ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY UK - Key Persons
Alice led the operations for an inter-governmental initiative - the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) - working with 21 African countries on conservation programmes and achieving global and national policy change. At this time, she worked with EIA and has greatly admired our approach and achievements ever since. Previously she worked in branding before moving into roles in the social enterprise and environmental non-profit sectors. Now Alice works at a sustainability consultancy, helping businesses and organisations to have a more positive impact on people and the planet. Principally, Alice manages a teen-led multimedia behaviour change programme across Africa, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Head of People & Culture
Bill joined EIA in August 2008. He moved to the not-for-profit sector in 1993, working for or advising as a consultant to variety of small to medium sized charities in roles involving HR, finance, administration, communications, facilities, health and safety, ICT and governance, including REDRESS, Landmine Action and Victim Support. At Victim Support he was one of a team of six responsible for the biggest charity merger in the UK.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Member of the Senior Management Team
Cheryl joined EIA in January 2024. She is an experienced charity leader with a personal mission to inspire and drive operational excellence through visionary strategic leadership and collaboration. For over a decade Cheryl has held various senior roles in the charity sector including Director of Strategy & Development and Chief Operating Officer. In 2014 became Chief Executive at leading national volunteering charity Pets As Therapy and later went on to become Director of Commercial Planning & Operations at the award-winning and ARIAS nominated local radio station Wycombe Sound CIC. Most recently Cheryl held the position of Chief Executive at the children's charity Rays of Sunshine. Prior to joining the charity sector, Cheryl worked in business operations management within many global corporations such as Microsoft, Invesco Asset Management and Gilead Sciences.
Job Titles:
- Head of Fundraising
- Member of the Senior Management Team
Emma moved to the charity sector in 2007 and since then has held a number of fundraising roles within Individual Giving, legacy and trust fundraising. She joined EIA UK in 2022 as Head of Fundraising and a member of the Senior Management Team. Prior to this, she held the position of Head of Individual Fundraising at Isabel Hospice and has also worked at the RSPB, Children with Cancer UK, NSPCC and The Children's Society. Emma is a member of the Institute of Fundraising.
James became a trustee of EIA in November 2017. He has a broad background in the law, having worked in the City, at ClientEarth, and in local government. In 2015, he led ClientEarth's successful clean air litigation in the Supreme Court, forcing the UK government to tighten up its clean air plans. Between 2009 and 2012 he was based in Singapore, where he worked with international clients throughout Asia and the Middle East. He currently has his own practice specialising in environmental law and litigation.
Job Titles:
- Head of Finance
- Member of the Senior Management Team
Jean has been responsible for the finance function at the Environmental Investigation Agency UK for the last 10 years. She has a passion for charity financial management and got her start by volunteering in the sector after leaving university with a BTEC HND in Business and Finance and a degree in Combined Studies (Accounting). Jean is a Fellow member of the Association of Certified Accountants who now has more than 20 years in the Not-for-Profit and Charity sector.
John was appointed to the Board of EIA UK in July 2020.
He is a former senior diplomat with significant experience in international and multi-lateral relations and has worked extensively in Africa, an experience which stimulated his passion for conservation. During his career, John held a number of senior positions in the public sector including at the UN in New York, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Kenya, London and Pakistan, where he specialised in strategic political, security and intelligence affairs and, more recently, in the NGO sector including as Chief Executive Officer of Stop Ivory in London. John is delighted to join the Board of Trustees of EIA, an organisation which, throughout his time in the conservation sector, he admired for being "the only organisation which truly exhibited collaboration, professionalism and a refusal to be side-tracked by personal or political interest and an organisation that achieved maximum impact through clarity of purpose and a dedicated and committed staff." John is a strong believer in the promotion of diversity and has a demonstrable track record of building diverse teams.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Campaigns Director
Julian joined EIA in July 1997 as an investigator after working as a journalist for six years. He has carried out field investigations into illegal logging in Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Laos, and wildlife crime investigations in Tanzania, Zambia, Singapore and China. He has also been involved in training local NGOs in Indonesia and Tanzania. Since 2008 he has been Campaigns Director.
Following various roles in publishing and production for both arts and technology publications, and then working in training development, Kit followed her heart by moving into the conservation NGO sector. She has worked at the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) since 2002, initially joining as Training Development Officer. Subsequently she has held a number of roles at BCT including Helpline Manager, Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive. She has been Chief Executive of BCT since 2014 (as part of a job-share until 2018). She is also a Trustee and Treasurer for BatLife Europe.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Senior Management Team
Mary has been with EIA since 1996, joining as a volunteer before holding positions including Head of Communications & Projects, Head of Development and Head of Campaigns. She has been Executive Director since 2008 and is responsible for directing the long-term strategic management of EIA as well as working on specific projects and leading the Elephant Campaign.
Paul is a qualified accountant with experience in the not-for-profit sector. He is currently Finance Director of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He has previously been Finance Director and Company Secretary for Philharmonia Limited (one of the major London orchestras); Deputy CEO and Finance & Corporate Services Director at Action for Kids; Group Finance Director and Company Secretary of the Abbeyfield Society; and also Finance Director of The Big Issue and The Big Issue Foundation. Asked why he wants to serve on the Board, Paul said: "Although I have held roles in many great charities over the years, I have always sought to become involved with and provide support to an organisation that is passionate about the environment and wildlife. I am thrilled to be able to become involved in the EIA and to help, in some modest way, for it to achieve its ambitions."
Pesh has a proven and long-established expertise in charity law and has worked with some of the largest international NGOs. He is currently the Global Head of Social Purpose and Non Profits at Crowe UK LLP, a major accountancy firm. He is an experienced charity trustee and is Special Advisor to the Charity Finance Group. He is passionately committed to environmental issues and has long respected the work of EIA. He has also worked on conservation projects in India and advised on conservation programmes in India and Kenya. Pesh brings expertise in areas such as risk management and charity governance more generally. In 2020, he won the International Accounting Bulletin's Personality of the Year Award.