MEET THE TEAM
Tessa Bartlett
Director of Operations
With a background in higher education, communications and high-performance sport operations, Tessa specialises in establishing and optimising efficient organisations. Her passion lies in safeguarding and enhancing our natural environment, recognising the potential for a multiplying effect with nature connectivity on a national scale. While climate change poses a huge global challenge, Tessa firmly believes in making small improvements to our individual corners of the planet. Dedicated to the cause, she works towards fostering a positive ripple effect in the fight against climate change.
LinkedIn | tessa@woodlandsavers.org
Christoph Warrack
CEO
LinkedIn | christoph@woodlandsavers.org
Christoph builds his work at Woodland Savers on a career helping communities to advance their wellbeing, skills, and pathways. After 11 years in the film industry, he founded Open Cinema, and later Airbase and B Foundry, and is an advisor to Moving Beyond. Christoph has presented on social innovation at international conferences and universities, is a TEDx speaker, and a mentor at the Imperial College cleantech accelerator. He is a trustee of his children’s school, and is a volunteer river guardian for the Western Sussex Rivers Trust. His service is gathering communities, organisations, and nature, and empowering participants to use their unique capabilities to restore our natural world.
LinkedIn | christoph@woodlandsavers.org
Mark Hilleard
Head of Woodlands
mark@woodlandsavers.org
Woodland Savers Limited Board
Brontie Ansell
Lawyers for Nature
Brontie is the Co-Founder and Director of Lawyers for Nature, a Community Interest Company acting to represent the natural world, developing the Rights of Nature and Nature-Positive Corporate Governance. Brontie, as lead lawyer, has pioneered the company’s work to put ‘Nature on the Board’.
Bill Carman
Director
Bill used to be a medical virologist but now spends his time working on larger things like trees. His family foundation supports ecological restoration projects across the UK, but mainly in Scotland. He is Chair of the Highlands and Islands Environment Foundation and the Neighbourhood Nature Revival Fund which helps communities to get going in their ecological efforts.
Michael Norton
Director
Michael Norton is a social entrepreneur and founder of the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action which promotes, supports and invests in social innovation and social innovators.
Holly Turner
Director
Jonny Page
Director
Jonny is responsible for Esmée Fairbairn Foundation’s impact investing. Before joining Esmée, Jonny managed impact funds as Investment Director at Big Issue Invest Fund Management and is a Chartered Accountant from Deloitte. Jonny holds several advisory roles, including the Impact Investment Advisory Group at the BVCA, co-chairing the Social Impact Investors Group, a Visiting Fellow at Zinc VC, and the Social Enterprise Investment Committee at Trust for London.
Tessa Bartlett
Woodland Savers Foundation
Christoph Warrack
WSL CEO
Community Advisory Board
Bridie Ashrowan
Bridie Ashrowan was appointed Chief Executive of EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) in March 2021. She has over thirty years’ experience in the community sector, having worked with a variety of different organisations including start-ups, social enterprise and also in business. Prior to joining EVOC, Bridie was Chief Executive at Space and Broomhouse Hub, a local community development trust in an area that has some of the highest child and in-work poverty in Scotland. She has held positions on boards, such as Southern Upland Partnership and Alchemy Film Festival. She has also worked with Borders Forest Trust and Woodland Trust. Bridie is currently on the board of Community Land Scotland and the Poverty Alliance Scotland. Her passions are nature, community and the arts.’
Jessica Allen
Institute for Health Equity
Jessica is the Deputy Director for the Institute for Health Equity. She has shaped the strategic direction of the Institute and overseen its work and development. She has worked closely with international organisations, national and local governments, businesses and the economic sector, third sector organisations and public health and health care systems. She has published widely on the social determinants of health and led much of the Institute’s work and leads the IHE’s work with global organisations including the UN
Jenny Edwards CBE
Jenny Edwards CBE FFP is Chair of People’s Health Trust and a Trustee at Affinity Trust. A Fellow of the Society of Leadership Fellows, she serves as National Advisor on Mental Health and the Mindfulness Initiative. As a visionary strategist, Jenny builds diverse alliances to address social challenges, driving impactful change. She excels in promoting values-led, evidence-based solutions and advocates for approaches rooted in community strengths. Jenny’s skills span strategic vision, communication, network building, and policy transformation, making her a confident, persuasive leader who engages effectively across all levels of society, from government ministers to marginalised communities.
Angela Terry
OneHome
Angela Terry is the award-winning CEO of One Home Climate Solutions, the UK’s first public awareness campaign on climate adaptation and mitigation. Leading One Home, she helps people adopt low-cost, low-carbon lifestyles and prepare for extreme weather. Voted Net Zero Energy Pioneer in 2024, Angela collaborates with media and organisations to engage and educate the public on climate action. With decades of experience in renewable energy projects, she has raised over £15 million and worked across various roles, including at the Forestry Commission. Angela is a passionate public speaker, promoting conscious consumerism and resilience in the face of climate change.
