The Defra board – hardly a model of independent scrutiny

Following yesterday’s blog about the appointment of Heather Hancock, grouse moor owner, as lead non-exec on the Defra Board a few more points. the transparency data on the Defra website are out of date despite being updated on 27 July 2023 – yes, yesterday! They have information about former non-exec directors but nothing about Heather…

Trusted Trustees (5) – International Women’s Day

It’s International Women’s Day, although it has been delayed in our wildlife NGOs. Here are the number of trustees and male trustees for a variety of wildlife NGOs (others are, of course, available) and also the gender of their Chairs and CEOs.  They are in some sort of order.

Trusted trustees (4) – GWCT’s Ian Coghill and James Paice

The longest-ever serving GWCT Chair, Ian Coghill is standing down after eight years, in July.  He will be succeeded by former Defra Agriculture Minister of State, Sir James Paice. Ian Coghill has led the decline in reputation of the GWCT over the last eight years, although Chief Executive, Teresa Dent, must take a large share…

Trusted trustees (3) – Sir John Randall

Former Conservative MP for Uxbridge (1997 by-election until 2010), and then for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (until 2015), Sir John Randall is a birder and trustee of the RSPB – although he has just had to resign after being made the Number 10 Policy Unit’s Special Advisor on the environment. John was a parliamentarian with…

Trusted trustees (1) – Lord Peel

Lord Peel is the first in a new series of blogs introducing you to the trustees, chairs and patrons of wildlife and environmental charities etc.  The idea is to let you know who is running or has a senior, perhaps albeit largely honorary, position in your favourite, or least favourite, charity. I have a few…