Jane Wilkinson

Background

I manage our leadership for sustainable development programme (run in conjunction with Middlesex University). My other focus is on leadership and change, for example making sustainability a reality for leaders in the Further Education sector and researching the skills leaders needed to manage sustainable school building programmes. A programme designed recently for one of our partner companies, (in conjunction with British Council China), saw groups of Chinese and UK post-graduates designing solutions to climate change challenges faced by the company in China and the UK. I joined Forum in 2006 to lead our work in Higher Education/ integrating sustainability into post-16 Education.

I have been working in people/international development for the past 20 years, after a few years following graduation as a geologist. I believe that understanding behaviour change and building the capacity of leaders is a key way to influence the sustainability agenda. My background is training and includes designing experiential learning programmes for graduates and development workers, in a range of sectors. As Head of Training for VSO, I managed cross-cultural and technical training for outgoing volunteers and management training for national staff in VSO’s Africa and Asia offices. I gained fantastic insights myself into worlds where the sense of community and connectedness with other forms of life are still strong through secondments to the UN in Bosnia and VSO programmes in the Solomon Islands and Thailand. I have an MA in Geography, am a trained facilitator and member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

My dream project? To help aspiring leaders reconnect with the natural world and open their eyes to the massive potential of biomimicy and collaborative consumption. It would include an international learning element with traditional communities contributing their knowledge.

What floats your boat outside work? High level trekking seeing the sun rise over a snow-capped peak accompanied by the dawn chorus. Organic food growing in a small space and helping others get started (through the Garden Organic Master Gardener scheme). Mentoring young people on natural resources projects in developing countries through the Tropical Agricultural Association Award Fund.
http://www.taafund.org/index.html