Our mission

CEO

Sharon Lashley is an environmental practitioner with over 30 years of experience helping businesses improve their green credentials. As Managing Director of Enviro UK Consultants Ltd and CEO of Climate Action North, she leads initiatives across many areas including policy development, environmental management systems, net zero and carbon reduction consultancy, and building business resilience in a changing climate.

Passionate about rewilding and conservation, she heads up the North East Rewilding Network, connecting rewilding projects, people and business across the region. This includes the “Pollinator Parks” campaign to rewild 30% of business parks by 2030 – a bold step to restore ecosystems and create thriving habitats for pollinators and other wildlife.

Sharon is also a licensed Chartered Institution of Waste Management (CIWM) trainer and delivers Waste Smart training to help businesses manage waste responsibly. Known for her unwavering commitment, Sharon actively drives corporate and regional efforts to address the climate crisis and safeguard natural ecosystems.

CONTENT AND STORYTELLING DIRECTOR

Jen specialises in writing impactful stories that engages and influences target audiences. With over 15 years of experience in climate communications, she has worked with charities, corporates, and start-ups to profits to help them tell their unique stories. She also has a Masters in PR where she examined how communications is used when changing behaviours. Jen also represents Climate Action North on the Net Zero North East England Board.

ECOLOGY AND COMMUNITY REWILDING DIRECTOR

Phil is an Ecologist, Nature Conservation and Rewilding Practitioner, Earth Educator, Forest School Leader and Bushcrafter. Phil has been dedicated to facilitating, educating, and inspiring all sorts of folk in, and with, nature for his whole career. This means he knows and advocates for experiences where people can join with nature, to provide the means to understand ourselves more deeply, while healing and supporting the regeneration of nature itself: a reciprocal benefit through engaging one’s Head, Heart and Hands.

STEM and EDUCATION ASSOCIATE

Julie is passionate about educating schools about plastics and the impact of these on the environment. With 10 years’ working in the education, engineering, climate change, and science field, Julie has in-depth expertise in collaboration and successfully bring together consultants and organisations to work for a common purpose.

CLIMATE ACTION NORTH ASSOCIATE

A vet and an educator, Nigel has developed a wealth of knowledge over the years. The natural world is his passion, and he spends as much time as possible walking and wildlife watching in the North East of England and Scotland. Nigel supports Climate Action North’s work rewilding and restoring our natural landscape and biodiversity.

CLIMATE ACTION NORTH ASSOCIATE

An artist, film-maker, and beekeeper she educates and enthuses people about bees. Barbara also makes art works and runs large-scale public engagement events about bees for Tyne and Wear Museums. Her latest work, Bees Banquet, was piloted at GNM Hancock, and followed a bee colony over the course of a year in an urban location

CLIMATE ACTION NORTH ASSOCIATE

With a career in Hydrography and project management in the offshore sector, Georgina has a deeper understanding of the marine world than most. Her passion for the Ocean has driven her to create The Sea We See, organise beach and general litter picks, introduce a Motion 4 The Ocean at Town Council level, encourage local businesses to reduce or eliminate single use plastics, and support beach education through seaside rangers.

Seeking to share her knowledge and experience, Georgina has spent much of the last four years connecting with other tendrils of conservation and rewilding, to learn more about our fragile environment, and identify ways to mobilise communities in the search for greater understanding and sustainable solutions to the problems we all face.

WELLBEING AND MINDFULNESS ASSOCIATE

Valerie became aware of the rewilding movement in 2022 when she moved to Newcastle and found Climate Action North. Having previously, instinctively rewilded her garden in Brighton, she loved observing the wildlife and plants it attracted. This interest and connection with nature was instrumental in overcoming long-term mental illness. Valerie believes deeply that we are in charge of our own wellbeing. She is enthusiastic to help people find their own way to good mental health by being in touch with ourselves and nature, being aware of the plants, creatures and ecosystems which surround us when walking in green spaces, in suburbia and at home.