The Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) was created in early 2007 as a unique partnership among leaders in biodiversity conservation research, education, policy and action. Founded by the University of Cambridge and eight internationally renowned research-based conservation organisations, CCI has already achieved notable success. It has created and raised substantial funds to support an innovative Masters course in Conservation Leadership; it has established and funded a horizon-scanning programme that is identifying policy-focused conservation priorities for CCI collaboration; it has developed a proposal for a fund to support interdisciplinary, multi-partner projects, and it has initiated ambitious plans for a Cambridge ‘conservation campus’.

Our grant will support the new post of Executive Director for the Initiative.

Dr Mike Rands was appointed to this new post in early 2009. He will be responsible for bringing the Initiative to a stable footing with a portfolio of sustainable collaborative activities housed within a physical infrastructure supporting those activities. He will take strategic direction and priorities from the CCI Committee, comprising senior representatives from all CCI members, and will work closely with the Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research. The Director will nurture further CCI collaborations, champion the vision to external audiences, raise funds to carry forward the initiative, coordinate the strands of the programme and oversee the creation of the campus.