Trustees

Barry Murrer
Chair
Dr Barry Murrer is a distinguished industrial scientist having recently completed a 35-year career at the FTSE-100 company Johnson Matthey in the UK. During this period, he led the development and commercialisation of a range of technologies across the company’s portfolio, including novel catalysts, nanomaterials, sorbents and FDA-approved platinum-based drugs.
Dr Murrer joined the TSL Board of Trustees in September 2017.

James Close
James has spent his career working at the interface of the public and private sectors. He is now committed to working on some of the most challenging global issues focusing on sustainable development and climate change. He is currently Head of Climate Change at the NatWest Group, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Blockchain Climate Institute, a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Advisory Group for the ICAEW, and strategy advisor to the Global Center on Adaptation.
Before returning to the UK, James spent 5 years in Washington, D.C. as the Director for Climate Change at the World Bank. Prior to joining the World Bank, he was a partner at the accounting firm, EY, and also worked for HM Treasury. James has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Durham and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. He is a keen cyclist and enjoys classical music. He has prior experience as a non-executive director of the Whitehall and Industry Group and as a governor of St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College.

Christopher Felton
Chris Felton is a partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, based in Newbury, Berkshire. Chris, who is married and a father of two, is a keen marathon runner, having participated in New York, Paris and twice in London.

Travis Heneveld
Travis Heneveld has extensive experience managing customer relationships with the entire family of UN organisations, having led for 13 years Motorola Solutions’ business relationship with peacekeeping, emergency response and development agencies. Prior to joining Motorola in 2003, Travis engaged for several years as a Strategy Consultant driving global product and marketing initiatives for Fortune 100 consumer goods companies such as Levi’s, United Airlines, IKEA and Ericsson.
A global citizen with living experiences in France, the United States, Kenya, Switzerland and Indonesia, Travis is currently based in Berlin, Germany. He is a regular Guest Lecturer in Cross-cultural Management and is a Board Member for the International Center for Mistreated and Exploited Children (ICMEC). Travis has a BA from Pomona College and holds an International MBA from the University of South Carolina.

Suzanne Jackson
Suzanne has over 30 years experience in HR at International and UK media organisations. Her most recent role as Executive Vice President, HR for ViacomCBS meant Suzanne led a talented HR team across 30 countries, while playing a key role in organisational design, talent and leadership development. Recognising the importance of different cultures globally, her particular focus was on championing diversity and inclusion. This included serving as the Executive Champion for Emerge, the organisation’s LGBT+ employee affinity group. Suzanne has also trained with the RHS as a gardener and has a passion for sustainability. Together with her partner she is currently focussed on restoring and extending an area of old woodland near Newbury.

Marie-Pierre Lloyd
Marie-Pierre Lloyd was recently appointed Secretary of State for Health in the Seychelles government. Previously she served as High Commissioner to the UK. She entered Seychelles’ public service in 1976, the year of Seychelles’ Independence. From her first post as Social Development Officer in the Ministry of Education and Social Development (1976-78), she moved into other senior policy-making positions and in 2006 she became the Minister for Employment and Social Affairs. A year later she was appointed Minister for Health and Social Development and in 2010, became the first Seychelles’ Roving Ambassador for Women and Children’s Issues, during which time she opened a drop-in centre for women and others who wanted a “second chance”. She is a strong advocate for inclusive and participatory governance and for education as a critical driver for sustainable development.

Jonathan Poole
Jonathan is a locally based Chartered Building Surveyor with over 24 years experience in the UK construction industry, working in various roles and levels but mostly as a Project Manager. Starting his career in a multi-disciplinary consultancy in Exeter in 1994, he then moved to Bournemouth Borough Council for a year, both roles as a Building Surveyor. Jonathan then spent 18 years as a Project Manager in Ridge, a multi-disciplinary consultancy undertaking a wide variety of projects including new build residential developments, regeneration schemes, retail, office and telecoms fit-outs, move management and new builds. Jonathan then became Operations Director for a residential developer in Bath and later for Mace Developments in London. Experienced in a wide variety of procurement and contract approaches. Academically, Jonathan has a BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying, a Diploma in Construction and an MSc in Construction Project Management.
Jonathan enjoys cooking, cycling, the occasional trialthlon (albeit only the short ones!), travel, film, live music and reading. He started Bucklebury Wolves free children’s football club 12 years ago, growing from 10 players aged 5 up to 120 players aged between 5 -15 and was proud to carry the Olympic torch as recognition of this in 2012. Jonathan has done charity work for Bucklebury Parish Council – assisting with a hall extension and fire insurance valuations – and is pleased to be working with TSL during this exciting period of the charity’s evolution.

Penny Tomlinson
Penny has been a resident of Hampstead Norreys for over 25 years and has been a frequent visitor to the Living Rainforest during that time, particularly when her children were small. She has now retired after a long career in the energy industry where she held a number of positions including in environmental planning and reporting, policy and strategy. Penny has been a volunteer at the Living Rainforest since July 2018 and has been helping with fundraising. She joined the Board of Trustees in September 2020.
Staff

Karl Hansen
Executive Director
Karl grew up in Canada, Saint Lucia and Costa Rica. After a degree at the University of Toronto, he worked as an environmental journalist and travelled to rainforests around the world. As a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, he earned graduate degrees in forestry, anthropology and resource economics. He has worked in many roles including as a writer, editor, programme leader, adviser, trustee and partner with organisations including the International Institute for Sustainable Development, World Commission on Forests & Sustainable Development, Oxford Centre for Tropical Forests, Eco-Attractions Group and numerous governments, media organisations and UN agencies. He speaks English, Spanish, French and Estonian and believes in the power of education to help transform societies and build a more sustainable future.
William Aitken
Head of Maintenance
Mike Bradley
Interim Animal Keeper
Peter Clark
Chief Horticulturist
Henry Cripps
Front of House Supervisor
Robyn Daniels
Human Resources Manager
Charlotte May-Miller
Assistant Horticulturist
Ellie Pinches
Animal Keeper
Morag Randall
Front of House Assistant
Paula Rhoads
Senior Finance and Admin Officer
Alison Robinson
Front of House Manager
Claire Salter
Senior Animal Keeper

Kirsty Shakespeare
International ESD Manager
Kirsty has over 10 years’ experience developing and delivering sustainability and environmental education in the UK and internationally, including in 4 years living in Thailand working for Traidhos Barge Program, as well as delivering education events in South Africa, America, Dubai and Seychelles. With a BSc in Zoology from Anglia Ruskin University and an MSc in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation from Imperial College London, she specialises in tropical environments and creating holistic experiential programs, enabling students and teachers to engage with and explore sustainability, ranging from local issues to global challenges.
She was recognised with an Alumni of the Year ‘Service to Society Award’ in 2018 by Anglia Ruskin University, as since graduating, Kirsty’s work has allowed her to engage more than half a million people around the world. Kirsty hopes to share her passion for the environment and sustainability with others and continue to develop engaging and inspiring educational experiences for students and teachers that encourage and empower all generations to work together towards a more sustainable future.
Outside of work, Kirsty is a keen scuba diver and dancer!
Rupert West
Strategic Operations and Innovations Manager
Kate Whiscombe
Assistant Horticulturist
Sarah Wooden
Management Accountant