Our people

The Trustees

The charity is monitored by a board of independent Trustees that meet on a regular basis to review the progress of the charity.

The Trustees are required to ensure the charity is being run smoothly, and with clear visibility. They help shape the direction for the charity and bring a wealth of experience which ensures the Charity is well run, and maximises its long term potential.


Patron: Stephen Fry

Writer, actor, comedian, film maker, doer of good works. Once voted the most intelligent man on TV by Radio Times readers, and ranked sixth in the BBC’s Top Living Icon Award. Rector of Dundee University, with hon. doctorate (July 1995). His media career has been prolific, recently returning him to his TV role in ‘Kingdom’.

PURE is delighted to have Stephen’s support as its first Patron.


Trustee: Jed Jones

Jed volunteered to become a Trustee of PURE because, he said,

"The contributions to PURE to offset carbon emissions will be invested in internationally recognised instruments that ensure the integrity of the process."

Within the area of climate change, Jed has worked with a number of United Nations agencies and other international bodies on the development of rules, procedures and guidelines for the monitoring, verification and certification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the assessment of GHG emission reduction projects.

Jed was an active member of the UK Emissions Trading Group, including chairing a number of Working and Advisory Groups dealing with the monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions.

He is also a non-executive director of Econergy, the clean energy and carbon developer. He is currently seconded to the UK Climate Change Projects Office (CCPO). Within the CCPO Jed is the Export Advisor, responsible for assisting UK business to meet the challenges of participation in climate change projects, and for identifying target countries.


Trustee: Mike Rees

Born in 1944, Mike was one of the founder members of Benfield, Lovick & Rees and appointed to the Group board at its formation. He was previously with Glanvill Enthoven, now part of Jardine. He has been involved in the marine reinsurance business throughout his career. Mike resigned as a Director of Benfield on 31 December 1999, but continues to play an active role in the ‘London Market’ insurance world.

Climate Change has become a serious issue for ‘London Market’ insurers and this has sparked a number of important initiatives. For example, the Benfield Hazard Research Centre plays an important scientific role. Also, Lloyds of London has recently set up the 360° Risk Project to generate discussion and debate on how to manage risk in today’s environment. Mike provides a valuable link between the Trustees and the wider insurance community which feeds into such projects. This helps the charity further its knowledge of the economic issues relating to climate change, whilst other Trustee relationships address knowledge of social, political, scientific and other important aspects.


Trustee: Ed Atkinson

Ed Atkinson is a partner in Climate Corporate Advisory Services Ltd, an LLP established to raise and manage funds to invest in environmental and renewable energy businesses.

Ed began his career in the City as a Reinsurance Broker, specialising in the marine sector, in 1985. In 1996 he joined the Benfield Group, establishing a project finance team, specialising in insurance backed securitisation of funding. Here his team successfully raised and insured in excess of £300m. Ed was also closely involved in tax efficient funding for specific media projects. He joined the European Climate Exchange in January 2005 with responsibility for non mandatory trading members. In August 2006 he founded Climate Corporate Advisory Services Ltd, an LLP established to raise and manage funds to invest in environmental and renewable energy businesses. CCAS has quickly established itself as a significant player in the CHP market, establishing strategic partnerships with site owners and technology manufacturers.

Aside from this, Ed has interests in film and was an Executive Producer of Last Orders, starring Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren, as well as arranging funding for a number of other film and TV projects.

Ed has been appointed an Honorary Advisor to the Catlin Arctic Survey (www.catlinarcticsurvey.com), undertaken by the record breaking polar explorer, Pen Hadow, and whose Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.

 Trustee: Martin Blake

Martin became a Trustee in December 2009.

Dr Martin Blake has over 20 years experience in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. He is a Member of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Management and the Royal Society of Arts. For the last four years he has headed the Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Team at Royal Mail and designed and implemented an award winning Carbon Management Programme to combat climate change. Martin also set up the Social Policy Strategy for Royal Mail and is involved in other charity work, focusing on equal opportunity for socially excluded groups.