We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Gareth Thomas as the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Biodiversity Network Trust, starting in October 2025.
Gareth joins the NBN Trust from the Natural History Museum (NHM), where he led the Research Innovation function and the private-sector engagement of the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII), transforming it into a flagship NHM programme with international reach, policy influence, and new funding streams.
Through this pivotal role, Gareth has shaped frameworks for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB), and advised on corporate reporting standards.
A recognised thought leader in sustainability finance and nature strategy, Gareth has spoken at Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, the World Biodiversity Forum, COP events, and Climate Weeks. His media appearances include The Guardian, ESG Investor, and documentaries. He is known for navigating politically sensitive issues, forging strategic alliances, and leading institutional transformation.
Gareth is also a Board Trustee at Chester Zoo, one of the UK’s largest conservation charities, where he provides strategic oversight on mission delivery, science leadership, and financial resilience.
Commenting on his appointment, Gareth said:
“The NBN Trust has a proud history of making biodiversity data work for nature. As we look ahead, our opportunity is to make that data even more relevant, accessible, and actionable; powering decisions that protect and restore the UK and beyond’s natural environment. This means deepening collaboration with our members and partners, growing our influence in policy and funding, and building the tools and capacity our sector needs to succeed. I’m excited to work with the Trust’s talented team and Board to take that mission forward.”
Chairperson of NBN Trust, Pete Tomlin, said:
“It’s brilliant to be welcoming Gareth to the National Biodiversity Network Trust as our new CEO. It’s an exciting time for the Trust as we continue to evolve to meet the challenges of making data work for nature and look to grow our reach and services. Gareth’s cross sector experience, innovation background and strategic vision for the Trust perfectly align with the journey the Trust is on and I know I speak for the Board when I say we are all looking forward to supporting Gareth as he takes on the role.”
Under Gareth’s leadership, the NBN Trust will continue to strengthen its role as a trusted source of biodiversity data and ensure the UK’s biodiversity evidence base supports both national priorities and global commitments. It will also look to expand its network of partners. In particular, this will mean working more closely with the private sector to help demonstrate the interdependencies between business, finance and the natural environment and to show how it can play a key role in enabling nature’s recovery, which has never been more important.
Gareth looks forward to using his breadth of experience to drive impact, partnerships, and forge innovation with the NBN Trust and, as part of this, is really keen to hear from current NBN Trust members, NBN Atlas data partners and the many stakeholders in the NBN partnership to understand the key priorities of the Network.
Gareth’s first formal NBN Trust engagement will be the NBN Conference on 20 November in Bristol, where he will share his vision for the future. We’d love it if you could join us as we move into the next, exciting phase of the NBN Trust.