Leading conservationist takes the helm at Cambridge biodiversity initiative

Dr Michael Rands will take up the newly-created post in March after stepping down as Director and Chief Executive of BirdLife International, a network of national organisations conserving birds and their habitats in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Dr Rands’ appointment is a major step forward for CCI. As Executive Director, he will be charged with establishing an international centre for biodiversity conservation and fostering collaborations between Cambridge University and a cluster of internationally renowned conservation organisations in Cambridge.

Created in early 2007 to bring together leaders in biodiversity conservation research, education, policy and action, CCI’s founders include Cambridge University, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Fauna and Flora International, BirdLife International, Traffic International, Tropical Biology Association, RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology and IUCN.

Based at Judge Business School, Dr Rands will develop CCI’s long-term strategy and business plan, as well as nurturing collaborations with Government and business and championing its work worldwide.

Dr Rands will also deliver the University’s vision of an international Conservation Campus at North West Cambridge. On the Campus, a new University research institute will bring the expertise of academics across a range of disciplines together with a critical mass of conservation professionals, to further enhance Cambridge’s position as home to the largest cluster of conservation organisations in the world.

"I believe that the Cambridge Conservation Initiative has the potential to make an enormous contribution to global biodiversity conservation, attracting new resources for conservation, and fostering ground-breaking collaborations between the University and practising conservationists,” said Dr Rands. “We have the opportunity to create a world-class centre for biodiversity conservation in Cambridge and I relish the challenge of turning this vision into reality."

He added: "Conserving global biodiversity for future generations and the well-being of society and our planet requires innovative approaches. CCI brings together leaders in conservation research, practice, policy and learning to work in new interdisciplinary and collaborative ways."

Professor Alison Richard, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, said: “The appointment of Dr Rands is wonderful news for CCI as it seeks to make a real and lasting contribution to the biodiversity and conservation challenges we all face.

“In collaboration with the Initiative’s other partners, the University of Cambridge is very much looking forward to working with Dr Rands and his team as we look to create one of the best centres for biodiversity conservation in the world.”