Second Nature

As the Head of Legal at Oxygen Conservation, George Pawley stands at the intersection of law and environmental preservation. His career has taken a fascinating path that led him to become not only a legal expert but also a crucial player in the conservation world.

At Oxygen Conservation, George has harnessed his unique skills and determination to support the team's efforts in scaling conservation initiatives, proving that innovative approaches to land management can indeed deliver a positive impact. George's work ethic and commitment to the cause make him genuinely one of the hardest workers in the field, embodying the principle that passion, coupled with action, can drive meaningful change.

Laurence Couldrick is the Chief Executive Officer of the Westcountry Rivers Trust an amazing organisation dedicated to the protection and restoration of rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries. 

In this episode, Laurence delves into his remarkable journey leading to the Rivers Trust, tracing back to his innate curiosity as a child about how the environment and nature worked and his academic pursuit that led to a PhD focusing on the intricate biomechanics of bird flight. Over the past two decades, he has dedicated himself to the Rivers Trust, helping it grow and become what it is today. 

Rich and Laurence, dive deep into the profound significance of our waterways, exploring the pressing realities of climate change and the evolving concept of natural capital in environmental protection. They explore the present-day obstacles in river restoration efforts and contemplate the collective efforts necessary to ensure their preservation for generations to come.

This conversation is one of hope and optimism, emphasising our inherent ability as humans to adapt. However, it underscores the critical need for not just change, but smart change, to drive effective regenerative practices forward.

https://wrt.org.uk/

Lisa Pinney is the Chief Executive of the Coal Authority, a pivotal organisation addressing the environmental and public safety legacy of mining.

In an enlightening episode, Lisa invites listeners into her life's journey, revealing the layers of challenges she's faced—from confronting ageism, sexism and homophobia in the workplace to overcoming personal adversity and simply embracing her true self. Her story is a testament to unwavering resilience, shaped by a deep commitment to her values, her desire to enact positive change, and her dedication to living authentically.

Lisa recounts the evolution of her career, highlighting the transformative shift in her latest role. As the first woman and notably the first from the environment sector at the helm of the Coal Authority, she has introduced innovative perspectives and championed significant advancements. Her leadership is not just about policy or strategy; it's about embodying the change she aspires to see and setting a new standard for inclusivity and sustainability in the sector. 

Her journey is more than inspiring—it's a powerful call to action for anyone seeking to make a difference in their community and beyond. 

In this episode, we sit down with Lance Bradley, whose career trajectory has taken him from the fast-paced world of automotive engineering and management with industry giants like Ford and Mitsubishi, to the fiercely competitive arena of professional rugby. This episode was recorded in December 2023. As of January 2024, Lance has embarked on a new challenge as the CEO of Osprey Rugby Club, after a transformative tenure at Gloucester Rugby Club.

Lance's journey is a testament to the power of adaptability, strategic thinking, and passion for excellence, qualities that have propelled him from the automotive industry to the pinnacle of sports management. Throughout the episode, Lance delves into the pivotal moments of his career, starting with his early days at Ford, where he honed his skills in innovation and leadership, to his strategic roles at Mitsubishi, where he played a critical role in steering the company through periods of significant change and challenge.

Rich and Lance engage in a deep dive into what it means to drive impact within a business, regardless of the industry. This conversation is a departure from our usual content, focusing on the intricacies of leadership and the importance of building a culture of high performance. 

Listeners will gain a unique perspective on the commonalities between succeeding in the corporate world and the world of professional sports. Lance's foundational learnings from his tenure in the automotive sector have been instrumental in shaping his approach to leadership in sports management. He discusses the importance of team cohesion, the art of making tough decisions, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the dynamics of leadership, the challenges of managing high-performance teams, and the journey of transitioning across vastly different industries while maintaining a trajectory of success. 

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Mark Birks, a Principal at Avison Young, who brings his personal journey from rural roots to a leading role in land and development. Based in the Midlands, Mark provides an expert perspective on the interdependence of urban and rural residential markets. He emphasises the necessity of a strong rural sector to support urban development, offering insights into how these areas are intertwined within residential planning.

In this episode Mark shares his views on the complexities of the UK's housing landscape, addressing the surge in demand and the environmental and regulatory challenges it presents. He highlights the critical role of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in shaping sustainable development, advocating for its integration as a key component of modern projects.

