Our trustees

Jonathan Hughes - Chair

Jonathan (Jonny) Hughes is currently the CEO of WCMC at UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) based in Cambridge, UK. Prior to this Jonny was CEO of the Scottish Wildlife Trust having previously worked for the Woodland Trust and Westminster City Council.

For nine years to September 2021, Jonny was a global Councillor for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) where for four years he chaired the Council’s policy and programme committee and the EU policy advisory group. He is also a trustee of the John Ellerman Foundation.

Jonny retains strong connections with Scotland through his role as non-Executive Director of Corrour Estate, a large upland estate in the central Highlands of Scotland.

Since being fascinated by wildlife from the age of four, Jonny has devoted his life to helping create a world where nature and people prosper together. Throughout his career he has pioneered new ideas in nature conservation, challenged received wisdom and focused on turning words into action

Andrew Fairbairn

Andrew is retired after a wide ranging career including roles in Building Surveying,  fuel poverty advocacy, woodland conservation and energy efficiency in new buildings.
He retains a keen interest in environmental issues and is a Committee member of the Native Woodland Discussion Group and Trustee of Wormit Boating Club.

Liz Thomas

Liz is a charity sector professional with a wealth of experience in fundraising and management roles in sectors including: health, social welfare, disability and sensory impairment, volunteering and housing/homelessness. Liz specialises in statutory, trust and lottery fundraising and creating and maintaining long term relationships.

Ian Edwards

Ian Edwards is an ecologist and project manager with experience in leading conservation work in Scotland, Africa, South Asia and the Middle-East. He has a longstanding involvement in community engagement and action.

Ian was a director of Reforesting Scotland; and is especially interested in the interface between science and the arts. He has authored or edited a number of books and  his current interest is in developing resilience in the face of rapid environmental change and challenges.

Belinda Bramley

Belinda is a blue economy consultant focused on securing more effective and inclusive marine protection as the cornerstone of a sustainable blue economy. In 2024 she co-founded The Protected Areas Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to supporting and scaling community managed marine protected areas, for the benefit of nature and people.

Belinda is an advisor to Natural Capital Associates and Blue Green Future LLC and an associate of NLA International, a blue economy consultancy. Prior to consulting, Belinda worked for over 20 years in the charity sector, serving as Head of Impact for Nekton Foundation and CFO for Global Canopy and Earthwatch Europe.

She is a chartered accountant with an early career in the City of London, leading expert teams providing finance and treasury support for investment banking activities and was formerly Treasurer of Global Canopy.