As a first post, I thought an introduction to me, my interests and life before the RSPB might be helpful so here goes...
My passion for wildlife was stimulated in my teenage years, mainly thanks to my Mum (a biology teacher) who made me look at the world differently and being inspired by writers such as Paul Colinvaux. This early interest developed into biological research in my 20s, when I did practical conservation work in places such as the Comores and Mongolia. Today, any free time I have I spend pottering around the flatlands of East Anglia or escaping to our hut on the Northumberland coast looking for wildlife and castles with my wife and children. I studied Biological Sciences at Oxford and Conservation at UCL, and worked at Wildlife and Countryside Link before spending five years as Conservation Director at Plantlife. I joined the RSPB as Head of Government Affairs in 2004, became Head of Sustainable Development in 2006, before landing my dream job as Conservation Director in 2011.
I start my new role on Tuesday and hope you take the time to come back to find out more about the early challenges I face then. It's going to be a busy few months but no doubt I'll have lots to share with you along the way!
Martin
Thanks for the welcome everyone and for your provocative post, Sooty. I will write about the farming challenge in due course. Oh and Aberdeenshire Quine - I'll be in your neck of the woods in early summer...