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About us

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Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland

We are part of an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We lead campaigns, provide resources and information, and drive real solutions to the environmental problems facing us all.

photo of wind turbine in sunflower field
photo of child playing with autumn leaves

We are committed to

  • a peaceful and sustainable world based on societies living in harmony with nature.
  • each generation enjoying an environment that’s getting better; a safer climate, abundant nature, healthy air, water and food.
  • a growing and diverse network of people coming together to transform our environment into one which is flourishing, sustainable, and socially just.
photo of child playing with autumn leaves
A cyclist looking at the materials on a Friends of the Earth local group stall

Friends of the Earth Limited is a not-for-profit limited company limited by guarantee (company number 1012357).

We own the Friends of the Earth trademark and grant local groups a license to campaign under our name.

Download the 2019-20 accounts
A cyclist looking at the materials on a Friends of the Earth local group stall
Plant coming out of money

Friends of the Earth's Annual Review 2019

Read more about our activities and successes in the last year.

Download the annual review
Plant coming out of money

Governance and funding

Management

We are led by a Senior Leadership Team:

Hugh Knowles and Miriam Turner, Co-Executive Directors

Kim Bowden, Director of Finance and Operations

Kathryn Holloway, Interim Director of Fundraising and Engagement

Jamie Peters, Interim Director of Campaigning Impact

Alasdair Roxburgh, Director of Communities and Networks

 

Governance

We are governed by a Board of Non-Executive Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall strategic direction and oversight of the organisation, ensuring regulatory compliance, monitoring and evaluating risks, and approval of the annual budget and audited accounts. 

For our Memorandum and Articles of Association, please see our filing history with Companies House.

 

Funding

A substantial part of the funding for our charitable campaigning comes from Friends of the Earth Charitable Trust. 

