How We're Run

Chris has a DPhil in Ecology from Oxford, was a founder director of Bioscan UK Limited, a respected environmental consultancy.  He was senior environment adviser at DFID (Department for International Development) before becoming director of Shell Foundation, where he supported social enterprises deliver clean energy and sustainable transport solutions in Africa and Asia.  He is currently a member of DEFRA’s “Darwin Expert Committee” which funds biodiversity projects overseas, and a Partner at Sumerian Partners.

He brings to the Trust wide-ranging management experience, knowledge of the philanthropic sector, and significant links with businesses, investors and governmental agencies seeking to protect and manage the environment.  He owns a woodland Local Wildlife Site and has restored a former hay meadow.

Nick is deputy director for net zero at Defra, responsible for leading the UK Government’s net zero strategy for all areas of the environment: agriculture, land use (forestry, peat) and waste. He has spent the majority of his career helping shape the two main components of the Government’s environment policy: climate change and protecting and enhancing the natural environment. He was responsible for the UK Government’s policy on climate adaptation/resilience. He also led the development of the UK Government’s main natural environment policy, its 25 Year Environment Plan, and started the process of putting this on a statutory footing through the recent Environment Act. He also managed the independent Natural Capital Committee from 2012 to 2019, supporting the chair, Sir Dieter Helm, and developing the Committee’s advice to Government.  

Outside of work Nick pursues his passion for wildlife and conservation through wildlife related travel and turning his Kent garden into a haven for local wildlife to live alongside his beehives and chickens.  

Tom has extensive finance and capital markets experience from his time working in the city, where he was previously head of corporate banking for a Canadian bank in London. He also has knowledge of environmental risk management in banking and sustainable finance and holds a MBA from the University of Durham.

Having decided to change careers, he studied environmental conservation and countryside management and now works as a projects officer, delivering countryside, biodiversity, and community access projects in his local community.

Whilst currently a resident of Hertfordshire, where he is also a volunteer warden at Panshanger Park in Hertford, he was born and grew up in Kent and regularly spends time in the county and its countryside.

Liz is a sustainability and communications professional with 30 years’ experience in roles spanning corporate responsibility and sustainability, brand PR, corporate communications and philanthropy. She most recently spent 22 years at Coca-Cola Great Britain in various roles, latterly as the lead on sustainability responsible for planning, leading and delivering ESG frameworks, ambitions and partnerships to deliver business results.

Many of the complex projects she has led have been mutually valuable, collaborative partnerships with environmental charities focusing on water stewardship and nature-based solutions to help restore and conserve landscapes and address business climate, water and supply chain risk and resilience. She originally met and worked with the team at Kent Wildlife Trust as part of a partnership with The Rivers Trust when The Coca-Cola Foundation awarded a grant to help fund Ham Fen’s restoration. She brings to the Board of Trustees her skills in communications and stakeholder engagement along with a perspective from the corporate world.

Liz has a passion for nature and loves being outdoors – especially walking and cycling. She’s currently conducting her own mini rewilding project in her suburban back garden and loving the increase in wildflowers, butterflies and buzzing!

Jane is a risk manager with over 30 years experience in the financial services sector in Compliance risk leadership roles. After an early career as a banking and markets regulator at the Bank of England, Jane has held a number of senior compliance roles in major UK and International banks.

Jane is a keen nature lover and gardener who loves spending time looking after her garden and encouraging the wildlife in. As a Sevenoaks resident, living close to the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, she is passionate about the benefits the reserve provides to wildlife and the local community.

Jane brings substantial risk management oversight and governance experience to the Trust.

Rachel’s diverse career, which started as a Chartered Accountant, has encompassed a range of sectors including financial services, data services, travel, and beverage manufacturing.  Her experience includes Executive Committee level leadership roles, focused on developing and implementing strategies and business initiatives to deliver business growth across complex stakeholders, institutional customers and cultures globally.

As well as being a Trustee for the Trust, Rachel is a Board member of Multigate, a Pan-African payments business based in Dubai and has previously held non-Executive roles at an NHS hospital in the UK, a trustee of a corporate pension plan and Executive Board Director of a risk-mitigation foreign exchange business.  Rachel has also been a mentor supporting Fintech start-ups.

Rachel is passionate about building collaborative relationships across stakeholders and cultures and helping drive business growth and impactful development to solve the big issues in life today.

I have lived in Rochester with my husband David and family for the last 40 years.  I am mum to 2 daughters Jo and Lizi and Jo lives in Bahrain with her husband Chris. I retired at the end of December 2022 after a career working in finance most recently with Kent County Council. I am now enjoying having time for other interests, in particular the garden and we grow soft fruit and vegetables which I use to make home preserves. Recently I have made my own flavoured gin! I am treasurer for my local parish church and also enjoy swimming, other sports and singing in a local choir.

I love being outdoors and exploring both the local countryside as well as further afield in the UK and overseas. I enjoy walking and am concerned for the natural environment. David and I have been members of Kent Wildlife Trust for a long time and I am now pleased to be able to join the board and to play a part in the Trust’s exciting plans for the future.  

Kiran is a consultant working at BRODIE, an international sustainability and responsible business consulting firm. His work primarily consists of advising corporate clients on environmental topics, with a particular focus on climate and nature strategy. Having previously worked at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, he is also a passionate advocate for a transition to a circular economy.

His passion for nature and the outdoors was fostered in Kent, having grown up in the country. Currently living in London, this passion is fulfilled through a variety of sports, particularly running and hiking.

Dr Jon Kirkpatrick is a zoologist and sustainability leader with a career in ecology and environmental and social responsibility. A chartered scientist and environmentalist, he has a strong background in the research, development, and promotion of sustainability at an operational and corporate level within organisations.

Jon’s career to date has spanned multiple sectors from government agencies, public sector, and private companies, operating at both regional and international levels - most notably at the Connected Places Catapult, an innovation agency specialising in technologies and services to solve urban & climate challenges, where he has held several executive positions. Prior to joining the Catapult, he ran the sustainability directorate for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at a multinational property developer and construction company (Lendlease).

Jon has experience from across a wide number of major development projects globally including the London 2012 Olympic Park as an Associate Director whilst at EDAW/AECOM.

For the last 8 years he has sat on the the board of trustees for the Forestry Stewardship Commission supporting its vision for woodlands across the UK, and has been Chair of its board since 2020.

Jon lives in Surrey and in the occasional spare time he has enjoys golf, woodland walks (often combined with looking for golf balls), cinema, science fiction (books and film), and carpentry.