Meet the 2023 Judging Panel
Michael Murphy - Chair of Judging Panel
Senior Environmental Engineer - Heathrow
With a background in Environmental compliance and regulatory management Michael is working on the long-term asset strategy and master planning for Heathrow’s estate. Michael drives for sustainable development through his client role and technical leadership while also researching the effects of climate change on the asset base.
He is currently working with EHM Ltd to create Heathrow Nature Positive plan, while working with Cranfield university on several MSC’s and PhD projects. He has led the Biodiversity team at Heathrow for a number of years and they've been awarded the Wildlife Trust Biodiversity award for over 14 years for their habitat management, as well as the 2019 BIG Biodiversity Legacy award and Client award. The Heathrow Biodiversity team manages a land mass of 175ha around the airport with over 4000 record species.
Michael has also extensive experience of leading panel groups from being the Chair of Environmental and Sustainability grant giving panel for the Heathrow Community Trust, Chair for the Covid grant giving panel, Chair for the Airports Environmental Forum and more importantly he was the chair of last year BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards, a clear career highlight.
Dr Martina Girvan
Technical Director - Arcadis
Martina is a Technical Director of Ecology and Arboriculture with Arcadis. She has a background in terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem function and joined consultancy following a career in academia, with a short time spent in local government as the Greater Manchester BAP officer. In addition to managing a team of ecologists and the arboricultural business at Arcadis she undertakes major impact assessments for a wide range of national and international developments. She is a Chartership assessor with CIEEM (the ecology disciplines professional body) and regularly contributes to best practice guidance. The integration of biodiversity and society is a lifelong passion, she is currently developing the Arcadis natural capital approach in the UK.
Gaëlle Bardsley
UK and Ireland Biodiversity and Climate Adaptation Lead - BAM
Gaëlle is a dedicated professional with 18 years of experience in Environmental Sciences and Ecology. With a background in the design and construction industry, she has developed valuable strategic, teamwork and collaborative leadership skills working across diverse projects, including flood defences, road and rail, housing, and general civil engineering.
Passionate about Sustainability and culture change, Gaëlle has recently embarked on a new career path to align her professional interests. With a focus on continual improvement and driving sustainable solutions, she strives to bring teams together and advocates for diversity, inclusion, and fairness. Gaëlle places great importance on the well-being of both people and the environment.
Fluent in both French and English, Gaëlle brings a global perspective to her work. Through her experiences in the UK and abroad, she has made meaningful contributions to the field of environmental sciences.
Hannah Bilston
Associate Director - Nature Positive Team - WSP
Hannah is a Chartered Ecologist and has worked as a consultant for over 15 years. She is currently an Associate Director at WSP within their Nature Positive Team, focussing on Biodiversity Net Gain. Hannah has been involved with Biodiversity Net Gain since 2012 and was involved in the development of the British Standard for BNG. She works on designing biodiversity into new developments for infrastructure, energy and residential clients, providing bespoke solutions where necessary. Working cross discipline she looks at projects providing Nature Based Solutions that benefit nature and also provide health and well being benefits to people.
Jo Ferguson
Built Environment Manager - Bat Conservation Trust
Jo has worked for the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) for the last 8 years, initially as the Built Environment Officer, then Built Environment Manager from early 2019. She raises awareness of bat conservation challenges and opportunities in this sector; producing best practice guidance, chairing industry steering groups and developing a platform for training and engagement. Prior to starting at BCT she had been involved with bat conservation in a voluntary and professional capacity for over 10 years. Jo’s more recent professional experience is as an ecological consultant and licensed bat worker specialising in urban ecology; providing surveys, mitigation and enhancement advice covering a range of development projects, including residential, commercial and transport. She also has extensive experience in scientific research, working for the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology at the University of Melbourne and Earthwatch Australia. Jo is a Full Member of CIEEM, a Volunteer Bat Roost Visitor for Natural England and London Bat Group Member.
