- United Kingdom
Gareth Thomas Keynote Speaker
- Chief Executive of the National Biodiversity Network Trust
- Trustee, Chester Zoo; TNFD & IAPB contributor
- Worked with Bloomberg, MSCI, MunichRE
Gareth Thomas's Biography
Dr Gareth Thomas MRSB is a scientist and senior leader working at the intersection of nature, business, and global policy. He is the Chief Executive of the National Biodiversity Network Trust, and previously led on biodiversity data and innovation at the Natural History Museum in London. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Chester Zoo and contributes to global expert groups including the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and international corporate reporting standards bodies.
Gareth’s expertise lies in translating complex science into decision-ready insights for business, government, and finance. He has worked with partners including Bloomberg, MSCI, MunichRE, and global standard-setters to embed biodiversity into financial, corporate, and policy decision-making. His leadership spans governance, strategy, and innovation, with a focus on aligning evidence, policy, and capital to deliver systemic change.
An experienced speaker and moderator, Gareth has delivered keynotes, chaired panels, and sat on roundtables at the Bloomberg Sustainable Finance Forum, UBS Nature Finance Summit, World Biodiversity Forum, Goldman Sachs Sustainability Forum, Nature Finance Forum, Nature Tech Summit, TED Countdown, and is a regular feature across New York and London Climates Weeks and the global Climate and Biodiversity COPs. His talks focus on the big strategic questions: how to finance global biodiversity targets, how to treat nature as a strategic asset, and how to bridge the worlds of science, policy, and capital.
Known for his clarity and practical framing, Gareth helps leaders cut through complexity to see nature not as a side issue but as the operating system of the economy.
Gareth Thomas's Speaking Topics
-
Nature as a Strategic Asset
Nature isn’t a cost to manage but the foundation of economic stability and growth. Gareth shows how biodiversity underpins markets and supply chains, and why treating ecosystems as assets is central to risk management, resilience, and long-term business value.
-
From Data to Decisions
How do you measure nature in a way that leaders can act on? Gareth explores the science and systems behind biodiversity and nature metrics, showing how data can be turned into decision-ready insights for business, finance, and policy navigating nature risk.
-
Financing the Global Biodiversity Framework
The world has committed to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. But who pays, and how? Gareth explores the financing challenge of the Global Biodiversity Framework, from sovereign policy to corporate balance sheets, and the opportunities for investors and innovators.
-
Nature‑Positive Leadership
“Nature positive” has become the new net zero. But what does credible leadership look like? Gareth offers leaders practical ways to move beyond rhetoric, anchoring strategy in measurable outcomes and building trust with stakeholders through clarity, evidence, and action.
-
Bridging Science, Policy, and Capital Systems
Complex challenges can’t be solved in silos. Drawing on his experience across research, policy, and the private-sector, Gareth shows how to align science, policy, and capital; building the coalitions needed to drive system-level change for people, planet, and markets.
-
Climate and Biodiversity: The Missing Link
Climate and biodiversity are often treated separately, yet they are deeply interconnected. Gareth explains why solving one crisis without the other risks failure, and how integrated strategies can unlock resilience, investment, and lasting impact.
-
Innovation in Nature Data
From remote sensing to AI, new technologies are transforming how we monitor ecosystems. Gareth separates hype from reality, showing where innovation delivers real value; and where the limits still demand judgement, governance, and ground truth.
Why Book Gareth Thomas as a speaker?
-
He brings deep authority on global energy security as a senior fellow at Brookings and former director of its Energy Security Initiative, helping leaders understand how geopolitics moves energy markets.
-
He brings rare authority at the nexus of science, finance and global policy, shaped by his leadership of the National Biodiversity Network Trust and his work driving biodiversity innovation at the Natural History Museum.
-
He translates complex biodiversity science and data into decision-ready insight that helps boards, investors and executives treat nature as a strategic asset rather than a reporting add-on.
-
He connects governance and real-world delivery through roles spanning Chester Zoo trusteeship and contributions to TNFD and global expert groups shaping biodiversity credits and corporate reporting.
-
His keynotes and moderation equip leaders to finance biodiversity targets, align evidence with strategy and communicate confidently across science, policy and capital.
Videos of Gareth Thomas
Check Gareth Thomas's speaking fees and availability
Discover other speakers
