HawkTalk Issue 89 Winter 2021

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HAWKTALK WINTER 2021 ISSUE 89

HAWKTALK WINTER 2021 ISSUE 89

The role of a Director at the Trust “I was 14 years’ old when I first visited the Hawk Conservancy Trust, in 1989 and like so many people, I instantly fell in love with the place and it quickly become a big part of my life. I was thrilled nearly three decades later to get a chance to become a Director of the Trust and, four years ago, it’s proud Chairman. To serve this wonderful charity is simply a dream come true.

New partnership with Investec We are delighted to announce that Investec, an international specialist banking and wealth management group, has chosen to partner with us on a number of projects. Investec has supported conservation initiatives since 2012 and to have them join and support our conservation work is a real boost and will allow us to undertake projects that would not have been possible otherwise at this time. One of the aims of Investec’s conservation strategy is to protect Critically Endangered species and the environments they live in, which is a natural fit with our mission – the conservation of birds of prey and their habitats.

We are very fortunate to have an experienced and talented Board of Directors and we would like you to meet them. They bring a wealth of business experience and practical knowledge to the Trust (and are blooming lovely people as well). All of us are linked by a love and passion for the Trust to succeed. Having a well-diversified Board is essential for many reasons. Certainly right at the very top of this list would be our desire to fully adhere with the governance rules set out by the Charity Commission. As a responsible charity, our aim is always to comply with both the letter, and the spirit of the law. The Directors are also the guardians of the strategic direction of the Trust, as we look to fulfil our vital mission of conserving birds of prey and their habitat, right across the globe. The Board meets six times a year with Chief Executive Penny Smout and members of the senior management team. These meetings are hugely enjoyable and stimulating, as we review

the financial position of the Trust, the day - to - day health of the organisation, look to ensure we are fulfilling our mission statement and importantly, help Penny plan for the future. You will all be aware of the huge challenges the Trust has faced over this past 18 months, as we were forced to grapple with the effects of COVID-19. As we move rapidly towards the end of 2021, we hope that the worst effects of the pandemic, may now be behind us. Many challenges still await us, however, and I am sure we can all agree that the need for us to take care of the environment is more essential than ever. We are currently looking at recruiting new Directors to join the Board. If this role is of interest and you would like to discuss it further, perhaps over a cup of coffee, please do contact me at scott@hawkconservancy.org with an expression of interest and a brief resume. I look forward to hearing from you.” Scott Jones, Chairman

Poison Response training

Nature education workshop

Meet our Board of Directors! Here we’ve shared with you a brief insight to the wonderful individuals who comprise our Board of Directors. You can find out more about them at www.hawk-conservancy.org/about/our-team/.

Investec will be supporting a number of Trust projects both in the UK and overseas. Here in the UK, the support will extend to the rehabilitation of birds treated in the National Bird of Prey Hospital™. Investec will provide support for additional tagging equipment for birds treated, rehabilitated and released from the hospital. This will help us to better understand what happens to birds we have treated, after they have been released back into the wild. This research will inform and improve our rehabilitation and release methods. The new partnership will also enable us to introduce a completely new educational project. The Trust will provide workshops for children from inner-city schools who would not usually have the opportunity to spend a day immersed in nature at the Trust. While with us, they will learn about the importance of conserving our natural world and be given a hands-on introduction to practical wildlife research and conservation. As well as providing the opportunity to inspire a passion for birds of prey and other wildlife within a new generation, it will also help improve our understanding of the wellbeing and health benefits that engaging with nature brings. Finally, Investec will be supporting our conservation efforts in Southern Africa to try to protect vultures by working closely with the Trust and Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) to provide Poison Response Kits and training to park rangers, local police and other authorities. We are excited at the prospects of this new partnership and hope it is the start of many great achievements together.

“ We are truly delighted to have embarked on this partnership with

Investec. It is an honour to be working alongside such a prestigious organisation

that has shown real leadership in sustainability and conservation.” Penny Smout, Chief Executive

This opportunity has arisen from a crossover between Scott Jones’ role as the Trust’s Chairman of the board of directors and his role as Divisional Director, Investec Wealth and Investment at Investec. As Scott became more familiar with the synergies between the Trust and Investec’s conservation activities, he recognised the opportunity for the two organisations to come together to work towards a shared goal. “ Today, I’m proud and thankful to be the Trust’s chairman. I also feel extremely privileged to work at Investec, an organisation that genuinely cares about conservation” Scott Jones, Chairman

Matthew Dryden is a doctor specialising in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and at Porton Down. Julia Hughes has retired from a career in Business Consulting in Financial Services, she is able to lend her skills of problem solving, and project and programme management. Gary Wyles is a trained engineer who has worked in sales and general management during his career in the field of manufacturing and automation. Gary has always had a passion for people development, business strategy and organisational development and, in 2017, setup his own company to focus on this aspect of his work.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Scott Jones is a Divisional Director of Investec Wealth and Investment, and splits his time between London and his home office of Bournemouth. Richard O’Hagan has been a lawyer since September 1990. He deals with all forms of dispute prevention and resolution work, including family, employment and business matters. He also sits on the boards of local small businesses and sports associations. Adam Johnson is a partner in Arundel Advisers, a strategic advisory firm, helping boards and senior management teams in retail, manufacturing and transport with a range of business issues.