The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has named Professor Juliet Vickery as its new Chief Executive.
Juliet, who is currently the RSPB’s Head of International Conservation Science, said that ‘to have been trusted with this position is an enormous privilege and a hugely exciting opportunity.’ Juliet will join BTO in November, working alongside the current Chief Executive Dr Andy Clements until he steps down at the end of the year.
Juliet has a 35-year career working in conservation science, academia and the NGO sector; this includes an earlier 11-year spell at BTO, leading work on the conservation and ecology of farmland birds. Juliet is an active member of the wider scientific community, and is currently President of the British Ornithologists’ Union and part of the Government’s Darwin Expert Committee. She chaired the British Ecological Society’s (BES) Policy Committee for nine years and holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of East Anglia, an Honorary Research Fellowship at the University of Cambridge, and has been a past recipient of the BTO Marsh Award for Ornithology and the British Ornithologists’ Union Ibis award.
Juliet said ‘To have been trusted with this position is an enormous privilege and a hugely exciting opportunity. In his time as Chief Executive, Andy Clements has transformed the BTO, steering it through these current uncertain times with clarity and compassion to ensure the organisation remains in good shape. I am looking forward to building on what has gone before, particularly the BTO’s extraordinary long-term partnership between professional and citizen scientists, and working to maximise the impact of the unique evidence that partnership generates about the state of our natural world and the threats it faces.’
BTO continues to grow, both in terms of its reach and impact, and in the opportunities that it provides for people to participate in its work. The data generated by BTO volunteers provide unparalleled opportunities to build the independent, impartial evidence needed to inform and guide environmental management and conservation, and to engage across public and policy arenas. Juliet joins the organisation at a time when this evidence is becoming even more important, as are the opportunities for people to engage with the natural world through participation in citizen science.
Professor Jenny Gill, chair of BTO’s Board of Trustees, said ‘BTO’s Board of Trustees is delighted to appoint Professor Juliet Vickery as the charity’s new Chief Executive. Juliet brings a wealth of experience in ornithology, a deep understanding of the community and an exceptional capacity to inspire. BTO has grown and developed tremendously under the leadership of Dr Andy Clements, and to be able to present such an able successor to our staff, members and volunteers is wonderful.’.
Dr Andy Clements, who will be stepping down at the end of the year, commented ‘I am very pleased and excited that Professor Juliet Vickery will be the next Chief Executive of BTO. I know her well through her previous contribution to BTO’s scientific reputation, and as an outstanding science communicator. Her work on equality and diversity ensures that the continuing growth of BTO’s constituency of support is assured.’.
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