To promote the conservation, protection and enhancement of nature
WCMC the Cambridge-based charity is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashley Highfield as Chair of its Board of Trustees, who will formally take up the role in September. In collaboration with UNEP at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the charity works to promote the conservation, protection, enhancement and support of nature and natural resources worldwide.
Ashley brings extensive leadership experience across technology, media and purpose-driven organisations, alongside a strong commitment to nature and conservation. He will work closely as Chair-elect with the current Chair and Board over the coming months before formally taking up the role in September.
Ashley began his career as a management consultant in the technology, media and telecommunications sector before joining the BBC. There, he became the youngest ever member of the Executive Board as Director of New Media & Technology. During his time at the BBC, he played a central role in the development and launch of BBC iPlayer & BBC.co.uk and was responsible for the BBC’s Technology, R&D, and Archives portfolios, helping to shape the organisation’s early digital transformation.
He subsequently served as Managing Director of Microsoft’s Consumer and Online business in the UK overseeing products including MSN, Windows, and Hotmail during a period of rapid growth in mobile and online services.
Ashley later moved to the UK’s largest regional press business as Chief Executive, where he led a significant turnaround including overseeing the acquisition and growth of the i newspaper.
Alongside his executive career, Ashley has held a number of non-executive roles. He served for seven years on the board of the British Film Institute and chaired the News Media Association following the Leveson Inquiry. Most recently, he served as Non-executive director and Chair of the Eden Project Ltd., where he gained experience of UK charity governance and helped guide the organisation through a period of operational and financial opportunities and challenges. He worked with the team to help extend the Eden model beyond Cornwall, advancing projects such as Eden Project North, and supported the repositioning of Eden as a global sustainability platform, increasing its relevance to major issues such as climate change, the economy and systems thinking.
He has also been a Non-Executive Director of British Marine (Federation) and now advises the organisation, supporting its sustainability and training agenda across the marine sector.
Ashley brings particular operational strengths, including in the use of technology, data and analytics to support organisational performance and impact, with a focus on applying artificial intelligence and geospatial technologies to environmental decision-making.
He has developed a strong and sustained focus on biodiversity and conservation through his work with the Eden Project Ltd. & British Marine, as well as through personal advisory roles and investments in sustainable business.
Mette Wilke, Chair of the WCMC Board Search Committee, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Ashley as Chair-elect. He brings a rare combination of strategic leadership, digital innovation and governance experience. At a time when the need for high-quality data, insight and partnerships for nature has never been greater, his perspective and expertise will be invaluable in helping WCMC scale its impact, and adapt to the rapidly changing technological environment.”
Ashley Highfield said:
“WCMC plays a unique and important role in bringing together science, data and policy to support better decisions for nature and people. As we tackle a global nature crisis, I’m excited to work in collaboration with UNEP to help Governments, their agencies, and businesses understand their environmental impacts and take actions to reduce them. I am particularly interested in how advances in artificial intelligence can help accelerate (but never replace) human expertise and decisions at scale, and am hugely excited to work with the Board and the incredibly talented and passionate team at WCMC.”
Ashley will take up the role of Chair following a period of transition with the current Chair, Robin Bidwell.
Information to Editors:
WCMC is a UK charity that promotes for public benefit the conservation, protection, enhancement and support of nature and natural resources worldwide. We do this by collecting, storing, processing, analysing, interpreting and sharing data that increase our knowledge and understanding of biodiversity and the conservation of nature. Good data are the foundation of informed decision-making and we work with many partners to help them develop their knowledge and capacity to make good decisions.
WCMC collaborates with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).