I am Grants Director at Ecological Restoration Fund, a global conservation funder. My Fellowship is about exploring philanthropy's role in scaling sustainable agriculture for the benefit of nature and climate. I will learn from different overseas foundations, their funding approaches and focus areas. This may include support for developing alternative proteins or reducing livestock methane, scaling local food systems through community approaches, or supporting farmers to lead the transition to regenerative practices. I will also explore emerging funding networks and a number of pooled funds - things that are still in their infancy in the UK.

I developed a passionate interest in the food system and its impact on nature and climate while working for a number of years at Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, managing their funding programme for sustainable food and farming. I came to realise that while there is plenty of exciting work happening in the UK, it isn't progressing at the pace and scale required given the climate and nature crises. I intend to use the learning from my Fellowship to influence new funding strategies and approaches in the UK, to help scale sustainable agriculture.