Derbyshire Wildlife Trust appoints new chief

Jo joins the Trust from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, where she was Director of Operations for the past six years, managing a team of 40 people and a turnover of nearly £2 million.

She grew up in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire and studied Biological Sciences specialising in Ecology at Durham University where she also completed a PhD.

After starting her career in academia, in the UK and US, she decided that she wanted to have a more direct impact and switched to a career in conservation in 2001. During her time at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust she was involved in several major initiatives, including large-scale habitat creation and restoration programmes and community engagement initiatives

Jo said: “I’m delighted to be joining Derbyshire Wildlife Trust as Chief Executive – I am passionate about wildlife and love to inspire and enthuse others. I strongly believe that the current and ever increasing pressure on wildlife means it’s time to think big. We need to find better and more innovative ways to persuade decision makers to work with wildlife rather than against it.”

The Trust’s Chair Tony Hams said: “We are delighted to welcome Jo to Derbyshire - she impressed the trustees enormously at interview and I am sure she will introduce fresh and challenging thinking into the Trust at an important and optimistic time in our history.

“Her experience in Yorkshire will be invaluable to us and we look forward very much to exciting times ahead.”

Jo replaces Ed Green, who has taken up the position of Chief Executive at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.