An Ambleside-based organisation has appointed a new executive director.
The Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) announced today that Simon Johnson has been appointed and he will replace the retiring Bill Brierley from August 2.
Simon brings more than 26 years of catchment and fisheries management experience. His first industry job in 1995 was as a fisheries ecologist working for Dr Martin Perrow of ECON at the school of biological sciences at the University of East Anglia.
Since that time, Simon has worked with a network of organisations throughout the UK to restore and conserve freshwater habitats.
Leadership experience
Simon has extensive senior leadership experience, gained at Eden Rivers Trust, Wild Trout Trust and as Cumbria catchment director for the Environment Agency. For the last two years, he has been working in private practice developing and delivering an ambitious portfolio of riverscape restoration and natural flood management partnership projects in Cumbria.
Evan Dollar, chairman of the board at FBA said: “I am absolutely delighted that Simon has agreed to join us, and to help take our much-loved association forward. We now have our eyes firmly on our centenary in 2029, and am sure, that in the interim period, Simon will help us deliver on our charitable objects, and in so doing, positively impact the freshwater environment now, and for future generations.”
Since 1929, the FBA has been connecting scientists and stakeholders to better understand and manage freshwaters. During this time many of our ponds, lakes, rivers, and becks have faced increasing impacts from a range of threats including pollution, invasive species, habitat loss, demand for water and climate change.
“I am tremendously honoured to be joining the FBA and am looking forward to working alongside the board, staff, fellows, members and all stakeholders with an interest in conserving freshwaters,” said Simon Johnson.
“Working together, we can turn many of these threats into opportunities.
“In a spirit of friendly collaboration, the FBA will play its part by delivering knowledge-based action to drive better and faster outcomes for our precious freshwater ecosystems.”
The Freshwater Biological Association is a membership association and registered charity, dedicated to understanding and conserving freshwaters across the globe. They have long worked to protect our global freshwaters by facilitating innovative research in the field and making information about these environments easily accessible.
Their vision is to be the leading independent UK organisation for freshwater information and advice by promoting the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems and resources, using the best available science.
