Our Board of Directors (Trustees of the Charity) comprises:
- Derek Jacobs – Chairman
- Toby Aykroyd – Vice Chair
- Andrew Sheephanks – Vice Chair
- Ed Posey OBE
- Jo Roberts – Chief Executive Officer
- Paul Gardiner
- Vance Martin
- Diana Roberts
- Graham Game
- Neil Birnie
Derek Jacobs – Chairman
Derek Jacobs M.A. (Oxon.) is a South African born businessman. He received his BA from Rhodes in 1965. Derek has a prestigous career leading businesses to success in senior roles, including MD of Metal Box (SA) and later Nampak Ltd. During his time in South Africa he was an ardent supporter of our sister organisation the Wilderness Leadership School and has been described by our Founder and Patron Dr. Ian Player as “one of the few people who understand wilderness and business.” Derek and his family are now resident in the UK and following a period as an active trustee of WFUK was unanimously elected to the role of Chairman on retirement of his predecessor Derek Jacobs. Under his guidance and with his support the Foundation has gone from strength-to-strength and he is much admired by staff and colleagues alike.
Toby Aykroyd – Vice Chair
Toby Aykroyd is vice-chair of the Wilderness Foundation and a Trustee of both the European Nature Trust and the London Wildlife Trust. He is also Co-ordinator of the Wild Europe initiative, promoting large-scale habitat protection and restoration.
Ed Posey OBE
Edward Posey trained as an RAF pilot for National Service, in the late 1940s. He studied at the London School of Economics and then, after a brief period working for the family business in the City of London, embarked on an aviation career. After many successful years Edward began to question the social responsibility and ethics of the business world in which he was involved. Consultancy work soon developed into promoting a more holistic approach and a more socially responsible path for business. Edward has since dedicated over 30 years entirely to philanthropic work. In 1984, he co-founded the Gaia Foundation and provided his home in north London as the office. He is also Trustee of Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, the Wilderness Leadership School in South Africa, an active member of Social Venture Network Europe, and Member of the Executive Development Committee for the Natural History Museum, London. In 2007, Edward was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for ‘services to the Gaia Foundation’.
Vance Martin
Vance Martin is the founder and current co-chairman of the IUCN Wilderness Task Force, and has edited and authored many publications, including most recently Wilderness, Wildlands and People: A Partnership for the Planet, the plenary proceedings from the 8th World Wilderness Congress (Anchorage, Alaska, 2005). Vance is President of our sister charity in the USA – the Wild Foundation.
Neil Birnie
Neil Birnie is the Founder of Wilderness Scotland. He is an ardent wilderness campaigner and highly skilled guide. Neil is also an experienced Environmental Lawyer.
