Sara Parkin OBE, Founder Director

Sara Parkin is a Founder Director and Trustee of Forum for the Future.  She designed its pioneering Leadership for Sustainable Development Masters, and maintains a focus on integrating ‘sustainability literacy’ into education and professional training.  She is a board member of the Natural Environment Research Council and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, and sits on the UK Research Council’s Science in Society Advisory Panel and the Higher Education Funding Council of England Sustainable Development Steering Group. She is a Trustee of the St Andrews Prize, and a Companion of the Institution of Civil Engineering and the Institute of Energy.

Formerly a Ward Sister in Edinburgh, Sara helped develop Green Parties worldwide, serving in various roles, including Chair of the UK Green Party and Co-secretary of the European Greens.  In the past she has served on the board of the Environment Agency of England and Wales (2000-2006) and as a Trustee of Friends of the Earth, New Economics Foundation, and Groundwork.

In 2001 Sara was awarded an OBE for services to education and sustainable development.

Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director

Jonathon Porritt, co-founder of Forum for the Future, is an eminent writer, broadcaster and commentator on sustainable development.  Established in 1996, Forum for the Future is now the UK’s leading sustainable development charity, with 70 staff and over 100 partner organisations, including some of the world’s leading companies.

In addition, he is co-director of The Prince of Wales's Business and Environment Programme which runs Seminars for senior executives around the world.  He is a non-executive director of Wessex Water, and of Willmott Dixon Holdings.  He is a trustee of the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, and is involved in the work of many NGOs and charities as patron, chair or special adviser.

He was formerly director of Friends of the Earth (1984-90); co-chair of the Green Party (1980-83) of which he is still a member; chairman of UNED-UK (1993-96); chairman of Sustainability South West, the South West Round Table for Sustainable Development (1999-2001); a trustee of WWF UK (1991-2005), a member of the Board of the South West Regional Development Agency (1999-2008).

He stood down as chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission in July 2009 after nine years providing high-level advice to government ministers.

His latest books are Capitalism As If The World Matters (Earthscan, revised 2007), Globalism & Regionalism (Black Dog 2008) and Living Within Our Means (Forum for the Future 2009).

Jonathon received a CBE in January 2000 for services to environmental protection.

Assistants

Jackie Van Bueren, PA to Sara Parkin

Role: Providing PA support to Sara Parkin

Background: Jackie completed an MA in Psychology at Dundee University and has since worked in a broad range of industries including finance, information studies and caring services.  She is training to be a counsellor.

Anne Paintin, Principal PA to Jonathon Porritt

Role: Responsible for supporting Jonathon Porritt in all his work – with Forum for the Future, the Sustainable Development Commission and the Business & the Environment Programme.

Background: Anne completed a BSc in Environmental Science at Plymouth, and subsequently has worked in the NGO sector, covering a spectrum of campaigning activities including the introduction of lead-free petrol and the Campaign for Freedom of Information.

Anne moved to Cheltenham in 1992 to manage Jonathon Porritt’s office, prior to the establishment of Forum for the Future.

Tel: +44 (0)1242 266 777
E-mail: a.paintin@forumforthefuture.org

Mel Trievnor, Assistant PA/Fundraising Assistant

Role: Mel has worked in Jonathon Porritt’s office since February 2005. She also works on the Future Funders Network, helping to build and maintain good relationships with existing individual donors and prospective major donors. She  organises fundraising events and another of Jonathon's courses; Reconnections. 

Background: Mel joined Forum after spending three years at the Environment Agency in the Planning dept where she dealt with the environmental aspects of local planning applications in the midlands area. Previous to that she was Manager of a Retreat Centre in France, organising the incoming events & retreats and hotel management of the centre and its staff.

Tel: +44 (0)1242 266778
E-mail: m.trievnor@forumforthefuture.org