Programme

Nature Finance UK Conference 2025 begins with perspectives from senior representatives of the impact investment and insurance sectors on how we finance the natural environment on the basis of its status as critical infrastructure.

Keynote: Insurance as an enabler of nature-based resilience

• Rowan Douglas CBE – CEO, Climate Risk & Resilience, Howden 

Natural capital is transitioning from an allocation among specialist pension funds to a core component of all institutional portfolios. With an estimated £33 trillion of global value creation dependent on nature, understanding how to invest in this emerging investment theme has never been more important. To support this shift, Kana Earth has partnered with Aberdeen Investments, Gresham House, and Rebalance Earth to produce “Natural Capital: A Guide for Institutional Investors“. The report explores the what, why, how of natural capital investing, concluding with why right now is the optimal time to invest, and offering a practical framework for integrating natural capital into institutional portfolios.

Join Kana Earth’s leading asset managers as they unpack the guide’s key insights and discuss why natural capital is becoming a core component of resilient, long-term investment strategy.

• Andy Creak, CEO, Kana Earth (Chair)
• Robert Gardner, Co-Founder, CEO, Rebalance Earth
• Fraser Green, Head of Natural Capital Investment, Aberdeen Investments
• William Johnson, CFA Investment Director, Forestry, Gresham House
• Samriddhi Sharma, Director, Alternative Solutions, Fulcrum Asset Management, Fulcrum Alternative Solutions

BSI is piloting the overarching principles standard, the first in its nature market series aiming to support investment into UK nature projects. Join this conversation to hear directly from organisations involved and learn about the benefits of adopting the standards.  

With:

• George Sethia, Nature Investment Lead, BSI
• Sarah Brownlie, Programme Director, Wilder Carbon
• Stephen Thompson, Associate, Arup

With:

• Will McDonald, independent nature finance expert
• Bethany Thomas, Head of Sustainability, Allianz UK

Discover how the Marches Forward Partnership is unlocking a new market for environmental resilience

With:

• Richard Maryniak, Marches Forward
• Mike Adams, Environment Agency, Arcadis
• Tom Curtis, Director, 3Keel

Net zero targets are looming. Nature positive pathways are challenging. Join this session to see find out how leading organisations can manage their residual emissions through diversified portfolios of nature-based carbon credits. Hear firsthand from a front-footed buyer in the legal services sector.

With:

• Luke Baldwin, Co-founder and CEO, Nature Broking
• Paddy Linighan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Clyde&Co

Discover how land managers, buyers, investors and other sources of expertise have developed – and applied – an innovative financial model that delivers measurable returns for nature, rural community, and built infrastructure in the River Evenlode catchment in the Cotswolds of England. A selection of senior representatives of partners in the scheme will outline the very latest with this trailblazing project to unlock long-term value at catchment scale. This interactive session will allow for participants to share their own insights. There will be able to opportunities to apply the insight from this catchment to other places UK-wide.

With:

• Zoe Metcalfe, Client Director for Local and Central Government, AtkinsRéalis (Chair)
• Ryan Barrett, Programme Manager (Weather Resilience & Climate Adaptation), Network Rail
• Tim Coates, Director & Steering Group, North East Cotswold Farming Cluster
• Isabel Milligan, Head of NatCap Markets, Great Yellow

Fife is home to a wide range of initiatives that want to see a sustainable future for this part of Scotland, and for all the people who depend upon its products and services. Over the past two years, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust has led a coalition of partners including not for profit organisations, community, public bodies and private businesses to see how this region can lead in financial innovation for land, water and nature. The initiative is now incubating a new Scottish co-operative that will connect farmers and land managers, looking to implement nature-based projects, with businesses and other organisations needing to meet environmental obligations. 

