People & Planet Management Committee

The Management Committee (also known just as “the MC”) is the team of people who oversee all the work that the People & Planet does and tries to keep the organisation working in the best interests of the network.

This is your portal to finding out all about the MC — who we are, what we’re currently doing, and how you can get involved. Read about how-we-work to find out more about how the MC works for, and is democratically involved, in the network. Read the Meetings Minutes And Papers for past and upcoming meetings. It’s a good idea to check here regularly, and watch out for announcements in People & Planet’s communications, to find out about which consultations we’re currently running on our work, so that you, as part of the network, can continue to be involved in how People & Planet is run.

Student Members

Fiona Ranford

Fiona got involved in People & Planet while at uni in Edinburgh, focussing particularly on campaigning against worker rights abuses. She became an intern with People & Planet on corporate power campaigns, supporting school students to demand Fairtrade in their universities as well as working on the Buy Right campaign. Now she is a student again, studying gender & globalisation part-time, and is keen to highlight the importance of gender in People & Planet’s campaigning. She is also working with others on developing opportunities for P&P alumni. fiona.ranford@peopleandplanet.org

Megan Preston

Megan graduated this year, having been a student and People & Planet secretary at the University of York. Now living in Leeds and working in community fundraising, Megan hopes to contribute to People & Planet’s fundraising efforts and make regular giving easy and accessible, through raising awareness of online partnerships we have. She also aims to encourage People & Planet groups to consider fundraising an important part of their activities, in addition to their excellent campaigns. As a representative of the student network but no longer a part of a student community herself, Megan welcomes students to get in touch with her about any issues or ideas they have, so that she can represent students’ views in meetings. megan.preston@peopleandplanet.org

Mari Jones

I am an avid member of Edinburgh People & Planet group, and a 3rd year textiles student at Edinburgh College of Art. I’ve been involved with people & planet since I started university, which has been very empowering in giving me the chance to make a difference to causes I care about. Last year I was a regional organiser for Scotland; this year as Scotland’s MC member I am keen to improve information and representation for the groups in this wide area, particularly given it’s distance from the office and national events. mari.jones@peopleandplanet.org

Devin Dunseith

Devin has just return from a year abroad in Singapore. He has been active in Edinburgh People & Planet and other campaigning groups throughout his degree. He intends to help make Scotland and the North more prominent on the People & Planet map and to improve communication throughout the network. devin.dunseith@peopleandplanet.org

Rachel McCarthy

Rachels passion to struggle for social and environmental justice has grown much stronger through her active involvement in Lancaster People & Planet. Participating in The Wave and Copenhagen made her realise that the best way to try to bring about change is through people movements. She aims to increase campaign impact by putting forward creative ideas and improving democracy. She also wants to build better links between People & Planet groups and other NGO/ campaign groups on campus. rachel.mccarthy@peopleandplanet.org

Non-Student Members

Benedict Southworth

Benedict Southworth has spent twenty years campaigning around the world on the environment, development and human rights. After working for Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Amnesty International his most recent position was as the Director of the World Development Movement. He is currently working as a freelance advisor and trainer while studying for a Masters degree at the Centre for Alternative Technology.

Joe Saxton

Joe was the Chair of the Institute of Fundraising till July 2008 and runs a market research company for not-for-profit organisations called nfpSynergy. For the last four years he has been voted the most influential person in UK fundraising. He has also been a trustee of the RSPCA and sat on the finance committee of Friends of the Earth for 6 years. He is now also working on a campaign to reduce the charges for giving by text message. joe.saxton@peopleandplanet.org

Lucy Russell

Lucy Russell has worked on national campaigns and to deliver local strategies to secure gender equality, social justice and poverty reduction. She is a member of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group and advises government on support for young parents, young people’s access to sexual health services and good quality sex and relationships education. She was a member of a P&P group at university and worked as a campaigns intern before joining the People & Planet Trust and Management Committee.

Rhiannon Horsley

Rhiannon graduated last year and is now President of Reading University Student Union. She remains an active member of Reading’s People & Planet group. In the past she has been a campaign advocate and a regional rep. Rhiannon was co-opted onto the management committee in September 2008, and will be focusing on fundraising. rhiannon.horsley@peopleandplanet.org