Nick Gardner
National Lottery Community Fund
As Head of Climate Action, Nick oversees the strategic delivery of the National Lottery Community Fund’s £100 million Climate Action Fund and wider environment strategy, supporting community-led responses to the climate & nature emergencies. Nick is a board member for Outdoor People and Woking Environment Action (WEAct). Before joining the Lottery he led ActionFunderwhich brings businesses and other funders together with communities to bring about impactful change at a local level. Nick co-founded Outdoor Classroom Day, and Backyard Nature – two campaigns which aim to improve young people’s connection with nature and the outdoors. Prior to this he worked for eight years as an economist advising government departments and regional authorities on environmental issues, climate technology and policy.
Ecology Advisory Board
Brontie Ansell
Lawyers for Nature
Brontie is the Co-Founder and Director of Lawyers for Nature, a Community Interest Company acting to represent the natural world, developing the Rights of Nature and Nature-Positive Corporate Governance. Brontie, as lead lawyer, has pioneered the company’s work to put ‘Nature on the Board’.
Russell Horsey
Chartered Arboriculturalist
Russell Horsey is a Chartered Urban Forester and Director of Goetre Villa Ltd, specialising in urban forest management and planning. With over eight years of experience, he leads community engagement, tree planting, and smart technology integration through platforms like TreePlotter. Russell has delivered green infrastructure for projects such as Bristol’s Cycle City and Greater Bristol Bus Network, setting a standard for incorporating green spaces into large urban projects. A keynote speaker and trustee at the Institute of Chartered Foresters, he also advises the Welsh Government on tree and plant health, helping shape urban forestry policies across Wales.
Sir Tim Smit
Eden Project
Sir Tim Smit KBE is the Co-founder and Executive Vice-Chair of the Eden Project in Cornwall, which opened in 2000. Since then, over 19 million people have visited the award-winning site, which transformed a barren clay pit into a thriving hub of world-class horticulture and architecture. The Eden Project has contributed over £1.9 billion to the Cornish economy.
Tim is also Executive Chairman of Eden Project International, aiming to establish Eden Projects on every inhabited continent by 2025. He has been honoured with an Honorary CBE in 2002, a KBE in 2012, and multiple Honorary Doctorates.
Financial advisory board
Alasdair Maclay
Global Steering Group on Impact Investment
Alasdair Maclay is a farmer and impact Investor. Day job is as Chief Strategy Officer at GSG www.gsgii.org. Previously at Actis www.act.is. Focused on natural capital impact measurement and valuation. Also driving financial inclusion impact as co-founder of Briisk www.briisk.io.
Michael Norton
CIVA
Michael Norton is a social entrepreneur and founder of the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action which promotes, supports and invests in social innovation and social innovators.
Emily Gowers
Bain and Company
Emily is a consultant with a broad range of experience across multiple industries, currently a Manager at Bain & Company, with over three years at the firm. Passionate about leveraging consulting tools to create a more sustainable planet and achieve net zero goals, she has held roles at Bain, and previously worked at Eden McCallum as an Associate Consultant and Analyst. At Eden McCallum, they supported clients, including FTSE 100 companies and Fortune 500 firms, on key issues such as strategy and operations. Emily is committed to delivering impactful solutions and driving sustainability in business practices.
Dan Gregory
Social Enterprise UK
Dan Gregory is an Associate Director at Social Enterprise UK and an Independent Advisor at Common Capital, with over 15 years’ experience supporting social enterprises, co-operatives, and community organisations. Dan has worked extensively on funding and financing social enterprises, developing policies at the highest levels and delivering practical solutions at the grassroots. His experience spans local initiatives in the South West of England and projects in over 25 countries worldwide. Passionate about driving social impact, Dan helps organisations create sustainable development and lasting positive change.
Dr Mark Collins
LifeX
Mark Collins is a creative and insightful technology leader with over 20 years of experience in designing, developing, and commercialising advanced life science products. He has a proven track record of creating solutions that generate revenue, engage customers, and strengthen brand identity. Mark is recognised for his strategic thinking and entrepreneurial flair, seamlessly combining innovation with business acumen to drive the success of multi-million-pound P&Ls.
His diverse experience spans start-ups, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as government research labs. As a co-founder of three companies in the fields of drug discovery, artificial intelligence, and software, Mark brings a global perspective to his work.
Specialising in life sciences, informatics, bioinformatics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, Mark also excels in strategy, new product development, and software-as-a-service.
