Protest march

About us

Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland

We are part of an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We lead campaigns, provide resources and information, and drive real solutions to the environmental problems facing us all.

We are committed to

  • a peaceful and sustainable world based on societies living in harmony with nature.
  • each generation enjoying an environment that’s getting better; a safer climate, abundant nature, healthy air, water and food.
  • a growing and diverse network of people coming together to transform our environment into one which is flourishing, sustainable, and socially just.

Friends of the Earth Limited is a not-for-profit limited company limited by guarantee (company number 1012357).

We own the Friends of the Earth trademark and grant local groups a license to campaign under our name.

Governance and funding

Management

We are led by a Senior Management Team:

Craig Bennett, Chief Executive

Rob Halkyard, Director of Supporter Experience and Fundraising

Liz Hutchins, Director of Campaigning Impact

Hugh Knowles and Miriam Turner, co-Directors of Disruptive Innovation

Alasdair Roxburgh, Director of Communities and Networks

Naima Siddiqi, Director of Finance & Regulatory Affairs

Governance

We are governed by a Board of Non-Executive Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall strategic direction and oversight of the organisation, ensuring regulatory compliance, monitoring and evaluating risks, and approval of the annual budget and audited accounts.

Funding

A substantial part of our funding comes from Friends of the Earth Charitable Trust.

Board of Friends of the Earth

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Frances Butler (Chair)
Frances is Chair of Friends of the Earth Limited. She has been Chair of Liberty, Vice Chair of the British Institute of Human Rights, a human rights policy adviser and a practising lawyer. Frances has worked on community energy projects in Camden, North London and is currently doing a PhD at University College London researching the state’s responsibility to act on climate change. Frances is a member of Camden Friends of the Earth .
Frances Butler (Chair)
Frances is Chair of Friends of the Earth Limited. She has been Chair of Liberty, Vice Chair of the British Institute of Human Rights, a human rights policy adviser and a practising lawyer. Frances has worked on community energy projects in Camden, North London and is currently doing a PhD at University College London researching the state’s responsibility to act on climate change. Frances is a member of Camden Friends of the Earth .
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Afsheen Rashid
Afsheen is Chair of the Finance Committee. She is Repowering’s Co-founder Director and Chief Operating Officer and sits as Chair of the Brixton Energy Solar Co-operatives. She is also Chair of Community Energy England. She pioneered Lambeth Council’s Community Energy Programme and was previously a Senior Policy Advisor at Department of Energy Climate Change.
Afsheen Rashid
Afsheen is Chair of the Finance Committee. She is Repowering’s Co-founder Director and Chief Operating Officer and sits as Chair of the Brixton Energy Solar Co-operatives. She is also Chair of Community Energy England. She pioneered Lambeth Council’s Community Energy Programme and was previously a Senior Policy Advisor at Department of Energy Climate Change.
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Anne Schiffer
Anne recently completed a PhD at Queen's University Belfast that critiques the role of designers in international development and has a specific focus on designing energy futures in The Gambia. She also works as Senior Lecturer in the School of Art, Architecture and Design at Leeds Beckett University.
Anne Schiffer
Anne recently completed a PhD at Queen's University Belfast that critiques the role of designers in international development and has a specific focus on designing energy futures in The Gambia. She also works as Senior Lecturer in the School of Art, Architecture and Design at Leeds Beckett University.
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Matt Wright
Matt has a career spanning public, private and not for profit sectors, including roles as Head of Digital and Corporate Marketing at Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust; Deputy Director of Communications, Policy and Campaigns at Shelter; and Head of Marketing and Communications at The Carbon Trust. Matt currently works in marketing/communications consultancy for a range of clients, supports a range of environmental causes, and is a keen sailor and walker. He has an MBA from Cranfield and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Nottingham University.
Matt Wright
Matt has a career spanning public, private and not for profit sectors, including roles as Head of Digital and Corporate Marketing at Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust; Deputy Director of Communications, Policy and Campaigns at Shelter; and Head of Marketing and Communications at The Carbon Trust. Matt currently works in marketing/communications consultancy for a range of clients, supports a range of environmental causes, and is a keen sailor and walker. He has an MBA from Cranfield and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Nottingham University.
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Chris Church
Chris is Director of the Community Environment Associates consultancy and chairs the Climate Action England (formerly the UK Low Carbon Communities Network). He also works with excluded communities for the Big Lottery ‘Big Local’ programme, is a director of Mapping for Change, an Honorary Research Associate at University College London, and an Associate of the Green Alliance and the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.
Chris Church
Chris is Director of the Community Environment Associates consultancy and chairs the Climate Action England (formerly the UK Low Carbon Communities Network). He also works with excluded communities for the Big Lottery ‘Big Local’ programme, is a director of Mapping for Change, an Honorary Research Associate at University College London, and an Associate of the Green Alliance and the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.
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Kay Polley
Kay lives in North Wales, and has been an active member of the Llangollen and District Friends of the Earth group since 2010. Since 2011 she has been the lead community organiser for TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru / Together Creating Communities), an alliance of community organisations, faith groups, and schools in North Wales. Kay is a Welsh learner and hopes to become fluent one day.
Kay Polley
Kay lives in North Wales, and has been an active member of the Llangollen and District Friends of the Earth group since 2010. Since 2011 she has been the lead community organiser for TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru / Together Creating Communities), an alliance of community organisations, faith groups, and schools in North Wales. Kay is a Welsh learner and hopes to become fluent one day.