New Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland Director starts work

22 March 2010

James Orr, who has been Northern Ireland Director of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust for the past 18 years, has an extensive knowledge of Northern Ireland and its environment.

James Orr said:

"I am delighted to be the new Northern Ireland Director of Friends of the Earth - the most respected, influential and broad-based green campaigning charity in the country.

"I'm really excited about working for an organisation that thinks globally and acts locally.

"I'm looking forward to building on the team's tremendous success over the past decade to help create a cleaner, safer and better future for people in Northern Ireland."

Managing Director of Friends of the Earth (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), James Whiting, said:

"We're extremely pleased that James will be joining Friends of the Earth in this crucial role.

"With his impressive track record and vast experience of the environmental challenges that Northern Ireland faces, James Orr is a tremendous asset.

"I'm sure that under his guidance Friends of the Earth will go from strength to strength."

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland is currently playing a leading role in the campaign to secure a Climate Act and Green New Deal for Northern Ireland.

Notes
1.   James has been the Northern Ireland Director of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust since 1992, serving on the senior management team of the whole organisation. He played a key role in shaping the organisation's strategic direction, increased staff in Northern Ireland from three to 25, and membership from approximately 100 to 15,000.

He has a range of skills and experience in campaigning, planning issues, legal, fundraising, communications, relationship-building, working with a broad range of volunteers, and is an experienced leader.

James has been involved in a number of planning campaigns. He played a leading role in opposing the Gocean development in Killyleagh Co Down, for 350 houses and a marina on the shores of Strangford Lough.  The development would have involved insensitive development along Strangford's shoreline, damage to important wildlife habitats and flouting of important planning policies. The development was rejected in 2004.

Along with a team of individuals and organisations, James organised the Green Living Fair, Ireland's largest environmental event, now in its eleventh year. The fair aims to empower local communities by seeking local environmental solutions to complex problems.

2. James replaces John Woods who left Friends of the Earth recently after ten years as Northern Ireland Director.

3.  Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. We campaign on a range of issues including climate change, biodiversity, waste, transport and food.