Development
+44 (0) 1865 318***
Michael Triff
Director of Development - Extn: 836
Michael was appointed Director of Development of Earthwatch Europe in February 2007 and is responsible for new corporate partnership development; high-level individual giving; and grant fundraising from trusts and foundations, lottery, UK and European government agencies, and international institutions.
Prior to moving to the UK, Michael served as Director of Marketing, Development, and Alumni Relations for the Environmental Careers Organization (2004-06) and as Director of Marketing and Communications for The Trustees of Reservations (1997-2003), both located in Massachusetts, USA. In these roles, Michael developed and implemented new strategies for raising brand awareness and for generating increased levels of income to support growing annual operations.
Michael completed a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 and was recruited by the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago to begin a career in advertising, planning and buying media for clients Kellogg's, First Brands, and Allstate Insurance. In 1991, Michael took off a year to travel around the world, and upon returning, completed a Master of Science degree in horticulture at the University of Georgia in 1994. He then moved to London, where he provided press and public relations services under contract to the National Trust, Royal Horticultural Society, and National Gardens Scheme.
Michael is married and lives with his wife and two children in Oxfordshire. He enjoys vegetable gardening and garden design, ethnic cooking, home improvement, and ice hockey.
Peter Hall
Corporate Development Manager- Extn: 801
Peter joined the Earthwatch Development team in March 2007 and is responsible for seeking out and developing new corporate partnerships. This involves researching and screening potential new partners, designing partnership programmes, and writing proposals. He also helps to promote Earthwatch as a valuable NGO partner to the private sector. Peter joined Earthwatch in 2004 as an Expedition Recruitment Consultant. In this role, he developed an intimate knowledge of Earthwatch's portfolio of research expeditions and a passion for engaging people in science. He has been lucky enough to have volunteered on two Earthwatch projects; 'Storm Petrels over Portugal' and 'Grey Whale Migrations' in Canada.
Before Earthwatch, Peter worked as a Business Manager for a professional fundraising company based in Sydney, Australia. He oversaw substantial customer acquisition programmes for some of Australia's largest charities, including the Wilderness Society and Surf Lifesaving Australia.
Peter graduated in 2002 with a 2:1 in Management Studies and Spanish from the University of Nottingham and then went traveling around the world. He is passionate about the environment and the challenge of creating a sustainable society, and is currently working towards an MSc in Sustainable Development from Imperial College, London. When he does get some spare time, he enjoys racket sports, surfing, cycling and amateur photography.
Laura Howells
Development Officer - Extn: 815
Laura joined Earthwatch in August 2007 having just completed a BA (Hons) in Political Science from The University of Birmingham. In her role as Development Officer, she is responsible for establishing and cultivating relationships with all individuals who donate money to Earthwatch, organising private events such as the annual Oxford lecture both to recruit new and thank current supporters, and writing grant applications to charitable trusts and foundations to seek funding for our programmes.
Laura's interest in charity fundraising and event organizing seeded when she was elected as President of the university's RAG Society - Carnival. She excelled in this role and established a live music festival - the first of its kind at Birmingham University - to raise funds for the SE Asian Tsunami Appeal in 2005. The festival has since grown and is now in its fourth year, raising over £20,000 for various charitable appeals.
In her spare time, Laura enjoys salsa dancing, yoga, cycling, horseriding, listening to live music and playing the alto saxophone. She is also passionate about travel and has backpacked though Kenya, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile, Cuba, Eastern Europe and the UK.