Environment

Sponsored by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

This award highlights the campaigners working to provide sustainable solutions to the environmental problems we face locally and globally.

Winner

Alice Farr

‘WoodWatch’ - Woodland Trust

Alice is working with WoodWatch to give local communities a voice to take action for woods and trees under threat. She empowers people to take action using formal planning systems and local democracy, using the powers available at a grass roots level. She is responsible for identifying potential threats and establishing formal objections. By providing advice on the impact of development on woods and trees to local authorities, Alice is actively encouraging change.

Finalists

Helen Buckland

‘Save Tripa’ - Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS)

Helen is working with the Save Tripa Coalition to protect the Tripa peat forests in Sumatra, Indonesia. By implementing campaigns that target governments, organisations and companies, Helen is striving to protect the critically endangered Sumatran Orangutan. She is collaborating with colleagues in Indonesia to provide critical ecological services to local communities. Helen has been working on the issue of deforestation caused by the palm oil industry for six years.  

Alyson Austin

‘Residents Against Ffos-y-Fran’

Alyson is working on protecting local communities from the hazards caused by the imposition of open cast coal mines, as well as the burning of fossil fuels that impact on the climate. Through her personal experience of living near a massive open cast coal mine, Alyson has become inspired to help others in threatened communities campaign against environmental risks. As the treasurer and media spokesperson for RAFF, she seeks to promote their cause and offer support to the public.   

Judges

Jon Cracknell

Jon Cracknell is currently the director of the JMG Foundation, which funds environmental campaigns. He has been actively involved with the U.S. Environmental Grant Makers Association for twelve years and serves on the EGA Board. In 2003, Jon assisted in setting up the Environmental Funders Network in the UK and is a part of the steering committee. Additionally, Jon has co-authored three detailed reports analysing environmental grant-making patterns and the sources of income for environmental groups in the UK.  

Louisa Hooper

Louisa Hooper is Project Officer at the UK branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, a charitable  foundation with cultural, educational, social and scientific interests. Louisa’s key area of focus is promoting an increased understanding of the value of the environment among policy makers and the public. She is also Secretary to the Trustees of the Saint Sarkis Charity Trust, as well as a judge for the Koestler Awards.  

Lucy Pearce

Lucy Pearce is a freelance consultant who has worked as a professional campaigner, coordinating coalitions for over ten years. Most recently, she organised ‘Ask The Climate Question’, an NGO campaign around the general election. Starting out as General Secretary of Kent Students' Union, she has since worked for People & Planet, Christian Aid and the World Development Movement and was the Campaign Manager for the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition.