Sir Graham Wynne has been the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds chief executive since 1998 and under his guidance Europe’s largest wildlife conservation charity, has campaigned against climate change and worked to protect wetlands and other habitats.

A spokesman said that during Sir Graham’s time at the helm, the society has been swift to ‘engage with emerging threats, such as climate change, albatross bycatch and rainforest destruction.’

Sir Graham said: “I feel immensely honoured by this award, which I could not have achieved without the support of our million-strong membership and the drive of dedicated staff and volunteers.

“However, with the scale of the environmental challenges ahead towering over us all, there is little time to pause for thought. With many species predicted to be committed to extinction because of climate change, we must continue to rise to the challenge of giving wildlife a secure future.”

Sir Graham began his career with the RSPB in 1987 as director of nature reserves, before moving on to become director of conservation in 1990, and chief executive in 1998, he and his wife Janet live in Royston, Hertfordshire.

Luke Walsh

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