Dr James Robinson Director of Conservation, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

He is dedicated to the protection and restoration of our natural world and the wildlife it supports and have based his career path on maximising his skills, knowledge and experience to meet this goal.

Currently WWT's Director of Conservation, based at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. Previous roles:- RSPB's Director for Eastern England, Head of Nature Policy, Director for Northern Ireland, and Conservation Manager for Northern Ireland, at WWT as Head of Wetland Biodiversity Unit, as Research Assistant at the University of Durham and as Lecturer at Bishop Burton College. BSc Honours degree in Biological Sciences and PhD in seabird ecology, both from the University of Durham.

Sits on WWT's Management Board, contributing to Trust-wide matters and inspiring all staff and volunteers.

Skills

• Executive leadership and management of large and dispersed teams (220+ staff plus large volunteer base), balanced scorecard development and transformational organisation design
• Developing, leading and managing large (£15m plus) budgets and projects
• Developing conservation strategy and translating into global/country/regional implementation
• Risk management and mitigation
• Developing high performing teams and managing change by inspiring continual improvement and innovation
• Building effective relationships with critical stakeholders and forming partnerships that deliver shared objectives
• Policy development and advocacy (UK, all-Ireland, International)
• Acquisition and management of land and property
• Large-scale habitat creation and restoration, including climate change adaptation
• Providing conservation advice internally and externally
• Developing and implementing campaigns
• Communicating to wide range of audiences (written and verbal) and acting as an ambassador
• Developing international conservation plans and convening international workshops
• Undertaking and publishing ecological and conservation science