 1985.

Alastair is a director of Silverback Films Ltd and series producer of Netflix’s Our Planet and BBC’s Wild Isles. He is the executive producer of BBC One series Perfect Planet and Disneynature’s Penguin and Polar Bear movies. Alastair joined the BBC Natural History Unit in 1983 and was appointed Head of the Unit in November 1992, aged 32. His collaborations with Sir David Attenborough include The Trials of Life, Life in the Freezer, The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet, Planet Earth and its companion feature film Earth. In 2012, Alastair left the BBC to set up his own production company, Silverback Films. He is a fellow of the Royal Television Society and of the Royal Geographic Society, who awarded him their gold medal in 2012, and has honorary doctorates from the University of Durham, Bristol, Hull and York St. John.

TOM HEAP

Tom is a television and radio presenter. He is best known as an investigative journalist on BBC1’s Countryfile, is the principal voice of Costing the Earth on BBC Radio 4 (on which he interviewed WFN Gold Award winner, Hotlin Ompusunggu), and is a regular Panorama reporter covering food, farming, energy and wildlife. His most recent BBC Radio 4 series explores 39 innovations that address the current climate crises. Tom has appeared on Celebrity Mastermind and Pointless, raising money for WFN.

KATE HUMBLE

Kate is a television presenter and author. She has presented programmes including Springwatch, Lambing Live, Countryfile, Curious Creatures and Animal Park, and was named on the Woman’s Hour Power List 2020 for inspiring multiple generations of viewers. She also runs Humble by Nature, a rural skills school on a working farm in the Wye Valley.

DanNi de Niese

Hailed as “opera’s coolest soprano” by New York Times Magazine, Danielle de Niese is a prolific recording artist, TV and media personality, and has appeared on the world’s most prestigious opera and concert stages. Danielle has thrilled audiences worldwide from the Metropolitan Opera to Covent Garden, winning an Emmy Award as a TV host at the age of 16, and making her Broadway debut at 18 in Les Miserables, before going on to record with Hans Zimmer as the voice of Ridley Scott’s movie Hannibal. She has recorded four solo albums, with her debut album seeing her named New Artist of the Year at the 2008 Echo Awards and nominated for the 2009 Classical Brit Award for Female Artist of the Year. Danielle regularly presents the BBC Proms, and her documentaries; Diva Diaries, The Birth of an Opera and most recently, the highly praised Unsung Heroines, also for the BBC. In the spring of 2022, she produced and starred in her own film version of La Voix Humaine for BBC2 conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano and in partnership with the Royal Opera House and Trademark Films. Offstage, she is passionate about music education and is an advocate for children’s rights, as well as for protecting our planet for the future.

LORD ROBIN RUSSELL

Robin is an international environmentalist and businessman. Robin was one of the founders of Elephant Family. He has worked extensively on conservation issues in general and has been a leader in the nexus between corporate conservation philanthropy in the U.K. and environmental organisations. Robin has been coming to the Whitley Awards for several years and has become a great Ambassador for the charity.

MARIANNE CARTER – DIRECTOR, CONSERVATION CAPACITY & LEADERSHIP, FFI

Marianne oversees FFI’s work on organisational development support, conservation leadership and professional development, conservation livelihoods and governance and Oryx the international journal for conservation. Since 2009 she has had a focus on building conservation capacity across FFI and their partner network, and developing conservation leadership skills globally. Prior to this, she spent nine years managing the Conservation Leadership Programme, at BirdLife International. She started her career undertaking wildlife conflict research and leading community conservation education and awareness activities in Africa. She has an undergraduate degree in Geography and an MSc in environmental management. Marianne has expertise in capacity building, facilitation and training, and a love for motivating and building engagement, enthusiasm and commitment for conservation.

LUXMY GOPAL – BBC News presenter and reporter

Luxmy Gopal is a News presenter and reporter. During her BBC career, she has worked in national and regional news, in TV and radio, and for current affairs programmes. She is currently seen hosting weekend shows for BBC Breakfast, presenting live rolling news on the BBC News Channel, and both reporting and presenting for BBC London News. While broadcasting is her passion, her   earliest ambition as a young child was to follow in the footsteps of Sir David Attenborough, sparked by an interest in his documentaries, combined with a love of wildlife.

