Alastair Driver

Prof Alastair Driver is one of the UK’s best known conservationists and is cited in “Who’s Who” for influence and distinction in the field of environmental conservation.

In 2022 and 2023 he was included in the ENDS Power List of the top 100 UK environmental professionals who have made the greatest impact in the UK over the previous two years. Alastair was also the recipient of the world’s largest environmental award – the International Riverprize – on behalf of the Thames, in 2010. He is one of the country’s leading proponents of re-wilding and is an expert naturalist and ecologist with 45 years’ professional experience and many hundreds of river and wetland conservation projects under his belt. He became the first Conservation Officer for the Thames catchment in 1984 and went on to become the National Head of Conservation for the Environment Agency for England and Wales from 2002 – 2016.

Since 2016, he has been the Director of Rewilding Britain and plays a key role in
influencing government environmental policy at the highest level and establishing re-wilding projects in England and Wales. Alastair also holds several pro bono roles, including Hon Prof at Univ of Exeter, Specialist Advisor for the National Trust and Ambassador for the International
River Foundation.