We are incredibly pleased to announce that Paul Harrison has formally assumed the position of Chair of the Board. Paul succeeds our co-founder, Dr. Mark Johnston, who has officially stepped down from the role.
Paul, UKBBF co-founder, brings over 25 years’ experience at the intersection of international biodiversity policy, conservation finance, and nature-positive enterprise. A conservation strategist with a career spanning 37 countries, he has mobilised more than US$500 million in conservation finance and previously held a senior global role at the United Nations.
He takes the lead at a defining moment for corporate nature action. With the upcoming UN CBD COP17 this October and critical 2030 global milestones fast approaching, his leadership will ensure our members are equipped to turn nature-related risk into strategic, nature-positive business resilience.
Paul says: “I am incredibly honoured to formally step into the role of Chair. Mark has built a phenomenal foundation growing our membership to more than 80 organisations over the last four years, while shaping the Forum into an influential leading voice on corporate nature strategy.
“We are in a period of real flux: regulatory uncertainty, a widening finance gap, and uneven progress on the Global Biodiversity Framework. But in that uncertainty lies opportunity, and the businesses engaging now will be the ones best positioned when the landscape settles.
“My focus is to continue to deliver our long-term mission, maximise value for our growing membership, and ensure that UK businesses have the investment and tools they need to meet critical 2030 biodiversity targets.
Connect with Paul
- On LinkedIn
- By email at paulharrison@business-biodiversity.co.uk
A tribute to Mark’s leadership
As co-founder and inaugural Chair, Mark has led the UKBBF from inception. An ecologist with over 30 years of industry and academic experience, Mark successfully guided us from our roots in 2020 to our current position as the UK’s leading membership forum on corporate nature strategy.
Because of Mark’s dedication, the UKBBF stands today as a vital bridge between scientific evidence and public-private policy, both nationally and internationally. While he has stepped down as Chair, Mark will continue to play a key role within the Forum.
Meet us at London Climate Action Week
London Climate Action Week provides the perfect immediate opportunity to connect with us.
Paul and some of our board directors and team will be attending and participating in several key nature-finance and corporate resilience panels across the city. We would love to meet you in person to discuss how we can better support your organisation’s biodiversity strategy under our next chapter of growth.
If you want to arrange a direct catch-up with Paul and our directors, please contact us.