Board of Friends of the Earth

Frances Butler
Frances Butler (Chair)
Frances is Chair of Friends of the Earth Limited and the Board's Diversity Lead. She has been Chair of Liberty, Vice Chair of the British Institute of Human Rights, a human rights policy adviser and a practising lawyer. Frances has worked on community energy projects in Camden, North London and is currently doing a PhD at University College London researching the state’s responsibility to act on climate change. Frances is a member of Camden Friends of the Earth .
Frances Butler (Chair)
Frances is Chair of Friends of the Earth Limited and the Board's Diversity Lead. She has been Chair of Liberty, Vice Chair of the British Institute of Human Rights, a human rights policy adviser and a practising lawyer. Frances has worked on community energy projects in Camden, North London and is currently doing a PhD at University College London researching the state’s responsibility to act on climate change. Frances is a member of Camden Friends of the Earth .
Monye Anyadike-Danes
Monye Anyadike-Danes
Monye has nearly 40 years’ experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer and as a practising advocate. She has practiced in Northern Ireland since 1997 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2007. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, qualified as a Mediator in 2002 and is CEDR accredited. Monye is on the committee of the British and Irish Commercial Bar Association and is an active member of the Bar Council’s pro bono committee. She has extensive experience in construction, commercial, company Law and public procurement Law and also has a well-developed human rights and judicial review practice.
Monye Anyadike-Danes
Monye has nearly 40 years’ experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer and as a practising advocate. She has practiced in Northern Ireland since 1997 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2007. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, qualified as a Mediator in 2002 and is CEDR accredited. Monye is on the committee of the British and Irish Commercial Bar Association and is an active member of the Bar Council’s pro bono committee. She has extensive experience in construction, commercial, company Law and public procurement Law and also has a well-developed human rights and judicial review practice.
John Collins
John Collins
John is Finance and Sourcing Director of Pukka Herbs, whose mission is to create a world where plants play a central role in human health and wellbeing. John is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has spent the past 18 years working in the private sector across a number of disciplines and geographies. John holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from Dublin City University and can usually be found wandering the byways of Wiltshire with his wife and daughter and supporting Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon.
John Collins
John is Finance and Sourcing Director of Pukka Herbs, whose mission is to create a world where plants play a central role in human health and wellbeing. John is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has spent the past 18 years working in the private sector across a number of disciplines and geographies. John holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from Dublin City University and can usually be found wandering the byways of Wiltshire with his wife and daughter and supporting Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon.
Jeana Malhi
Jeana Malhi
Jeana is excited to be the first youth Board member for Friends of the Earth. She is motivated by climate justice and opposing the capitalistic and colonial structures responsible for climate change. She wants a variety of different youth perspectives and intergenerational knowledge to be heard during her time on the board. Jeana currently works for Community Energy England as a graduate intern and has volunteered for Sheffield Renewables, a community energy organisation, since 2014. Jeana is also a collective member of Verse Matters, an intersectional feminist arts collective who organise and provide supportive spaces for spoken word events in Sheffield.
Jeana Malhi
Jeana is excited to be the first youth Board member for Friends of the Earth. She is motivated by climate justice and opposing the capitalistic and colonial structures responsible for climate change. She wants a variety of different youth perspectives and intergenerational knowledge to be heard during her time on the board. Jeana currently works for Community Energy England as a graduate intern and has volunteered for Sheffield Renewables, a community energy organisation, since 2014. Jeana is also a collective member of Verse Matters, an intersectional feminist arts collective who organise and provide supportive spaces for spoken word events in Sheffield.
Eva Neitzert
Eva Neitzert
Eva is the Board's Safeguarding Lead. She has more than ten years' experience of working at senior management and Executive-level to further social and environmental concerns, and has campaigned on environmental issues for more than twenty years. She is currently Director of Just Economics and was previously the Deputy CEO at the Fawcett Society and Programme Head for Business, Finance and Economics at the New Economics Foundation (NEF). One of her main interests is how we can achieve a 'Just Transition', ensuring that we live within environmental limits, reduce inequalities and promote social justice.
Eva Neitzert
Eva is the Board's Safeguarding Lead. She has more than ten years' experience of working at senior management and Executive-level to further social and environmental concerns, and has campaigned on environmental issues for more than twenty years. She is currently Director of Just Economics and was previously the Deputy CEO at the Fawcett Society and Programme Head for Business, Finance and Economics at the New Economics Foundation (NEF). One of her main interests is how we can achieve a 'Just Transition', ensuring that we live within environmental limits, reduce inequalities and promote social justice.
Kay Polley
Kay Polley
Kay is the Board's Senior Independent Director and its Health & Safety Lead. She is the lead community organiser and director of TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru / Together Creating Communities) in North Wales, where she supports diverse communities to run effective campaigns and meet directly with decision makers. She is an active member of Friends of the Earth Llangollen and District.
Kay Polley
Kay is the Board's Senior Independent Director and its Health & Safety Lead. She is the lead community organiser and director of TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru / Together Creating Communities) in North Wales, where she supports diverse communities to run effective campaigns and meet directly with decision makers. She is an active member of Friends of the Earth Llangollen and District.
Afsheen Rashid
Afsheen Rashid
Afsheen is Chair of the Finance Committee. She is Repowering’s Co-founder Director and Chief Operating Officer and sits as Chair of the Brixton Energy Solar Co-operatives. She is also Chair of Community Energy England. She pioneered Lambeth Council’s Community Energy Programme and was previously a Senior Policy Advisor at Department of Energy Climate Change.
Afsheen Rashid
Afsheen is Chair of the Finance Committee. She is Repowering’s Co-founder Director and Chief Operating Officer and sits as Chair of the Brixton Energy Solar Co-operatives. She is also Chair of Community Energy England. She pioneered Lambeth Council’s Community Energy Programme and was previously a Senior Policy Advisor at Department of Energy Climate Change.
Matt Wright
Matt Wright
Matt is Vice Chair of Friends of the Earth Limited. He has a career spanning public, private and not for profit sectors, including roles as Head of Digital and Corporate Marketing at Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust; Deputy Director of Communications, Policy and Campaigns at Shelter; and Head of Marketing and Communications at The Carbon Trust. Matt currently works in marketing/communications consultancy for a range of clients, supports a range of environmental causes, and is a keen sailor and walker. He has an MBA from Cranfield and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Nottingham University.
Matt Wright
Matt is Vice Chair of Friends of the Earth Limited. He has a career spanning public, private and not for profit sectors, including roles as Head of Digital and Corporate Marketing at Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust; Deputy Director of Communications, Policy and Campaigns at Shelter; and Head of Marketing and Communications at The Carbon Trust. Matt currently works in marketing/communications consultancy for a range of clients, supports a range of environmental causes, and is a keen sailor and walker. He has an MBA from Cranfield and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Nottingham University.

Related reading

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Gender pay gap at Friends of the Earth
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At Friends of the Earth, we're striving hard to ensure the rights of all our employees are upheld. That includes monitoring the gender pay gap, taking measures to address any discrepancies and being transparent with our supporters.
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