Board of Trustees

Jane Ellis (Chair) has over 20 years experience in international development and currently serves as co‑Executive Director of the Center for Digital Resilience,  Prior to this, Jane was a Director at the UK‑based International Rescue Committee, leading humanitarian projects across multiple continents. 

Genny Early is a Green Party District Councillor and a Wychwood Flora Group coordinator. Genny co-owns the nature-based business ‘A Blackbird Sang’ as well as restoring 19 acres of local fields to species-rich meadows.

Anne Miller is a retired ecologist. She is a co-founder and steering group member of Evenlode Catchment Partnership, a Biodiversity adviser and volunteer coordinator at Southill Solar Farm, responsible for management and monitoring of 16 hectare restored limestone grassland and a member of Charlbury Land and Nature advisory group, leading nature recovery network development.

Will Dennis has a background in sustainability and is an environmental consultant and carbon accountant. Will is a co-founder of the Outdoor Learning Network and a serial trustee with multiple environmental advisory roles. 

Toby Swift has a background in practical countryside management and is a volunteer coordinator for BTCV, Wychwood Forest Trust, college lecturer and consultant on conservation. Toby trains fencing, hedge laying, drystone walling, machinery and tool use, as well as being an an active member of the local Green Party, Witney Eco Forum and Witney Food revolution.

Hannah Bourne-Taylor is a nature author, (Fledgling 2022 and Nature Needs You – The Fight To Save Our Swifts 2025) known for raising a wild bird in her hair for 84 days before successfully reintegrating him back into this family flock. In 2022, Hannah launched the national swift brick campaign to secure cavity nesting habitat for birds reliant on buildings to breed and was added to the ENDS Report Power List as one of the UK’s top 10 environmental campaigners in 2024. 

 

FBAN was founded by Louise Spicer who continues to be instrumental in the leadership of FBAN that she started when, twenty years ago, she realised that farmland birds were struggling to survive the winter due to lack of food. Her concern triggered her to galvanise local volunteers and she has nurtured a committed and growing community who help farmland birds across West Oxfordshire.