Dr Anne Powell OBE, from Cark In Cartmel, has been formally recognised for her services to nature conservation - and has been presented with The Wildlife Trusts’ Christopher Cadbury medal by President Simon King OBE.
Dr Powell, an experienced and passionate freshwater ecologist and biologist, has played a leading role in increasing public awareness of the need for nature conservation for more than 20 years.
Simon King OBE, President of The Wildlife Trusts, says: “Anne is not just passionate and knowledgeable about the natural world, but she has the fundamental characteristics of a great leader: wisdom, courage and humility.”
Upon receiving the medal, Anne said: “Thank you all. I’m grateful to The Wildlife Trusts for 25 or so years, first in Oxfordshire and then in Cumbria, which have provided great experience as well as being a lot of fun with fantastic people.”
With a particular interest in conservation and fisheries, Anne has championed strong policies to protect the natural world; playing an active part in policy formulation at a national level and driving forward the monitoring of freshwater organisms - especially invertebrates - as important indicators of water quality.
Her career began teaching biology to undergraduates in London while investigating gravel pit ecology in the Thames Valley, Essex and Kent.
Anne helped set up Pond Action and Millennium Ponds which eventually led to the Million Ponds Project.
Dr Powell’s devotion to the improvement of nature conservation in the UK is evident from the 40 years she has spent working within various agencies and organisations, including The Wildlife Trusts.
Dr Powell has held a variety of roles including trustee of the Freshwater Biological Association, WWF UK, the Thames Salmon Trust (now the Thames River Trust), council member of English Nature (now Natural England) and board member of the Environment Agency.
She has been instrumental in numerous working groups and committees, driving forward plans and ideas to give nature’s recovery a fighting chance in the future.
A trustee of The Wildlife Trusts, Anne became the first Chair of The Wildlife Trusts England in 2012, when she also joined the Countries Committee.
Dr Powell is the author of a number of popular aquatic biology books, guides and articles in scientific journals. She was involved in technology transfer and academic–industry liaison in the UK, Europe and Mexico.