Liz Bonnin Keynote Speaker

President, The Wildlife Trusts (2020–present)
National Geographic Explorer; Wayfinder Award (2024)
Honorary Doctor of Science, Royal Veterinary College (2019)

Liz Bonnin's Biography

Liz Bonnin is a biochemist and wildlife broadcaster who brings frontline conservation to prime-time. She serves as President of The Wildlife Trusts (since 2020), the first woman to hold the role, and is a National Geographic Explorer recognised with the Society’s 2024 Wayfinder Award. These positions reflect her long-standing commitment to restoring nature and engaging audiences with credible, actionable science.

Her landmark BBC film Drowning in Plastic catalysed public debate and earned both a Royal Television Society award and a Grierson win, while Blue Planet Live brought real-time ocean science to global viewers. Recent series include the seven-year BBC project Our Changing Planet (2022–2025), the Sky Nature series Arctic From Above (2023) and BBC Two’s Liz Bonnin’s Wild Caribbean (2023). Together, these programmes showcase rigorous reporting, on-location science and a talent for translating complex environmental challenges into compelling narratives.

Liz holds a BA in Biochemistry (Trinity College Dublin) and an MSc in Wild Animal Biology (RVC/ZSL), and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by the Royal Veterinary College in 2019. In 2024 she guest-hosted BBC Radio 4’s Inside Science and launched the investigative podcast Dead River, examining the Mariana dam disaster and its enduring human and ecological impact. On stage, she equips audiences with frameworks for nature-positive strategy, circularity and cross-sector collaboration—grounded in science and delivered with clarity and optimism.

Plastics, circularity and restoring ocean health

Nature recovery: science-led solutions for business and policy

Communicating climate: from data to action

Innovation in wildlife filmmaking and public engagement

Leadership for sustainability: partnership, purpose, progress

She leads nature recovery at national level as President of The Wildlife Trusts since 2020, bringing decision-makers a credible, practical lens on protecting and restoring ecosystems at scale.
She is a National Geographic Explorer and a 2024 Wayfinder Award recipient, translating frontline science and storytelling into clear guidance on what a nature-positive strategy looks like in practice.
She is a National Geographic Explorer and a 2024 Wayfinder Award recipient, translating frontline science and storytelling into clear guidance on what a nature-positive strategy looks like in practice.
She brings on-location authority from landmark series including Our Changing Planet and Arctic From Above, turning complex climate and biodiversity realities into insights leaders can act on now.
She hosts the investigative podcast Dead River on the Mariana dam disaster, showing audiences how to connect science, accountability and human impact to drive better decisions and stronger stewardship.