Dear Friends,

This is my final post as CEO of the Wilderness Foundation, as I prepare to hand over the role to James Davey towards the end of June.

After a long search, I feel deeply grateful that we have found someone who I truly believe will take the Foundation into its next chapter of impact, growth, and success. James brings the energy, skills, curiosity, and commitment needed to climb the next mountains — and I will be cheering him on every step of the way. I remain here too in a therapy lead role and always ready to support when needed.

My grandmother always used to say: “Leave a party while you are still enjoying yourself.”

My time at the Foundation has certainly been a party worth being part of — filled with inspiration, extraordinary people, and the privilege of doing work that matters and supporting nature and people to thrive. But it has also come with the late nights, the responsibility, and those moments when the weight of everything we touch rises up. That is the reality of being a CEO, particularly in the charity sector: the rewards are rarely financial, but they are deeply human and deeply felt. They come through purpose, connection, and knowing that our work can change lives for the better.

For me, this moment is less about leaving at the height of enjoyment and more about recognising when there is space for new leadership, fresh ideas, and another person ready to take the reins.

Looking back to when I first joined in 1998, when we were still the Wilderness Trust, I could never have imagined where we would be today.

We have grown, adapted, and evolved — always with the flexibility and lightness that allowed us to bring wilderness, nature, and people together in the heart of a busy island with very little true wilderness left. Translating the spirit of wilderness from our roots in Africa into a UK context was never simple. Our early supporters often had a deep connection to Africa, to our founder Dr Ian Player, and to the powerful landscapes of places like Imfolozi deep in KwaZulu-Natal.

The question became: how do we bring that same transformational connection to nature and the wild here in the British Isles?

A pivotal moment came through a wilderness journey across Knoydart, walking alongside guides, business leaders, trustees, and friends. Each day we walked; each evening we reflected on what it means for people to immerse themselves in wild places — to reconnect not only with nature, but with themselves.

I still keep my notes from that week. They remind me of something I have always believed: when we spend time in nature, we move beyond simply being observers of the world and rediscover ourselves as part of it — one species among many, connected to the wider living system of Earth.

From those foundations, we ran wilderness trails, strengthened connections with schools, and continued conversations around the spirit and importance of wild places. We had a committed community who understood the message. The challenge was always how to make it accessible to more people, to bring new voices into the conversation, and to support both people and nature more deeply here at home.

A turning point came through recognising that wilderness could also be a pathway for healing.

Inspired by work I encountered through Usiko in Cape Town — where vulnerable young people were supported through nature, community, mentorship, and learning — I began thinking about young people growing up in urban environments where nature was often absent from their lives.

This led to the creation of the TurnAround programme in 2007: a year-long journey supporting highly vulnerable young people through mentoring, nature connection, skills development, and pathways into education, employment, and training.

The results have been extraordinary. Research showed that the vast majority of participants moved forward positively, avoiding the cycles they had been caught in and building new futures.

This work has always been personal for me. I know what it means to search for belonging, resilience, and meaning. Helping others find their own connection to themselves, to each other, and to the natural world has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.

Over the years, our work has continued to grow and deepen, supported by excellent research demonstrating the profound relationship between nature connection and human wellbeing — from confidence and self-esteem to resilience, hope, and emotional health.

Today, the Wilderness Foundation has reached more than 8,000 beneficiaries. We deliver nature immersion, education, climate learning, therapeutic programmes, and support for children and adults facing emotional challenges, trauma, and exclusion. TurnAround is now proudly entering its 19th year, with an incredible community of participants and graduate leaders.

As a team, we are immensely proud of what we do, how we do it, and the impact we create.

There is so much to celebrate — and so much more to come.

I will remain with the Foundation, continuing to lead our nature-based therapy work, supporting our therapists and their development, and creating more space to advocate for nature and the precious ecosystems that are under increasing threat.

Our work has never been more important.

My deepest thanks go to every colleague, trustee, partner, supporter, and beneficiary who has walked alongside me. This organisation was never built by one person — it was built by a community of people who cared deeply and believed in something bigger.

I leave my CEO role with enormous gratitude, great pride, and complete confidence in the next chapter.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

With kindness and gratitude,

Jo