Matthew Spencer to Step Down as Green Alliance Director

Charity and independent think-tank Green Alliance has announced its Director of six years will step down later this year. It’s been announced that Matthew Spencer will move on to Director of Campaigns, Influencing and Policy at Oxfam later in September. The Green Alliance Board, led by Dame Fiona Reynolds, will begin a public recruitment process within the next two weeks.

Under Matthew’s leadership Green Alliance has grown its reputation for thought leadership and political influence, and extended its network of partners in business and civil society. Recent successes have included:

– Work with NGO partners to broker a landmark climate pledge by UK political leaders in the run up to the 2015 general election. This led to the government announcing the phase out of unabated coal power by 2025.

– Development of a new framework, now adopted by the government, to support the offshore wind industry. This directly resulted in energy company DONG committing a further £6 billion to UK offshore wind investment.

– Establishment of a major new natural environment programme, supported by the National Trust, Nestlé and the John Ellerman Foundation, exploring new ways to support sustainable land management.

– Publicising the significant job benefits of a more resource efficient economy in the UK and Europe. This has included building a new pan-European alliance between British, German and Dutch think tanks and businesses supporting circular economy growth in the UK.

Fiona Reynolds, Chair of Green Alliance, said: “Matthew has done a brilliant job at Green Alliance and we all wish him well for the future. We’ll soon be looking for a new leader to help us realise the potential for a better, greener future.”

Matthew Spencer said: “It has been a thrill leading Green Alliance and working with so many committed and clever people, both inside and outside the organisation. It’s not an easy time for the environment sector but, against the odds, we are still making progress because of the energy, ideas and collaboration of the organisations and businesses we work with.   I have no doubt that competition for the privilege of leading Green Alliance will be intense.”