A NEW strategic plan for nature and a new chief executive officer has just been announced by a well-known wildlife charity.
Jo Lewis joins the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in August taking over from current chief executive, Dr Gary Mantle MBE following his 33 years in the role.
Jo worked for the Soil Association as policy and strategy director for eight years.
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She said: “I feel so privileged to be taking over the reins from Gary and joining the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, with its inspirational track record of innovation that makes a difference both to nature and to people’s lives.”
Jo comes to the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust with key achievements that match the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s new 2023-2030 environmental strategy. The strategy includes developing nature-based solutions, advancing nature-friendly, regenerative, and organic farming and promoting affordable food and sustainable behaviors.
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She led the ‘food for life’ program which aimed to provide every child with the opportunity to grow and cook food and connect with farms and founded the ‘Food for Life Served Here’ scheme which now certifies two million healthy and sustainable meals served every day in schools, hospitals, and care settings.
Jo said: “I can imagine no more important role right now than leading by example for nature’s recovery in Wiltshire, and proving how to unlock the pace and scale of change we need on the ground.”
Jo is a member of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission’s ‘Farming Leadership Group’ and of the Food Ethics Council, which she formerly chaired. Prior to joining the Soil Association, she was Convenor of Defra’s Sustainable Consumption Roundtable and Head of Policy at think tank Green Alliance.
