Behind the scenes

Patron

• Ola Ullsten (Former Prime Minister of Sweden and Co-Chair, WCFSD)

Board of Trustees

The charity is overseen and directed by a Board of Trustees, which meets on a quarterly basis. The Board takes strategic decisions on the future priorities and activities of the Trust for Sustainable Living and The Living Rainforest visitor centre.

• Peter Blair (Chairman)
• Christopher Felton (Vice-Chairman)
• Patrick Garton
• Paul Maiteny
• Matthew Neilson
• Garry Stewart
• Charles Wright (Vice-Chairman)

In carrying out their duties, the Board of Trustees relies on strategic input from Advisors in key areas of activity:

• Julia Aglionby
• Bettina Wittneben

Staff & Consultants

The staff bring together a considerable range and depth of experience, with backgrounds in disciplines ranging from the biological, social and sustainability sciences to education, communications and management. Currently approximately 40 people work for the charity, although this varies seasonally, and an illustrious alumni of former staff and volunteers work at leading education and conservation organisations both nationally and internationally.

• Will Aitken, Maintenance/Glasshouse Support
• Seb Bailey, Tour Guide
• Fiona Benjamin, Finance Officer
• Melanie Booth, Acting Education Development Officer
• Robert Boyle, Weekend Shop & Cafe Assistant
• Sharynn Brooks, Weekend Shop Assistant
• Amy Bryan, Weekend Shop & Cafe Assistant
• Tanya Bryan, Shop & Cafe Assistant
• Cath Butcher, Tour Guide
• Myles Challis, Chief Horticultural Consultant
• Emily Clarke, Weekend Shop & Cafe Assistant
• Lisa Clifforde, Zoological Curator
• Wendy Collins, Shop & Cafe Assistant
• Harriet Evans, Assistant Horticulturist
• Belinda Hallows, Tour Guide
• Liz Hancocks, Tour Guide
• Karl Hansen, Director
• Bob Hook, Tour Guide
• Gina Houghton, Tour Guide
• Gerlinde Hunt, Tour Guide
• Georgina Jefferies, Junior Keeper
• Helen Jenkins, Tour Guide
• Rachel Leese, Junior Keeper
• Diane Manwaring, Tour Guide
• Mary Marsh, Tour Guide
• Alex Miley, Senior Keeper & Volunteer Coordinator
• Charlie Miller, General Administration Assistant
• April Mills, Tour Guide
• Yvonne Paris, Tour Guide
• Rosanna Proudlove, Weekend Shop & Cafe Assistant
• Mary Tose, Weekend Cafe Assistant
• Rupert West, Operations Manager

Volunteers

The Living Rainforest receives invaluable help from many hard-working volunteers in the following areas: plant and animal care, trail guiding and interpretation, events and activities, marketing and promotion, building and maintenance projects, as well as administrative and other assistance. More about applying to volunteer …

External Partners

• Association of Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC)
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)
• Botanic Gardens Education Network (BGEN)
• British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA)
• Dialogue Academy
• Education Through Expeditions
• European Commission - Environment DG - LIFE Programme
• Entropika Foundation, Colombia
• Information Centre, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
• Madagascar Fauna Group (MFG)
• Oxford Centre for Tropical Forests (OCTF)
• Prince’s Rainforests Project
• Thames Valley Energy (TV Energy)
• Wageningen University, Plant Research International (PRI), The Netherlands

Supporters

An enormous debt of gratitude is owed to the following benefactors for their generosity and support:

• European Community (LIFE programme)
• Millennium Commission
• Keith Bromley
• National Lottery Charities Board
• South-East England Development Agency
• DTI
• LEWIS Global PR
• Alison McGregor
• Charles McGregor
• Vodafone UK Foundation
• CHK Charities Limited
• Clore Duffield Foundation
• Ernest Cook Trust
• Greenham Common Trust
• Ashridge Construction
• Brunel Microscopes Limited
• Bayer plc
• The Englefield Charitable Trust
• Enterprise Plants
• Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust
• Green Card Trust
• Lord Timothy Clement-Jones
• Margot Walker
• Nick Taylor Fencing
• OASE
• Prudential Insurance
• The Rufford Foundation
• WF Southall Trust

Revised January 2010