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Organisational structure

WWF-UK is a UK company limited by guarantee. We’re registered as a charity in England & Wales (no. 1081247) and in Scotland (no. SC039593). You can find us on the Charity Commission’s Register of Charities and on the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator’s register here.

Our trading subsidiary (which carries out activity such as our online shop and sponsorship) is WWF-UK (World Wide Fund for Nature) Trading Limited. It’s a limited company registered in England & Wales (no. 00892812) and all its shares are owned by the charity.  It gift aids its profits to the charity at the end of every financial year.

Read our annual report to find out about what we achieved in our latest financial year.

WWF-UK believes that good governance is fundamental to a charity’s success. It is committed to adhering to the Charity Governance Code.

The WWF network and how we are run

WWF-UK is part of the network of nearly 100 WWF offices operating around the world. Find out more about how the network operates here.

WWF-UK is governed by our Board of Trustees and managed on a day-to-day basis by our CEO and Executive Group.

Our President: HRH the former Prince of Wales

His Royal Highness the former Prince of Wales became President of WWF-UK during our 50th anniversary year, in 2011. Like us, His Royal Highness has a lifelong commitment to conservation and he champions environmental concerns. He shares our belief in the importance of safeguarding the natural world so that future generations can thrive.

“I am proud to be president of WWF. I have long admired its efforts to tackle the many threats to the world’s wildlife, rivers, forests and seas. And I have come to see how effectively it uses its expertise and international reach to challenge the causes of degradation, such as climate change and the unsustainable use of natural resources. It is important work – after all, our natural world is the most precious asset we have.”

HRH The former Prince of Wales, WWF-UK President

Meet our CEO - Tanya Steele (CBE)

Tanya Steele (CBE) leads the UK office of WWF, the world’s largest independent conservation organisation. She heads up WWF-UK at a critical time in which she is leading the delivery of an ambitious strategy to tackle the catastrophic decline in species and habitats across the world. From climate change to wildlife recovery, the food system to clean oceans – Tanya sees WWF as a critical force for influencing change.

Tanya began her career in the tech industry working in product development, marketing and communications in senior roles for Siemens and BT.

After nearly 15 years in the private sector, and inspired by a volunteering assignment with the Red Cross, Tanya brought her corporate experience to the charity sector joining Save the Children in 2004 as Executive Director of Marketing, Fundraising and Communications, and later led the organisation as interim Chief Executive.

Whilst working in international development, Tanya saw first-hand the impact the environment has on people’s daily lives, particularly in communities which are less resilient to environmental pressures. Fusing her passion for, and experience of, human development and the environment, Tanya joined WWF-UK in January 2017 as its first female Chief Executive; its sixth since 1961.

Tanya is married and has a teenage son. She lives in North London and is a trustee of the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Tanya Steele - WWF CEO

Get in touch with Tanya

If you’d like to get in touch with Tanya, one of our expert or policy specialists, or another of our generalist spokespeople, please contact the press team.

You can also follow Tanya on Twitter: @TanyaMSteele

Our Executive Group

 

  • Mike Barrett - executive director of Science & Conservation
  • Katie White & Kate Norgrove - executive director of Advocacy & Campaigns 
  • Lisa Lee - executive director of communications & media 
  • Michael Dent - executive director of supporter income & engagement 
  • Catherine McDonald - executive director operations & strategy 
  • Jane Drysdale - executive director people & culture 
River Affric and autumnal pine and birch woodland, Glen Affric, Highland, Scotland, UK

Our Advisors

As well as our trustees, we also benefit from the valuable expertise of external advisors on our Impact Goals Committee, Investments Committee and Nomination & Remuneration Committee. Our Scottish and Welsh operations also benefit from the insight of our Scottish Council and Welsh Council.