More than 30 years experience in international conservation, including working with Friends of the Earth and 12 years as Chief Executive of Fauna & Flora International. Set up the first TRAFFIC offices for IUCN. Author & broadcaster. John received an Honorary Doctorate from University Campus Suffolk in October 2012 in honour of his work for international environmental organisations.
World Land Trust Staff
CEO
John A Burton
Chief Executive Officer
Communications & Corporate Relations
Vivien Burton
Head of Communications
Office Manager for Fauna & Flora International for seven years. Worked as Conservation Assistant for Sir Peter Scott in his capacity as Chairman of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. Has acted as Rapporteur for SSC Meetings and several CITES Conference of the Parties Meetings including New Delhi, Gaborone and Buenos Aires. Has worked with WLT since its inception and helped its development from the early days of Programme for Belize.
Christina Ballinger
Writer/Editor
Christina Ballinger relocated to Suffolk from Somerset in 2012, after 15 years in organic farming and the local food sector. Prior to that she was a magazine journalist, and she is now delighted to be writing and editing for the Trust.
Claire Millard
Administrative Officer
Claire started work for WLT in 1996 and held various administrative roles until the birth of her first child in 2004. After a five year break she has recently returned to WLT on a part-time basis as Administrative Assistant to the CEO and Head of Communications. When not at work her time is spent bringing up her two young children, Ben and Olivia.
Anne Clifford
Fundraising and Analysis Officer
Anne has undertaken this new part-time role on her return after maternity leave. She was previously WLT’s Donations Manager and first joined the Trust in September 2003. When not in the WLT office, she can generally be found running after a small toddler on the family farm, and also still tries to find time for her other interests of acting and singing.
Ruth Stanton-Saringer
Communications Officer
Ruth had a passion for animals and the natural world from a young age and is a graduate in Animal Behaviour from Anglia Ruskin University. She has also volunteered in conservation projects in Bolivia and in Costa Rica, where she lived for almost two years. Ruth joined WLT in October 2012 on a six month Project Development Internship and is now working in Communications and Web.
Programmes: Land Purchase Projects & Ecosystem Services
Roger Wilson
Senior Conservationist: Special Projects Development
Has a long association with the WLT, including as a Technical Advisor to Programme for Belize. Has been involved in conservation fieldwork for over 30 years and with forestry and restoration ecology projects for over 10 years, with extensive experience in West and Central Africa, Belize and other parts of Central America. Responsible for the co-ordination and direction of the WLT Conservation Programme, in collaboration with other senior staff and under the overall oversight of the CEO.
Kirsty Burgess
Conservation Programmes Manager
An Ecology & Wildlife Management graduate who joined the WLT in 2000 on a six-month internship in Project Development. Since then she has been co-ordinating the Trust's conservation programmes. Provides support and liaison for overseas partner organisations, carries out site visits, and develops monitoring programmes for international projects. Interested in tropical conservation ever since exploring the reefs, caves and mangroves of Malaysia in her childhood. Can often be seen out walking her dog, Nutmeg.
Ruth Canning
Conservation Programmes Manager (Americas Region)
An Environmental Biology graduate with a Masters in Wildlife Biology and Conservation who joined the WLT in March 2007. Provides support and liaison for overseas partner organisations with direct responsibility for managing the Trust's Central and South American projects. Also co-ordinates research and development of new projects with a particular focus on the Americas.
Mary Tibbett
Conservation Programmes Manager (Asia and Africa Regions)
A Tropical Environmental Science graduate who joined WLT in September 2008 after 3 years working in the UK ecological consultancy sector and volunteering on various conservation projects abroad. Primary contact for WLT’s Programme Partners in Asia and Africa and also responsible for development of new projects with a geographical focus on Asia and Africa. Also manages the Trust’s UK based project at Kites Hill Reserve and the Books for Conservation Programme.
Neil Williams
Carbon Programme Officer (Ecosystem Services)
A geology graduate with an interest in nature and research experience from Iceland where he investigated climate-related glacial retreat. Having completed an MSc in Finance and Management and training in financial auditing, Neil joined WLT's Ecosystem Services team in August 2009 to help with the administration and development of the Carbon Balanced programme.
Chris Smith
Conservation Programmes Officer (Ecosystem Services)
An Environmental Law and Sustainable Development postgraduate, with a background in auditing, financial accounting and more recently sustainable business development, Chris joined WLT in April 2012. He is a member of the Ecosystems Services team where he is responsible for the administration and development of a portfolio of WLT's reforestation and REDD+ projects.
Charlotte Beckham
Conservation Development Assistant
A Zoology graduate, Charlotte gained a passion for wildlife conservation after volunteering on conservation projects in both Namibia and the UK. She joined WLT in July 2009 on a sixth month internship and then worked for nearly two years as Web Content and Information Officer. Charlotte now assists all members of the WLT Programmes team with conservation programmes activities and is also the Conservation Assistant to John Burton, the CEO. Charlotte also tweets for the Trust.
