I have a passion for enabling third-sector organisations to progress beyond pure grant funding, combining locally-led innovation with nature recovery stewardship roles.
As CEO of Thames Estuary Partnership (TEP), I lead a partnership of the key environmental agencies and NGO’s (Environment Agency, Natural England, and Port of London Authority among core partners) responsible for integrated land, estuarine and coastal biodiversity and environmental protection of the Tidal Thames.
TEP’s role is part of the Coastal Partnerships Network, where I've been enabling Coastal, Estuary and Marine Partnerships (CEMPs) to work more closely with local communities to create social enterprises – promoting innovation, nature recovery and long-term community stewardship of natural capital.
I am the Managing Director of Biodiversity Capital, a consultancy which focuses on helping social enterprises scale up nature recovery, and enabling natural capital markets. She is a member of the Nature Finance Third Sector Leaders Group, initially convened by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
I sit on the board of Directors for Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, a UK charity which supporting charities and social enterprises to develop enterprise models, helping organisations find a more secure financial footing and access loan finance, reducing reliance on grant funding. Access is supported by Better Society Capital and DCMS, and funds the School for Social Entrepreneurs. Heather is vice-chair of the Blended Finance Committee.
I am an Essex Climate Action Commissioner, and a member of the Essex Climate Action Just Transition Special Interest Group (Just Transition SIG). The Just Transition SIG assists in setting up social enterprises in Essex that focus on the environment, green skills, supporting small businesses and young people getting involved in nature through innovation, creating opportunities for the local community through local government procurement.
I was Principal Design Advisor for London’s Queen Elisabeth Olympic Park, which converted 226 hectares of industrial land to biodiverse parklands, and coordinated the cleanup of 5.5km of East London waterways, transforming hard canal edges to naturalised riverbanks. In this role, I also championed the creation of the ViewTube, a community venue providing a café, cycle hire and maker’s studios, run by a housing association and three social enterprises.
When regional development agencies were dissolved across the UK in 2010, I was part of a strategic consortium of organisations (led by DCMS) which identified services provided by the agencies which could be taken over by local community groups and charities, transitioning many into CIC’s and social enterprises.
I was previously a mentor at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School, where she helped create a sustainability themed module for MBA students to engage with clients from the East of England producing sustainable materials and research projects to market. Heather was also part of the leadership team of Cambridge University Entrepreneurs, introducing a purpose-led business and social enterprise strand.