This episode is a concise exploration of the challenges and innovations in land development, underscoring the balance needed between urban and rural areas to meet environmental and housing needs.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-birks-5ab2621b/

Emma is a distinguished sustainability expert and the Director of Sustainability & Growth at Coreus Group. With a first-class honours in BSc Environmental Science and a Merit MSc Environmental Consultancy, Emma's journey from academia to leading sustainability in the construction sector is both inspiring and impactful. At Coreus Group, she spearheads initiatives in ESG strategy, carbon accounting, and organisational projects across education, residential, commercial, and retail sectors, collaborating with a diverse range of clients.

In this episode, Emma shares insights into her dynamic career path, from her beginnings in a PLC house builder to an award winning construction consultancy, where she champions sustainability and drives meaningful change. She discusses the way in which this change has allowed for more ownership, teamwork and decision-making in creating environmental and social impact.

Emma's commitment extends beyond her professional role; she actively contributes to her community as Regional Board Member at RICS South West, Director of Exeter Community Energy, and a mentor and ambassador for STEM, Lionheart, Brightside, and the 'No Label No Limit' project. Her dedication to sustainability and community service has earned her the prestigious edie 30 under 30 award, highlighting her exceptional contributions to the field.

 Join us as Emma and Rich explore the evolving consciousness within the construction industry, highlighting the growing prioritisation of social and environmental impacts.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmasueref/
https://www.coreusgroup.com/
https://www.ecoe.org.uk/
https://www.rics.org/about-rics/where-we-are/uk-and-ireland/rics-in-south-west

In this episode Ed takes us on a rather un conventional route to how he founded Bird Eyewear. From working in a kitchen, charity sector, education and drummer of a band, Ed has found a way to combine his design, business and charity experiences into a purpose driven company.

Together with his brothers, Ed is dedicated to crafting eyewear that not only sets trends but also serves a greater purpose. Bird Eyewear stands out by transforming waste materials like discarded bins and recycling old frames into fashionable eyewear. Their commitment extends to meaningful partnerships with charities such as Solar Aid, and they are constantly exploring ways to minimise production waste. Bird Eyewear is more than just an accessory; it's a statement of style, sustainability, and social responsibility.

Website: https://findyourbirds.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findyourbirds/

Lara is our wonderful Spatial and GIS data expert at Oxygen Conservation. 

Lara's role is pivotal, as she dives deep into the world of spatial data, intertwining both internal insights and external resources to highlight the critical information that steers our conservation strategies and land management decisions.

Lara not only spends time managing, understanding and processing data, she also possesses a unique talent for transforming complex datasets into visually stunning and easily digestible content, making the science of conservation accessible and engaging to all. 

We cannot wait to share more of her work more publicly throughout our website this year. 

In this episode Lara shares her journey to finding Oxygen Conservation, what she loves most about her role and where she hopes to take it in the future - she also shares a little about her many amazing adventures.

Matt Gingell, the Founder of Chancery Lane Project and fantastic General Counsel at Oxygen House Group. 

The Chancery Lane Project is a global network of lawyers and business leaders who have created an incredible resource of clauses and tools that can help you align your contracts to net zero targets. The clauses are freely available for anyone to incorporate into commercial agreements and legal documents to encourage rapid decarbonisation and reduced climate impact. 

In this episode Matt shares his journey to finding the Chancery Lane Project, his incredible work with Oxygen House and his absolute commitment to changing the impact lawyers can have across the world. Knowing we need to find contracts and clauses that can impact commercial change and shift towards sustainable solutions in an attempt to meet the 2030 emission targets.

https://chancerylaneproject.org/about/

Roland is a Partner at Bidwells and Head of Rural Business. Roland brings a wealth of expertise in managing institutionally owned land and property, overseeing a remarkable portfolio of assets valued at £1.5 billion. His work involves collaborating with iconic institutions, navigating the complexities of land management and its associated facets.

Roland's academic journey began with the study of ecology as an undergraduate, setting the foundation for a lifelong passion for environmental conservation. With over 15 years of experience, he has played a pivotal role in orchestrating large-scale contractual and financial structures for habitat restoration projects, making a significant impact in the environmental sector. Notably, Roland completed the first biodiversity offset in the Essex pilot 10 years ago, and more recently this has become a larger focus in his work.

In this episode Roland shares the chapters of his life, from his childhood studying biology and ecology and having a passion for the environment, to working as a land agent for a large portfolio. He discusses the pivotal shift in focus to Natural Capital and his work with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).