Director - Action Oak

Annabel joined the Action Oak team in June 2023. She is passionate about native species, especially oaks, and answering the question of how we can protect them from the varied threats they face to ensure their legacy for future generations.

Chair - Action Oak

Geraint Richards is the Head Forester for the Duchy of Cornwall and to His Majesty The King. Graduating in 1992 with a degree in forestry from Bangor University he worked for four years for the Forestry Commission before taking up his current role. Geraint is involved with a wide range of tree, woodland and forestry organisations and initiatives in the UK and internationally. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and its current President and is also the Chair of Action Oak. Geraint was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 2017 and in 2019 was awarded the Royal Forestry Society’s Gold Medal for distinguished services to forestry.

Deputy Chair

Lisa is Head of Plant Health Evidence & Analysis and Tree Health Policy for Defra and has over 25 years' experience in Defra the group, specialising in environmental policy, operational delivery, and building science capability. She is a founding member of Action Oak and has led national teams and complex programmes, developed pioneering strategies such as the Tree Health Resilience Strategy, and shaped cross-sector action to protect the nation’s trees and forests.  She is committed to the Action Oak mission of working together to safeguard the future of our oaks.