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 also convene specialist Grant Panels on an ad hoc basis to assess more complex funding applications, such as those for biodiversity net gain projects.

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.

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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.

CHARLOTTE MOSS

Biodiversity and community engagement

Charlotte is Wild Oxfordshire’s Nature Recovery Lead. She has an MSc in Earth Sciences and a passion for being outdoors surrounded by nature. She moved from working in the corporate world to working in conservation in 2020. She particularly enjoys combining her interest in nature with her Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills to help understand the world around her and to share her observations with others.

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.