Sir Neil Chalmers has presided over his last meeting as Chairman of the Board of Trustees as he steps down and retires from the NBN Trust.
The meeting took place on 21st February in London.
The usual business matters were attended to, but during the lunch break there was a special presentation to the outgoing Chairman as a thank you for his time and work in the role over the last six years.
Barry Wyatt, vice Chairman, spoke about Sir Neil's support for the NBN in his time before his appointment as Chairman, when he supported the NBN Species Dictionary whilst he was Director of the Natural History Museum. At the start of his Chairmanship, he was following in the footsteps of the Trust's original Chairman, Sir John Burnett, and was also taking over at a time when the NBN was facing some major challenges. But in Barry's words, his appointment “proved to be an inspired choice”.
In his time as Chairman, Sir Neil has ensured the “transition of the NBN from a bright idea into a practical tool that is making a real and positive contribution to a more rational approach to biodiversity, conservation and management.”
The Board of Trustees presented Sir Neil with a framed illustration of a mangabey monkey, Macaco Mangabey- M. Mangabeo Lit. Petreroja, with Sir Neil having carried out research into the behaviour of the grey-cheeked mangabey. Being a keen astronomer, he was also presented with a certificate naming a star in the constellation Gemini, Chalmers NBN.
The meeting also welcomed Sir Neil's successor, Michael Hassell, as the next Chair of the Board of Trustees.
