Second Nature

What does it take to drive real change for nature? In this episode, Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, shares his journey from a bird-watching childhood in Birmingham to shaping some of the UK’s most important environmental policies.

Richard dives into the highs and challenges of securing legally binding targets for nature, why public money must be used for public good, and how bold incentives can transform conservation efforts. He also explores the delicate balance of building consensus across diverse stakeholders and the crucial role of regulation in protecting our natural world.

If you care about the future of wildlife, policy, and the power of collective action—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Matt Walpole, Chief Executive of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, to explore his extraordinary career in conservation. From growing up on a smallholding in Cornwall to traveling the world and working in over 70 countries, Matt shares insights from his journey, including his PhD on nature-based tourism in Komodo National Park and his work addressing human-wildlife conflict in Africa and Asia.

At the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Matt developed global biodiversity indicators, tools and assessments for UN agencies, member states and multinational corporations and led the delivery of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment, the first of its kind to document the value of nature to society. Matt also had two stints working at Fauna & Flora International, including four years as part of the leadership team overseeing FFI’s strategy and expanding its in-country field operations worldwide.

Prior to joining Cornwall Wildlife Trust as Chief Executive in September 2022, Matt worked as a strategic advisor for WWF International. He has been a trustee of several conservation charities and is currently Deputy Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership.

Matt discusses the challenges of balancing conservation with local economies and highlights innovative strategies like using pigs for habitat management. He reflects on leadership, team-building, and the power of storytelling in fostering community engagement.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about conservation, leadership, and creative approaches to tackling the environmental challenges of our time.

This week, we sit down with Sylvain, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Mozaic Earth, to explore how technology, community, and a deep respect for nature are converging to fix the human-nature relationship. By combining cutting-edge tech with large-scale community engagement, Mozaic Earth delivers highly accessible and low-cost ‘ground-truth’ nature data to the companies that need it most.

With over a decade of experience as a sustainability strategist, Sylvain has guided senior leaders in the energy industry to transition their portfolios towards low-carbon, sustainable solutions. Frustrated by the fragmented approach to tackling the climate crisis and the slow pace of change, Sylvain recognised the urgent need for a more systemic perspective that values nature’s interconnected role in addressing global challenges. This led him to found Mozaic Earth, which provides affordable and accurate site-level habitat, biomass and biodiversity data to drive the growth of nature-positive markets, regulations, and behaviours.

Originally from France, Sylvain’s career has spanned the US, South America, the UK, Europe and the Middle East. An adventurer at heart—the gnarlier, the better—and a die-hard Arsenal fan, his long-term goal is to empower one billion people to become custodians of our most valuable asset: nature!

In this engaging episode of The Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with James Farrell, Partner at Knight Frank and Head of Rural, to celebrate Knight Frank becoming official sponsor of the Shoot Room Sessions Podcast.

We delve into the transformative potential of the natural capital market, exploring how it can create sustainable income streams, jobs, and thriving rural communities. James offers insights on transitioning traditional farming practices, the importance of functional markets, and fair compensation for environmental stewardship.

Reflecting on his passion for collaboration, team culture, and innovation, James emphasises the countryside’s vital role in addressing global challenges. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about the future of rural economies and James’s vision of a balanced, sustainable, and prosperous tomorrow.

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we explore Ed’s journey to founding Great Yellow. Before launching his venture, Ed spent five impactful years at Grosvenor, where he led asset financing and sustainable debt initiatives, eventually helping to manage their carbon credit procurement program. His work there reflects a deep commitment to sustainability and the evolving carbon markets.

Ed’s career foundation was built at Slaughter & May and Bloomberg. At Slaughter & May, he mastered corporate finance, while Bloomberg provided him with firsthand exposure to trading platforms and the fast-paced financial world.

Tune in to hear Ed discuss how his unique background inspired Great Yellow and his vision for integrating finance with meaningful environmental impact.

