Meet the team

Helen Batt

Rivers Nature North Investable Proposition Operational Lead

Helen is the Nature North Business Manager, leading on the Rivers Nature North Investable Proposition for the Environment Agency. In her previous roles at the EA, she led on the South Yorkshire catchment approach to flood risk management, the Adaptation Pathways pilot for Yorkshire, the production of the Calderdale Flood Action Plan and delivery of the flood defence programme for Calderdale, including NFM and Mytholmroyd FAS. Helen joined the Agency just prior to the Boxing Day floods 2015 from a background of environmental social enterprise and voluntary organisations. She was a founder and the Chief Executive of the River Stewardship Company, worked as a Fund Manager for Groundwork Sheffield, and started her environmental career as a project officer for a small environmental charity in Sheffield. Contact: Helen.Batt@environment-agency.gov.uk

Tom Burditt

Green Northern Connections Investable Propositions Operational Lead and Partnership Board Member

Tom is the Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and represents the 8 Northern Wildlife Trusts on the Nature North Board. He has previously worked his way up from practical land management roles within Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and National Trust, including stints as Reserve Officer, Lead Ranger and General Manager. Tom is also a founder-director of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund, a Trustee of the grant-giving Halpin Trust and Chair of Morecambe Bay Partnership, where he lives. In his spare time Tom is a huge music fan, playing bass trombone with Burneside brass band, as well as playing guitar and singing. He has a passion for trying to bring more of the Arts into nature recovery, and vice versa. Contact: tburditt@lancswt.org.uk

Laura McIntyre-Brown

Urban Nature North Investable Proposition Operational Lead

Laura is an External Affairs Consultant seconded to lead on the Urban Nature North Investable Proposition for the National Trust. She is also Project Manager for an urban green corridor in the North East, working in partnership to unlock the green space on the doorstep of Durham City for both people and nature. Before she joined the National Trust she worked in value for money audit, focusing on major public projects and programmes across the transport, energy and environmental sector. Prior to this, Laura led research and analysis around corporate sustainability, global climate policy and renewable energy investment markets. Contact: laura.mcintyrebrown@nationaltrust.org.uk

Stefan Ivanovic

Northern Coasts and Estuaries Investable Proposition Operational Lead

Stefan is the Nature North Senior Project Manager, leading on the Northern Coasts & Estuaries investible proposition for the RSPB. He previously held a role in the RSPB England Project Management Team, leading and supporting a variety of projects across northern England. Prior to this, Stefan worked for the Rivers Trust as Catchment Technical Specialist, alongside a cross-organisational team, identifying catchment schemes and nature-based solutions for Northumbrian Water’s Environment Programme. Before joining the environmental sector, Stefan was employed in natural resources as an exploration geologist, and in construction & development as a construction project manager. Contact: Stefan.Ivanovic@rspb.org.uk

Rebecca Taylor

Resilient Northern Farming Investable Proposition Operational Lead

Contact: Rebecca.Taylor@naturalengland.org.uk

Great North Bog

Great North Bog Investable Proposition Operational Lead

Contact: info@greatnorthbog.org.uk

Northern Forest

Northern Forest Investable Proposition Lead

Contact: northernforest@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Core Team Members

Dr Colm Bowe

Steph Hepworth

Emily Diamand

Lindsey Holding

Investable Proposition Operational Leads Team