Chair Marwell Wildlife, the hands-on conservation charity, supporting nature's recovery.
Who we are
Marwell Wildlife is far more than a zoo. When John Knowles founded Marwell Zoological Park in 1972, his vision was to protect and breed endangered species. Today we are an international conservation charity, an education provider, an animal science and research organisation and a provider of land management and ecological services. Everything we do serves one mission: to conserve biodiversity, locally and internationally, through hands on conservation.
Our 140-acre modern conservation zoo is set on the historic Marwell Estate in the Hampshire countryside near Winchester, welcoming more than 500,000 visitors a year. Through our education programmes, we reach more than 40,000 children and young people, from nursery groups right through to master’s and PhD students. We believe people protect what they love, and for many children, seeing (and smelling) a rhino, zebra, tiger or any of our other 140 plus species up close is where a lifelong care for wildlife begins.
Marwell is also a heritage asset in it’s own right, with a grade one listed stately home that dates back to the 14th century and connections to the Seymour family.
Beyond Hampshire, our conservation biologists work with communities, governments and partner organisations across the UK, Africa and Asia. We are most well known for our role in international antelope conservation, playing a large part in the return of the previously extinct scimitar-horned oryx to the wild. We are now pursuing a similar effort for the critically endangered Slender-horned Gazelle. Our in-country teams work alongside communities in some of the most remote parts of northern Kenya and North Africa. We also have ongoing conservation programmes in Bhutan and a number of research projects in Central Asia.
Closer to home, we aim to restore landscapes, rewilding for nature. We have UK conservation projects including long-term breeding and re-release of sand lizards and white-clawed crayfish. Underpinning it all is an approach to animal welfare that is among the most progressive in the sector.
Abroad, we are known first and foremost as a conservation organisation, and our ambition is for people closer to home to know us in the same way. Guided by our new organisational strategy, launched in 2025, and a strengthened executive team, we are working at pace to reposition, diversify and grow, both financially and in the breadth and depth of our charitable impact.
About the role
This is a pivotal moment to join us. Our new Chair will lead the board of trustees as we build a resilient, sustainable organisation capable of growing its impact for generations to come.
You will provide strategic oversight and strong governance, ensuring the board has a clear view of our direction and the skills and behaviours to shape its future composition as we grow. You will bring fresh perspective, thoughtful challenge and genuine support, whilst building a strong relationship with our Executive.
You will also be one of our ambassadors. As we grow our fundraising and partnerships, you will support our relationships with donors, funders and partners, and champion Marwell as a leading wildlife conservation charity.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for a commercially minded Chair. What matters is that you are passionate about Marwell, whether that is a passion for wildlife, a belief in connecting people with nature or a dedication to conservation.
You will be a senior leader who has guided organisations through growth, change or transformation. You will bring commercial and financial acumen and you will understand the balance between delivering charitable impact and delivering a thriving visitor attraction, seeing how each strengthens the other.
You will bring board-level experience, the ability to lead meetings inclusively and build consensus while encouraging robust discussion — and you will bring out the best in trustees and executives alike. Above all, you will act with integrity, curiosity and warmth and share our commitment to nature, collaboration and inclusion.
We would love to hear from people who enjoy representing an organisation and building relationships.
Time commitment
We hold four board meetings a year and a strategy and planning day each September. The Chair currently sits on our Finance and Resources Committee (four meetings a year) and our HR, Remuneration and Nominations Committee (three meetings a year) and is welcome to join our Conservation, Ethics or Commercial Growth committees.
Alongside formal meetings, you will have regular contact with our chief executive and board members, alongside attending events. We anticipate a commitment of circa 2 days per month, inclusive of preparation, reading board papers and ad hoc conversations.
Marwell Wildlife welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, and we particularly encourage those whose perspectives are currently underrepresented on charity boards.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Jennifer Horan | jennifer@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07519 070 497
Marwell Wildlife is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 275433).
Welcome from our outgoing Chair
It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of Marwell Wildlife during a period of both opportunity and challenge. Throughout my time, I have been continually inspired by the passion, expertise and commitment of our Trustees, executive team, staff and volunteers, all united by a shared purpose: to conserve biodiversity and inspire people to care for the natural world.
As our next Chair, you will inherit a charity with an ambitious vision, a strong reputation and an important role to play in addressing the global biodiversity crisis.
You will work alongside an engaged Board and an exceptional executive team to shape Marwell Wildlife’s future, ensuring we continue to deliver meaningful conservation impact while providing an outstanding experience for our guests and building a resilient organisation for generations to come.
If you share our commitment to nature, collaborative leadership and effective governance, I hope you will consider this unique opportunity to help lead Marwell Wildlife into its next chapter.
Frank McCaffery
Chair, Marwell Wildlife
A note from our Chief Executive
Marwell Wildlife is an incredibly exciting organisation to be part of. I have never worked somewhere so filled with passion, innovation, commitment and knowledge. I have now been in post for over two years and feel incredibly lucky to have learnt, witnessed and experienced so much already that is benefiting nature and people together. Working daily alongside a diverse range of people, such as keepers who have worked with their animals for over 30 years, to retail and hospitality experts, to masters students who are approaching the challenges of today’s world with a scientific research based response.
From the long-term conservation projects that are working with communities in the most remote areas of northern Kenya to the awe of primary school children as they see amazing species up close , no two days are the same, and every day is filled with purpose. In leading this charity, I am proud to facilitate all of this incredible impact.
Marwell Wildlife really is unique. It is complex and it is fast paced. But that is what I personally thrive on.
Now we begin our search for a new Chair of Trustees who has the same level of drive and passion to support us as we realise our ambitions. They will be critical to how we drive forward, to grow impact, to grow in size and to harness our power to create a wonderful place for all of nature to thrive together.
Laura Read
Chief Executive, Marwell Wildlife
Image credit: Marwell Zoo
About us
Marwell was founded by John Knowles in 1972. The organisation began as Marwell Preservation Trust with more specific goals of protecting and breeding endangered species through the operation of Marwell Zoological Park set in the heart of the Hampshire countryside near Winchester.
Today, our charity is much more than owning and operating Marwell Zoo (although this is still a central part of our work) to conserve species. We are an international NGO, an education provider and animal research and science organisation and a provider of land management and ecological services.
All of our activities are in service of our mission: conserving biodiversity and other natural resources, both locally and internationally, through hands-on conservation work.
We believe that connecting people to nature is vital, and through doing so we will inspire people to protect nature, allowing it to be restored and to thrive. We also believe that the climate crisis and biodiversity crisis require curated, evidence-based but ultimately people-focused solutions.
At Marwell Zoo, we engage with over 40,000 children and young people through our conservation educational programmes, and welcome over 500,000 visitors each year to our 140-acre zoological park. In every contact we seek to encourage understanding and inspire care for the natural world. In essence, we aim to connect people with nature.
Our team of Conservation Biologists run field programmes in the UK, Africa and Asia in partnership with communities, statutory agencies and other non-governmental organisations
Learn more about us
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally a maximum of 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outline your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: Marwell Wildlife — Chair” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Jennifer Horan | jennifer@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07519 070 497
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: Wednesday 11th November 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: By Tuesday 17th November 2026
First stage interviews (virtual): Friday 27th November 2026
Second stage interviews (in person): Wednesday 2nd December 2026
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Marwell Wildlife are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Learn more about why we collect this data here.
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