Our Grant Panel
TOE’s Grant Panel is a group of experts who volunteer their time to consider each grant application made to TOE.
The Grant Panel meets four times a year to consider grant applications to the Local Environment Fund.
We may also convene specialist Grant Panels on an ad hoc basis to assess more complex funding applications.
If you have expertise in any of our funding areas (biodiversity, access and natural climate solutions), and would be interested in joining the Grant Panel, please get in touch.
RACHEL CROOKES
Biodiversity and community engagement
Rachel is Wild Oxfordshire's Nature Recovery Lead. Through her experience working in both a consultancy and local authority setting, she has worked with many different environmental groups and gained an understanding of the opportunities for nature recovery in urban and rural contexts. In her current role, she manages the charity's Community Ecology programme and leads on its partnership working.
ANDY GUNN
Biodiversity, project delivery and volunteer engagement
Before joining the National Trust’s team at their Coleshill Estate, Andy worked for the Freshwater Habitats Trust and for the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust. Over 10 years’ working in the nature conservation sector in Oxfordshire has given him a wealth of experience in the practical aspects of habitat management, engaging with local communities and motivating volunteers, even on the wettest days!
Paul is a countryside access and public rights of way specialist. He has worked for local authority access teams and volunteered in countryside management for the last 30 years, 20 of those in Oxfordshire. He currently leads on access strategy and development for the County Council, with a focus on securing mitigation measures through Section 106 funds, onsite provision and other sources, and developing access strategy including the statutory Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
PAUL HARRIS
Access
Dominic Lamb
Biodiversity and access
Dominic has worked in nature conservation since 1991, starting his career with the Cornwall and Wiltshire Wildlife Trusts, with spells in private consultancy. For over 20 years he has worked as an ecological advisor to two of the Oxfordshire Local Authorities. He has wide ranging experience of habitat management and expert knowledge of protected species. He has pioneered Biodiversity Offsetting in Oxfordshire and in his spare time runs a nature reserve in his home village.
MARTYN LANE
Biodiversity, access and project delivery
Martyn is Oxfordshire Senior Land Manager for the Berks, Bucks, Oxon Wildlife Trust and is responsible for the habitat management and public access at 25 nature reserves in the county. He also provides advice to private landowners on conservation land management. Martyn’s worked in conservation since 1995 and has applied for and received grants of varying sizes from numerous organisations over the years so understands the process well.
ANITA PROSSER
Biodiversity and volunteer engagement
Following a degree in Botany and Zoology, Anita worked in education and as a researcher for a wildlife film company and then for BTCV (now The Conservation Volunteers) for 30 years, initially setting up training schemes for the unemployed and then moving on to establish BTCV International and activities. Her career has involved working in over 32 countries and helping to establish National Conservation Volunteer organisations and volunteering activity. Anita is also TOE’s Vice-Chair of Trustees.
Toni Robinson
Low carbon and sustainability
Toni did a degree in Environmental Science and worked in countryside management for a short time before deciding on a career in waste management. Her current role at Grundon is Head of Compliance with the main focus being related to the environmental and health and safety aspects of the business. Toni has a keen interest in the local environment and in ensuring that funding makes a real difference to project delivery. Toni is also one of TOE’s Trustees.
Another of TOE’s Trustees, Nick is an Emeritus Fellow of Corpus Christi College where he spent 19 years as Director of Development, before leaving in 2020 to allow more time to work as a sculptor. He has over 25 years of professional fundraising experience and was the founding Director of The Oxfordshire Community Foundation, having spent several years working in London for national campaigning organisations. In 2020 he established the conservation group, Hinksey Trail Regeneration, which he still chairs and where he volunteers twice a week, rebuilding paths and helping to manage habitat on the southern escarpment above Oxford.
nick thorn
Volunteer engagement and access
WENDY TOBITT
Biodiversity, local food and community engagement
Wendy is a journalist and public relations consultant who has worked with BTCV (now The Conservation Volunteers), North Wessex Downs AONB and Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust. She worked on the Soil Association’s Local Food Works programme facilitating the development of local food networks. Her work in local food included providing publicity for farmers’ markets and local food producers in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and managing Wallingford Local Producers Market. Wendy was a panel member of Oxfordshire LEADER, making grants to farmers, farm shops and local food producers, hospitality businesses, environmental and community organisations.
STEVE WILKES
Biodiversity and data driven insight
Following a degree in Ecology, Steve worked with utilities companies in the UK and around the world to help them use technology and data to improve business processes, manage their networks more effectively, reducing waste and providing a better service for their customers and communities. After completing an MSc in Conservation Ecology to update his ecological knowledge and skills he joined Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) as Director, where he supports the team to use biological records and other environmental data to help people and organisations make informed decisions about managing the natural environment.