Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Mat Carter as our new Chief Executive Officer, starting in post at the end of August.

Mat joins us from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust where he was Director of Operations responsible for WWT’s 10 nature-based visitor sites and nature reserves across the UK, together with a team of 340 staff and 900 volunteers, and was part of the WWT Management Board.

Before that, Mat was Assistant Head of Operations for the National Trust (Wales) and has also held a variety of senior management positions in Natural England and other statutory agencies.

As well as his extensive background in conservation, Mat brings to the Trust a wealth of experience in managing and growing membership organisations. including the delivery of major initiatives in supporter development, public engagement and education. He has significant experience in commercial and financial management, and in building partnerships with a variety of stakeholders.

Mat Carter said:

“I’m hugely excited and very proud to be joining Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. I have always had a passion for wildlife and the environment and joining an organisation delivering this and engaging people with the natural world is a great privilege.

I started my career as a Conservation Officer with the National Rivers Authority reintroducing otters into the Rivers Test and Itchen. Since then I have worked with a range of environmental organisations including the Environment Agency, Natural England, the National Trust and most recently with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. For me getting outdoors and enjoying our wildlife and wild places is not only one of my favourite things, but also something I recognise as being so important for wellbeing."