Zoe Hilditch
Environmental Sustainability Manager - Cormac
Zoe is the Environmental Sustainability Manager for Cormac and an IEMA Practitioner. Having been an active member of a central Carbon Reduction, Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (CREST), as of this year she has been chairing a Cormac CREST bringing people together to collaborate and share ideas across Cormac’s wide range of services. Working for Cormac for the last 5 years, she has worked on a number of major projects delivering biodiversity enhancements, coastal protection and natural flood management, ensuring environmental compliance and overseeing sustainable project delivery. She was part of the project delivery team involved in the Green Infrastructure For Growth (GI4G) scheme which was the Overall Winner of the BIG Biodiversity Awards in 2019 and Making Space for Nature (MSFN) which was received a Highly Commended accolade in the 2022. Additionally, she is a BREEAM Infrastructure (formerly CEEQUAL) Assessor and has been a fundamental part of achieving three Excellent ratings for Whole Team Project awards in recent years and is also a qualified Building with Nature Assessor.
Jonathon Hook
Environment & Sustainability Manager - Murphy
Jonathon is environmental professional with 10 years experience in EIA co-ordination on rail infrastructure projects. Jonathon and his team focus on delivering biodiversity net gain, carbon reduction, environmental performance, social value, and environmental compliance across a portfolio of rail renewal and enhancement projects. Jonathon is a member of IEMA, CECA and PWI environmental working groups.
Peter Johnson
Retired - Kier Group Environmental Manager
Peter is an experienced sustainability professional and chartered civil engineer with a particular passion for raising the profile of biodiversity within the construction sector. He was the chair of the CIRIA steering group that oversaw the development and launch of the first BIG Biodiversity Challenge in 2013 and has championed the initiative ever since. Peter continues to work to share his environmental and sustainability knowledge for the common good of the construction industry in his role as a monitor with the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
Richard Thomas
Group Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Director - Trustgreen
Richard is the Group ESG (environmental social governance) Director for Trustgreen – one of the country’s premier open space management companies. Viewing sustainability as a core theme that runs through every aspect of a successful organisation, he is responsible for leading and delivering sustainability and environmental social governance across the group. This includes all aspects of corporate social responsibility, environmental impact and biodiversity net gain delivery, ensuring we become key partners in the communities that we operate in.
Matt Tompsett
Head Environment and Sustainability - Kier Highways
Matt is responsible for setting the companywide steer for environmental and sustainability issues. Matt started his career working for a habitat conservation charity before moving into Highways about 15 years ago. He is a Chartered Environmentalist and an active member of several steering groups inc. the CECA Carbon Group, IEMA Climate Change Group and Chairs the Transport for London Environmental Working Group. Matt has worked with CIRIA on developing guidance on Green Infrastructure on Linear Assets.
Rosie Whicheloe
Biodiversity Net Gain Officer - London Borough of Sutton
Advocate for sharing knowledge, connecting people and breaking down barriers. Qualifications, appointments, paid and voluntary experience that cross between arts, science and communications, planning, design and management. Rosie currently works for the London Borough of Sutton as their Biodiversity Net Gain Officer, where she supports the four-strong ecology team to embed biodiversity through the planning process, habitat management, outreach and internal collaboration. Previous appointments included London Wildlife Trust where she co-produced the GLA Urban Greening for Biodiversity Net Gain - a design guide. In her spare time she loves cycling and is a volunteer/ treasurer of Manor Park Community Garden in Newham.
Tony Williams
Principal Landscape Architect - Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)
Tony is a full professional member of the Irish Landscape Institute (ILI) has been on the council of the ILI since 2005. He held the position of Hon. Secretary of ILI from 2008 to 2011 and President from 2013 to 2016. He is current Hon, Secretary. He has been the Irish delegate for the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) from 2007 to 2016 and has been on the executive council of IFLA Europe since 2011 first as Vice President Education until 2015 and on the Executive Council of IFLA World as President of IFLA Europe from 2015 to 2019. He is a member of the ICOMOS Ireland National Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes and World heritage Reflective Working Group. He is involved in a number of IFLA, ICOMOS and ILI initiatives and in particular as European Voting Member for the Climate Change Working Group and working groups on Blue Green Infrastructure (BGI) / Nature Based Solutions (NBS)