IEEP UK is pleased to announce Ben Reynolds as its new Executive Director, with effect from 23 October 2023. Ben joins IEEP from a successful career in the UK NGO sector, where he recently served as Acting/Deputy Chief Executive Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming, and was a member of the senior leadership team for over 15 years.

Ben succeeds Kaley Hart as Executive Director, who now rejoins IEEP AISBL as Associate Director of Research. The Board thanks Kaley for her stewardship of IEEP UK as the 40-year old organisation completed its successful restructuring following Brexit.

Ben brings an outstanding track record of delivery to IEEP UK in this new phase of our work. His experience across the food & health sectors, from local to national policy initiatives will enhance IEEP’s existing focus on agricultural reform and land use to meet the climate and nature emergencies. Ben’s notable successes at Sustain include setting up the Children’s Health Fund and piloting the sugary drinks tax with celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver; to founding the Sustainable Food Places network, and coordinating Sustain’s win as charity campaigner of the year.

Ben Reynolds said: “I am honoured to be taking up this position in an organisation with such a rich history. The Institute is revered for its rigour and impartial evidence, which in a world where debate on the environment has become ever more polarised, makes it almost as unique as it is necessary.  The growing appetite across the UK to rebuild links with the rest of Europe, and to work together to drive consistently higher standards through robust and fair environmental policy, will mark this new chapter in the Institute’s story. I am eager to work with anyone who wants to join us in writing it.”  

Malini Mehra, Chair, IEEP UK Board of Trustees, said: “After a highly competitive search across the UK’s four nations, we are delighted to appoint Ben as the new Executive Director of IEEP UK and welcome him to the wider IEEP family across Europe. As IEEP renew our work in the UK with an ambitious new strategy and focus on environmental governance, divergence, and devolution, we draw on our unique expertise on UK-European environmental policy, insights from our European sister organisation, and national and pan-European networks. In Ben, we could not have found a better person to lead this new phase of work in the UK and secure greater impact for our shared environment and communities.”

To support Ben, IEEP UK has published its new strategy along with his appointment. Read our strategy for 2023-2027.