DR. MUNIR VIRANI – CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MOHAMED BIN ZAYED RAPTOR CONSERVATION FUND

Dr. Munir Virani is Chief Executive of the Abu-Dhabi-based Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund dedicated to the protection and conservation of threatened birds of prey around the world. He has over 25 years of experience with raptors in research, conservation, strategic planning, project execution, storytelling, and fundraising.
He was formerly the Executive Vice President at The Peregrine Fund in Boise, Idaho. His raptor conservation career has made a difference on four continents and has been characterized by innovative and collaborative solutions, such as his work with critically endangered vultures in Africa and South Asia and other threatened raptors in the Caribbean Islands and neotropics. He is also a multi-award-winning wildlife filmmaker and photographer and National Geographic Explorer, He has authored nearly 200 scientific and popular articles and has mentored many graduate students. He serves on the Board of Directors of The International Snow Leopard Trust. His TED talk, “Why I Love Vultures,” has garnered more than one million views.

EDWARD WHITLEY, OBE – CHAIRPERSON OF TRUSTEES AND FOUNDER, WFN

WFN’s founder Edward has long held an interest in the environment and is dedicated to supporting grassroots conservationists around the world. Through his family’s charity, the Whitley Animal Protection Trust, Edward initiated the Whitley Awards in 1994 to provide young conservationists with the opportunity to launch their careers and develop long-lasting conservation projects. Edward is Chair of the Trustees of the Whitley Fund for Nature and was awarded an OBE in 2013.

As Deputy Director, Victoria works closely with Danni to ensure the charity operates within its mission and objectives to realise its ambitions; proactively driving forward organisational and strategic development, while supporting the team to flourish. Victoria has been with WFN since 2018, and holds a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Kings College London. She previously worked internationally on several grassroots sustainable development initiatives, most recently in Mexico and Peru. 

KASIA BROOKES – HEAD OF GRANTS

Kasia joins WFN as Head of Grants following 10 years of grant-making experience with organizations working across climate change, social justice, environment and health and wellbeing research – most recently at Ashden Climate Solutions and the Wellcome Trust.  She has a BSc in Anthropology from UCL and an MSc in Ecology and Conservation from the University of East Anglia. She has practical experience working on conservation and agriculture projects in the UK, US and Honduras and is passionate about listening to and amplifying the voices of local experts who know best what is happening on the ground. One of her proudest achievements has been starting a thriving community food-growing garden for local people in South London. At WFN, Kasia leads on our grant giving and application processes across the Whitley Award and Continuation Funding programmes.

Also on the judging panel…

WFN’s Trustees rotate their participation annually, and in addition to the members listed above, each year our Whitley Gold Award winner joins the panel.

We would also like to thank the 2024 external scoring stage assessors:

• Dr. Paul Barnes: Programme Manager at ZSL’s EDGE of Existence Programme;
• Dr. Shivani Bhalla: Founder and Director of Ewaso Lions and 2023 Whitley Gold Award winner;
• Dr. Simon Lyster: Chair at Conservation International UK and trustee of Kilverstone Wildlife Charitable Trust
• Sanjay Gubbi: Scientist at Holématthi Nature Foundation and 2017 Whitley Award winner.

MORRIS GOSLING – Emeritus Professor, Newcastle University

Morris Gosling is currently an Emeritus Professor in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at Newcastle University. Before this he worked as a population biologist in the Scientific Civil Service, as Director of Science at the Zoological Society of London and as Professor of Animal Behaviour at Newcastle University. He is a member of the IUCN Equid Specialist Group and since 2004 he has been engaged in an individual-based study of the behaviour, population ecology and conservation of Hartmann’s mountain zebra in Namibia.

Brittany Sawrey-Coulson – Licensed Associate Counsellor, Trauma in Conservation Study

Brittany Sawrey-Coulson is passionate about both people and the earth they inhabit. Receiving her BSc in Biology from Pepperdine University and her MSc in Conservation Science from Imperial College London, she has worked in zoos, conservation education, NGOs and research consultation both domestically and internationally. Additionally, having received her Masters in Counselling from Arizona State University, she works as a Licensed Associate Counsellor helping individuals heal from trauma and navigate psychological distress. Brittany is committed to bringing these two areas of conservation and mental health together through research, workshops, and education, helping conservationists lead full, resilient lives.