George Eustice was a Minister in DEFRA for nine years including almost three years in Cabinet.  He brought into law the Agriculture Act 2020, the Environment Act 2021 and the Fisheries Act 2020 which together established the main policy frameworks for the post EU era.  He also developed most of the policies under the Future Agriculture Programme including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Landscape Recovery Fund.  Before entering politics he worked for ten years in the family farming business in Cornwall and he studied horticulture at Writtle College.  He campaigned to leave the EU but resigned from Theresa May’s government in order to make the case for a compromise built around membership of EFTA and the EEA.  Since leaving Government he has built his own consultancy business, Penbroath, which specialises in the environment and agri-tech. 

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, Rich sits down with George Pawley, General Counsel at Oxygen Conservation, to discuss the exciting acquisition of the 15,000-acre Dorback Estate in the Cairngorms. This landmark purchase connects half a million acres for nature, marking a significant achievement for the team. George shares behind-the-scenes insights into the 9-month acquisition process, involving over 20 external professionals and 15 in-house team members.

We delve into the critical role of thorough preparation, due diligence, and collaboration with land agents, legal teams, and investors. George also reflects on the importance of strategic partnerships and the company’s strong team culture, which thrives on remote work and effective communication.

The conversation highlights Oxygen Conservation’s ongoing commitment to nature conservation, and the team aims to expand their portfolio even further, potentially doubling their landholdings by 2025.

Tune in for an engaging discussion on acquisitions, natural capital, and the balance between legal precision and environmental impact. This episode is a testament to the power of teamwork, trust, and a shared vision for the future of nature restoration.

Grant Moir has served as Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority since March 2013. A graduate of Aberdeen University, Grant previously spent seven years at the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, where he held the role of Director of Conservation and Visitor Experience. Earlier in his career, he worked with the Rural Affairs Department of the Scottish Executive.

Grant is actively involved in national initiatives, sitting on the National Visitor Management Group, the Scottish Government Biodiversity Programme Board, and the Deer Strategic Board. He is also a recently appointed board member of National Parks Partnerships.

An avid hillwalker and cyclist, Grant lives within the Cairngorms National Park and remains deeply connected to its landscapes and communities.

Roxanne is Head of Responsible Business at UK independent law firm Burges Salmon. The firm has been rated as one of the leading ESG focused law firms across the UK, US and Canada and is in the top 10% of businesses globally in terms of sustainability performance. Roxy is responsible for framing and driving the firm’s responsible business agenda and contributing to the firm’s work on ESG, net-zero and inclusive employment. In addition to leading on the firm’s own ESG performance Roxanne advises and collaborates with clients as a senior sustainability professional.

Roxy has a breadth of experience as a senior sustainability professional and leader. She shapes strategy and leads a team that covers sustainability reporting, benchmark participation, ESG assessment, diversity and inclusion, social mobility, business and human rights, community impact, stakeholder engagement and select environmental projects.

Prior to joining Burges Salmon in 2019, Roxy was on the management team of an award-winning sustainability consultancy delivering projects across Europe for international brands. She developed responsible business approaches that were purpose-led and contributed to research for the UN, UKGOV and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

As Burges Salmon’s Managing Partner, Roger works with the Senior Partner, Strategic Board and wider partnership to set the firm’s direction and ensure its successful implementation. Roger is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment that drives the firm’s growth and success.

Roger’s leadership is pivotal to delivering Burges Salmon’s purpose, which is to help its people, clients and wider communities flourish, and to deliver responsible growth. This includes spearheading client listening and key account programmes, while building external relationships to support the firm’s responsible business agenda.

Roger takes pride in leading a firm recognised as a leader in ESG and he’s one of the driving forces behind differentiating the firm on its culture, diversity, inclusion and community engagement, is a regular speaker at seminars and other legal sector events in the UK and overseas, and is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming professionals both within and outside the legal field. 

Roger’s commitment to challenging the conventional, encouraging curiosity and to driving change, ensures that Burges Salmon remains at the forefront of legal innovation and delivery of client service excellence 

Roger is also a member of the Business in the Community UK Leadership Council and the Thomson Reuters Global Leadership Council.