Greenpeace UK has appointed Kathryn Tomlinson as the new chair of its board of directors.
Kathryn, who is the Deputy Secretary General at Amnesty International, brings many years of director-level experience in international development and human rights to the role.
Before joining Amnesty, she held high-profile posts at International Alert, the global peace-building organisation, and Conciliation Resources, an international organisation committed to stopping violent conflict, where she was responsible for programme delivery across 15 countries, including Latin America and Africa.
Kathryn also spent six years as Asia Regional Director for the BBC Media Action, reaching more than 100 million people a year in some of the world’s poorest countries, and establishing new offices in Indonesia and Myanmar.
Her career spans bringing about change for both people and planet. Her previous role as chair was with Walworth Garden, a charity providing learning and horticultural therapy through an award-winning community garden. At BBC Media Action, she oversaw the world’s largest survey of the impact of climate change.
Commenting on her appointment, Kathryn Tomlinson said:
I’m incredibly excited to take on this role at Greenpeace UK, an organisation I’ve admired for decades. Ever since joining my parents on marches against nuclear weapons as a child, I have seen that what changes the world for the better is people taking action together. And not a day has gone by without a stark reminder of why we need Greenpeace, whether it’s fossil-fuelled heatwaves or the latest report on nature’s collapse. As campaigners face threats from government crackdowns on protest rights to intimidation lawsuits by big polluters, I’m looking forward to putting my expertise at Greenpeace UK’s service. Boards play a crucial role in providing the right structure and backing that allow a campaign group to aim high and take risks. I can’t wait to work with the great talent on this board to support Greenpeace in its vital mission.
Kathryn joins a diverse, highly-skilled board of directors encompassing many crucial areas of expertise from climate studies and humanitarian law to movement building and charity finance.
She is taking over as chair from Andrew McParland, whose eight-year term at the head of the board ended earlier this year.
Commenting on Kathryn’s appointment and the end of his tenure as chair, Andrew McParland said:
It’s been an honour and a privilege to serve on the Greenpeace UK board for 16 years, half of them as chair. During that time, I’ve witnessed some of our biggest victories alongside our moments of greatest jeopardy – and how both have added to the organisation’s incredible strength. I’m very glad to pass on the baton to someone of Kathryn’s talent and experience, and to a brilliant team of passionate and capable board members.
ENDS
Contact: Greenpeace UK news team at press.uk@greenpeace.org and on 020 7865 8255