Being a VWT Trustee

I came into the conservation sector through an unusual route. Unlike many, I don’t have a background in science or ecology. My professional background in Parliament and the civil service gave me general expertise around public policy making, and I had a general interest in and love of nature. But I was new to the environment sector and nature conservation as a discipline when I took up my current day job with the National Trust in 2018. So, while I had lots of enthusiasm, I also had lots of gaps in my knowledge and questions that I was burning/desperate to explore. What does nature conservation look like in practice? What can you do to protect and improve the fortunes of individual species? How do we make progress happen? What are the challenges, the barriers and the keys to success?

Trustees meeting with Martens on the Move staff to find out more about the project.

When I applied to become a Trustee for Vincent Wildlife Trust, it was both because I felt that my existing skills and expertise would bring value to the Board of Trustees and help Lucy and the leadership team, but also because I knew that it would help me answer some of those questions, and widen my understanding of the science and on-the-ground reality of how to go about helping species recover. 

I was absolutely right – I’ve learned so much through my time with VWT... about the things I expected, like the translocation of pine martens, and the need for more contiguous, joined up habitats to support bat species. But also about things I didn’t, such as finance, investment strategies and asset classes, and organisational strategy. And in turn, this learning and experience has helped grow my skills to support my day job and my wider contribution to the environment sector. 

Pine marten ©Robert Cruickshanks

Hopefully I’ve brought plenty in return. I’ve been supporting VWT on issues such as recruitment, organisational policy setting, and communications. My experience in other sectors and working with other organisations gives me perspective that complements others on the Board, to all our advantage. 

I think that’s one of the best things about volunteering as a Trustee in this way – it benefits both the charity and the individual, and strengthens our collective capabilities in the environment sector. 

I’ve hugely enjoyed working with VWT so far. This week we’re celebrating VWT’s 50^th anniversary and I’m so honoured to have played a small part in their incredible contribution to mammal conservation over that time. I’m excited to see what more we can do together and what more I can learn before the end of my time as a Trustee. 

Georgina Holmes-Skelton, VWT Trustee

Do you want to support Vincent Wildlife Trust as part of its Board of Trustees? FInd out more about the Chair of Trustees vacancy.