Donor Support
Karen Lowe
Donations Manager
With a love of wildlife and the outdoors, Karen was delighted to join WLT's Donor Support team in October 2009. In her free time she loves being outside and can often be found walking around the woods or along the beach with her son and dog.
Julia Warnes
Donations Assistant
After ten years living overseas, Julia returned to her home in north Suffolk in October 2009. Having seen first hand rainforest being destroyed only to be replaced by Oil Palm plantations, Julia was very happy to join the donations department of WLT.
Education & Outreach
Kelly Jacobs
Education, Outreach & Training Manager
A Wildlife Conservation graduate with a Masters in Zoo Conservation Biology. Has volunteered in the Philippines on a Red-vented Cockatoo reintroduction project, and in Bonaire where she assisted with behavioural research on the Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrot. Co-ordinates the WLT Schools Programme, outreach activities, internship programme and the Trust’s Wild Spaces Programme.
Dr Harriet Jones
Voluntary Intern Mentor (external) & Academic Advisor to the Trust
Voluntarily looks after the Trust's interns and MSc students doing their projects with the WLT, for 5 years she also looked after the Diploma students. Currently a senior lecturer at the University of East Anglia with research focusing on the transition to university and the development of literary and numerical skills.
Operations & Admin
Jenny Chattington
Head of Operations
Worked for more than 20 years at the British Museum, initially as an editor, then managing the merchandise operation. Ran a garden centre before joining the Trust in May 2008. Responsible for the smooth running of day to day activities at WLT, with particular care of Human Resources, Health & Safety, and management of the premises. In her spare time gardening and the countryside are her overriding obsessions.
Emma Lines
IT Operations Officer
IT Graduate who joined World Land Trust in April 2012. With previous experience in IT roles, Emma is responsible for the day-to-day IT support and IT Infrastructure at WLT. A keen photographer, Emma enjoys spending her free time in the countryside and forests taking photos of wildlife.
Helen De Block
Receptionist/Administration Assistant
A Fine-art and photography postgraduate, Helen returned to Suffolk following 16 years working in the creative industries in London, specifically within the photography sector. With a love of wild-life and the outdoors Helen was delighted to undertake a new part-time role as Receptionist and Administration Assistant for the World Land Trust in March 2013. In her free time she continues her creative pursuits and can otherwise be found on the allotment or cycling and walking in and around the local countryside and beaches.
Lynne Morton
Office Assistant
Joined WLT in April 2007 after having been manager of Holton Hall Park Caravan & County Wildlife Site for many years. Hobbies include walks with her four collies, worm farming (for organic gardening, composting and fishing) and gardening.
Accounts
Elizabeth Stone
Head of Finance
Joined the team in September 2012 after relocating from the South West and taking some time off following the birth of her son. Liz has 13 years experience of working within the charity sector both in practice and within charities. Responsible for the running of the finances at WLT and its trading subsidiary. In her spare time Liz spends her time with her son and they enjoy being outside in the garden and playing.
Melissa Eames-Bayton
Accounts Manager
Joined the Accounts Department at WLT in November 2007. In her spare time, likes walking with her dog and spends time watching her children in their sporting activities. Also helps her parents maintain 10 acres of environmentally sensitive land.
Mel Blagden
Purchase Ledger Clerk
Mel joined the WLT Accounts team in February 2013. She has over 20 years experience working in an accounting environment. In her spare time she enjoys cycling, walking and visiting local places with her husband and two young children.
Website
Dan Bradbury
Head of Digital Communications
Joined the WLT team in January 2013 after spending many years working for an FMCG supplier as their Graphics manager. In this role he was also involved in the management of their digital media. Away from work he loves nothing more than to be outdoors. He has a lifelong interest in wildlife and is a keen birder. He also enjoys photography and can be regularly found cycling around the roads where he lives.
Helen Briggs
Web Development Officer
A Marine Biology graduate with a Masters in Ecology who joined the WLT team in June 2010. Spent time working in molecular ecology and in plant circadian biology before learning about website design and development. Now assists with the management of the Trust’s internet activities. Outside the office she enjoys walking and cycling through the countryside and regularly visits the mountains of North Wales
Luciano Breves
Web Multimedia Consultant
A Wildlife Filmmaker from Brazil who graduated in Communication. Luciano has produced short documentaries for non-profit organizations showing the importance of conservation. He is a pioneer in live streaming of wildlife in Brazil and created the Atlantic Rainforest webcam. Luciano works on the Wildlife Focus Website remotely from Brazil, regularly appearing on the webchat to answer your webcam questions.
Office Animals
Nutmeg
Lunch Inspector & Stress Relief Provider
A regular staff member at the World Land Trust since 2005, residing mainly under the Programme Manager's desk. Keeps a close eye on the goings-on in the WLT car park, makes daily inspections of staff lunch bags and provides light stress relief at the end of a long working day.
Sir David Attenborough, WLT Patron
