Earthwatch Institute
International Executive Team (IET) Biographies
Ed Wilson, President & CEO
Ed is the President and CEO of Earthwatch Institute and brings over 15 years international management experience in the non-profit sector as well as hands-on experience in conservation and research expeditions. During his five years at the helm, he has grown and expanded Earthwatch operations including new offices in China, Brazil, India and Costa Rica. Under his leadership and with support from the Boards of the Earthwatch umbrella, Ed has brought discipline and focus to Earthwatch’s research and education programs including establishment of globally integrated strategies that support urgent field research while developing strong foundations for innovative learning models in environmental issues. He is actively consulted by other conservation NGOs for his experience in managing an international non-profit through organizational change and has served on the Building Bridges Coalition organized by the Brookings Institution to foster global service. As Earthwatch’s former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Ed served as interim CEO after the retirement of Roger Bergen in 2005. He is a graduate of Kings College London, where he majored in geography, specializing in African Studies and Third World Development. After serving as an officer in the British Army, he began his career with Earthwatch in 1993. In 1998 he moved to the USA office as Vice President of Marketing and Communications. Ed is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society. He has participated on several Earthwatch research expeditions including time volunteering in Outer Mongolia, Belize, Brazil’s Pantanal and northern Kenya. Ed has lived in Pakistan, Hong Kong, and has traveled extensively in Africa. Before Earthwatch, he worked for nature reserves and eco-tourism operations in Southern and East Africa, including The Wilderness Foundation and Conservation Direct. Ed is a former UK Trustee of Rhino Ark, partnering with Kenya Wildlife Service to protect Aberdare National Park.
Nigel Winser, Executive Vice President & Head of Programmes
Nigel joined Earthwatch Institute in July 2005 as Executive Director of Earthwatch Europe and was appointed Executive Vice President & Head of Programmes of Earthwatch internationally in 2008. Nigel oversees development and execution of Earthwatch’s research, engagement and learning programs. He works with Earthwatch’s program leadership to facilitate the integration of world class field-based conservation efforts, to advance the organization’s work in 55 countries around the world and monitor Earthwatch’s programmatic effectiveness. Prior to his service with Earthwatch, he was the Deputy Director and Head of the Expeditions and Fieldwork Division at the Royal Geographical Society in London. Trained as a Life Scientist at Westminster University where he gained international field experience as an undergraduate, Nigel first joined the Royal Geographical Society as a Deputy Field Director in 1976 for the society's Gunung Mulu project in Sarawak. He helped establish the society's Expedition Advisory Centre and was then selected to develop its international field research programmes in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. For his services to fieldwork, notably in Oman, he was awarded the Patron's Gold Medal of the Society in 1988 and the Mungo Park Award of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Nigel has been on the board of several geographical and conservation bodies, including the IUCN UK committee, the UK Man and the Biosphere committee, the Mount Everest Foundation, the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow committee, Friends of Conservation (Chair) and the Field Studies Council. He is currently a trustee of the Global Canopy Programme. Nigel's principal expertise lies with interdisciplinary and international purpose-led fieldwork, community based nature conservation approaches, and corporate engagement with environmental issues. Nigel has recently been awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from Westminster University for his services to the environment and conservation.
Eve Carpenter, International Director of Engagement and Learning
With Earthwatch since 2001, Eve took on this role in 2009 and oversees the design, development and delivery of all Earthwatch’s field learning programmes. With support from her experienced team, Eve works with a range of partners to develop transformational learning programs across corporate, conservation and education audiences. Eve championed the development of a global learning strategy for Earthwatch that aims to develop environmental leaders and drive more sustainable practices. She spearheaded the development of the HSBC Climate Partnership, a field learning program that engages HSBC’s global workforce in climate issues to create real change in the business. Eve has wide ranging corporate and NGO management experience. After graduating from Oxford University in 1990, she spent seven years working for Diageo in a variety of brand marketing and sales management roles. She moved to Accenture in 1998 as a senior strategy consultant, where she worked with a number of clients on strategy development and change management programmes. She took a one year sabbatical, travelling around the world which inspired her to make the change from corporate to NGO and channel her passion for conservation into her career. She joined Earthwatch as Director of Marketing, becoming Acting COO for Earthwatch Europe in 2002 then moved into Programme Management in 2004.
Barbara Erickson, Chief Development Officer
Barbara joined Earthwatch in 2004, leading the organization’s international development and volunteer outreach efforts through a time of great expansion in the organization’s history. She leads a dedicated and innovative team committed to the organization’s revenue growth and impact, through strategic relationships with corporations, foundations, philanthropists, governments and partner organizations. Barbara actively engages the Board of Directors and Advisors in advancing the brand and mission of Earthwatch. Barbara brings over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, holding senior development posts within some of the US’s largest nationally recognized charities including the American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Clubs and one of Harvard Medical School’s leading hospitals and has worked as Vice President, Business Development for Bank of America, and its predecessor, FleetBoston Financial. Before her non-profit career, Erickson managed marketing, client relations and public affairs for a variety of private corporations. Barbara serves as a spokesperson to major organizations on behalf of Earthwatch, including the Conference Board, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the United National Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate citizenship initiative.
Dave Hillyard, International Director of Partnerships
Dave leads the teams responsible for Development and Partnerships (EMEIA) at Earthwatch Institute. He plays a key role in setting strategic direction for the organisation, particularly in respect of its engagement with the private sector. Having previously worked in the private sector (extractive industries) and subsequently in Africa in the international humanitarian and development sector for seven years, David has spent the last eight years working very closely with the business community in respect of their sustainability initiatives. Under his leadership, Earthwatch has established important and impactful multi-national corporate partnerships including unique programs with Shell, HSBC, and Rio Tinto. He has worked on a number of key business and biodiversity publications and presented at a number of international conferences, initially at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (2002). During this time he has sat on a number of advisory groups and is currently involved in building a number of international partnerships focused on business and ecosystems. He continues to play a strategic role in the development of Earthwatch, with a specific focus on how it can engage across sectors to achieve greater international collaboration and positive impact on the ground.
Gareth Price, Chief Financial Officer
Gareth joined Earthwatch in 2004 as Director of Finance and Administration, served as Chief Operating Officer of Earthwatch Europe, and became the international Chief Financial Officer in 2008 where he oversees the fiscal and operational health of the worldwide operation. Leading a team in areas of finance, information technology, legal and administration, Gareth ensures Earthwatch administration is effective and efficient. Gareth is a Chartered Accountant and qualified with Shipley Blackburn (now AGN Shipleys), a medium-sized London firm of chartered accountants. After qualifying, he joined Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, where he worked in the audit department for five years. While there, he was involved in the audit of numerous NGOs, charities, universities and colleges. He has also worked in the secondary banking sector for companies providing factoring and trade finance facilities to small to medium-sized family businesses, and acted as a financial consultant to a number of businesses in the wholesale sector. In his spare time Gareth enjoys the outdoors and time with his family.