Second Nature

With over 25 years of experience in the forestry industry, Gordon wanted to shake things up, creating a revitalised Scotland through redefining our relationship with woodlands and forests. That’s why he co-founded TreeStory. As a forestry consultant, he specialises in landscape-scale forest restructuring and re-afforestation projects and in developing continuous cover forestry systems. He always strives to find new ways to encourage diversity and ecological integrity in his forestry practice. In March 2024, Gordon was named The Institute of Chartered Forester's Professional Forester of the Year, a title that is testament to his tireless work reconnecting people to nature in Scotland.

Andrew Dewar is the dynamic Head of People at Oxygen Conservation, where he leads with a people-first approach to building high-performance teams. With a passion for fostering an environment of growth, collaboration, and innovation, Andrew plays a key role in aligning talent with the company’s strategic goals.

His expertise goes beyond recruitment—Andrew focuses on nurturing company culture, driving leadership development, and ensuring that every team member feels empowered to achieve their best. With years of experience in talent management and organisational development, Andrew is committed to creating a workplace where individuals and teams can thrive.

Mark Lloyd is the Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust and a leading voice in the environmental sector, with over two decades of experience dedicated to protecting and improving the UK’s rivers and freshwater ecosystems. At The Rivers Trust, Mark champions collaborative conservation efforts, working with communities, government bodies, and environmental organisations to safeguard our precious waterways.

Throughout his career, Mark has been at the forefront of innovative solutions for tackling water pollution, restoring natural habitats, and promoting sustainable water management. His passion for healthy rivers and commitment to nature-based solutions have made him a respected leader in both the nonprofit and environmental policy arenas.

Join us as we dive deep into Mark’s journey, his insights on the future of river conservation, and the challenges and opportunities in preserving the lifeblood of our ecosystems.

Roli Martin is the Managing Director and Head of Finance at Global City Futures, where he leads financial strategy and drives operational growth. Global City Futures has a proven track record of bringing organisations together over shared goals and delivering innovative and profitable green urban developments. With a strong background in finance and strategic planning, Roli plays a key role in delivering sustainable urban development solutions. He works closely with public and private partners to address infrastructure, housing, and environmental challenges, ensuring financial solutions align with long-term sustainability goals. His expertise and leadership make him a central figure in advancing future-proof cities.

https://www.globalcityfutures.com/

Karime Hassan is a former Chief Executive of Exeter City Council, known for his visionary leadership in driving sustainable urban development and economic growth. During his tenure, he led major initiatives in housing, infrastructure, and business innovation, helping to transform Exeter into a vibrant and environmentally conscious city. With a background in urban planning and strong leadership, Karime fostered strong partnerships across sectors and played a key role in advancing green energy, digital transformation, and public services, leaving a lasting impact on Exeter's long-term development.

Seyi Rhodes is a British journalist and documentary filmmaker, known for his work with the BBC and Channel 4. As a reporter for Unreported World, he has traveled globally to cover underreported issues like child trafficking, gang violence, and climate change. Seyi has reported from countries such as Nigeria and the Philippines, often highlighting human rights abuses and marginalised communities.

He has also contributed to BBC Panorama, earning recognition for his immersive, investigative style. Known for tackling challenging stories, Seyi is committed to bringing attention to global issues often overlooked by mainstream media.

Evan Bowen-Jones, Chief Executive of Kent Wildlife Trust, has been working on delivering KWT’s ambitious strategy for a Wilder Kent during his time in the role. This strategy focuses on finding impactful local solutions to address the national and global nature and climate crises we all face, doing so with speed and in the most defensible and pragmatic manner possible. This is where Wilder Carbon was born: an initiative that now has a dozen English Wildlife Trusts, as well as the John Muir Trust in Scotland, signed up as local deliverers, making it scalable and investable. Evan has a 25-year professional conservation background, which includes the implementation of species and landscape-level conservation projects; analysis of international policy; and working with NGOs, governments, and corporations to deliver real gains for wildlife worldwide.

Hector Hughes is the co-founder of Unplugged, a company dedicated to helping people disconnect from their phones and reconnect with nature. Unplugged offers digital detox experiences at off-grid cabins, with a growing network of 30 cabins across the UK and a recent expansion into Spain.

On the outside, Tom is a tenacious, driven, and creative CEO with a proven track record at start-up, scale-up, and global corporate levels. A self-diagnosed workaholic and entrepreneur, he founded, grew, and exited his first business by the age of 28.

On the inside, Tom is a devoted dad, geologist, angel investor, and adventure enthusiast—passions that now drive the next stage of his career.

Tom is currently the energy behind CampWild, a pioneering project to unlock private land for zero-impact recreation. He also heads up his own strategy consultancy, Tor, which supports entrepreneurs in bootstrapping start-up growth and success.

Charles, the Earl of Devon, lives at Powderham Castle, near Exeter, Devon. Powderham has been the Courtenay family home since 1390, and he runs the Castle as a heritage business, sustainably managing the ancient land and buildings for social benefit while hosting all manner of visitors throughout the year. Charles is both an English Barrister and a California attorney. He practiced between 2003 and 2014 in Los Angeles, California, where he became an Intellectual Property and Technology litigator for Latham & Watkins.

Since returning with his family to England in 2014, Charles succeeded his father to the ancient Earldom of Devon, moved his practice to the law firm of Michelmores LLP, and took a seat in the House of Lords as a cross-bench hereditary peer. In the Lords, Charles focuses upon rural, agricultural, environmental, social and technology matters, and he is a passionate advocate and champion of his home county of Devon. He enjoys time with his family between the beautiful Devon countryside and in California; he surfs when he can.