During her time as Chair - between 2017 and 2022 - Peta Foxall was at the forefront of some of the most exciting changes in The Wildlife Trusts movement in the last decade. She paved the way for greater inclusion and diversity within the nature conservation movement, as well as embedded young people's voices into its governance and fabric, as those that are most impacted by today's nature and climate crises.
Peta Foxall, past Chair of The Wildlife Trusts, awarded CBE in Birthday 2023 Honours List
Peta Foxall's longstanding efforts for nature conservation honoured as she receives the Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Peta Foxall © Daniel Thistlethwaite
Peta's experience and expertise, gained throughout a career dedicated to health care (as lecturer and director at University of Exeter Medical School; fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine; and lead governor of Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust), was invaluable to The Wildlife Trusts' movement as it went through unprecedented change, including the development of a new 10-year strategy, The Wildlife Trusts 2030 Strategy, the recruitment of a new Chief Executive, Craig Bennett, all whilst embedding the importance of staff and volunteer mental health and wellbeing into work practices.
Not stopping there, Peta has given huge value to a number of initiatives, serving on several advisory and steering groups, including The Queen's Green Canopy, and as chair of the National Lottery Community Fund's £33m partnership programme, Our Bright Future. The latter bringing together the youth and environmental sectors to help young people gain vital skills and experience, and act as catalysts for delivering changes for their local environment and communities. Peta was also chair of Devon Wildlife Trust, and latterly Nature Friendly Schools, a partnership programme funded by Defra and Natural England to bring thousands of children closer to nature.
Throughout her time with The Wildlife Trusts' Peta's values of care and inclusivity shone through in all that she did - and we are delighted that today she is recognised for all that she has achieved for nature conservation, and the people working within the sector.