With:

• Helen Avery, Director of Nature Programmes (GFI Hive), Green Finance Institute (Chair)
• Douglas Bowden-Smith, Natural Capital Project Manager, Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd
• Ed Heather-Hayes, Head of Development, Fife and Coast Countryside Trust
• Karen Laing, Director of Sustainability Transformation, St Andrews University

Restoring landscapes in the UK is about more than just carbon – it’s about delivering multiple benefits for nature and communities. Unlocking buyer and investor confidence is key to funding projects that deliver nature positive impacts with meaningful environmental and social outcomes. Hear from the multiple stakeholders who are shaping finance in nature projects – from early-stage investment and buyer confidence to landowner needs and the science driving nature positive impact.

With:

• Claire Burke, Head of Applied Science, Zulu Ecosystems
• Maarten Van Roon, Chief Commercial Officer, Zulu Ecosystems
• Alex Linklater, Journalist, Author, and Manager, Riemore Estate
• Adithya Pradeep, Partnerships Manager, Isometric
• Eoin Murray, Chief Investment Officer, Rebalance Earth

Nature projects move through a complex life cycle: from early feasibility assessment to design, implementation, and long-term monitoring. At each stage, stakeholders need reliable information, efficient processes, and clear alignment between developers, investors, and partners.

In this session, Kana Earth will explore how technology platforms and solution providers can deliver value across the project journey. We will look at how digital tools support feasibility analysis, streamline design and implementation, and enable transparent monitoring and reporting. The discussion will highlight how different technology partners integrate to serve diverse stakeholders, from land managers to institutional investors, and how this collaboration can strengthen the integrity and scalability of nature markets.

• Ashley Lloyd, COO, Kana Earth (Chair)
• Andrew Hicks, CEO, BNGx
• Sarah Bishop, Product Lead, Treeconomy
• Dave Kilbey, CEO, Coreo

The advance of nature markets and associated investment in the UK will be built on sound strategies for managing risks. Join this session to get clear on prudent and cost-effective ways to manage risks, including through the careful drafting of contracts, the provision of bonds, and judicious use of insurance solutions. Discover how risk management connects with standards and best practice in project delivery. With:

• Chloe Vernon-Shore, Partner, Michelmores (Chair)
• Ben Sharples, Partner & Head of Natural Capital, Michelmores
• Will Butler, CEO and Founder, GaiaSicura

Join experts to assess the future for voluntary carbon markets in the UK, including the role that nature-based carbon credits are likely to play.

• Craig Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer, Climate and Nature Finance, University of Edinburgh Business School (Chair)
• Gabriella Carden, Director, Head of Carbon Markets, Sales & Trading, Lloyds Corporate & Institutional
• Adrian Rimmer, Director, Sustainable Finance & Investment, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)

Sarah Mukherjee MBE will be in conversation with the Chief Executives of two of the UK’s leading national parks regarding their role in advancing financial innovation for land, water and nature.

With:

• Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO, Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP)
• Siôn McGeever, Chief Executive, South Downs National Park Authority
• Catherine Mealing-Jones, Chief Executive, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority

Guest address: Victoria Atkins MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Storytelling isn’t a nice to have, it’s an impact and engagement superpower. Join Mairead Cahill as she shares key insights from the ‘Sea, Land & City’ multimedia project to engage people and business on nature-based solutions across our shores. This interactive session includes film extracts, Q&A and an opportunity to get involved!

With:

• Mairead Cahill, Founder, Wonderoom
• Gabriella Carden, Director, Head of Carbon Markets, Sales & Trading, Lloyds Corporate & Institutional
• Danielle Mulder, Sustainability Director, Rebuilding Nature Board Member, BBC Group
• Ben Stone, Group Head of Environmental Sustainability, Kier Group

How are businesses creatively financing nature recovery in the UK and how can we substantially grow that?  

With:

• Mairead Cahill, Founder, Wonderoom (Chair)
• Gabriella Carden,  Director, Head of Carbon Markets, Sales & Trading, Lloyds Corporate & Institutional
• Danielle Mulder, Sustainability Director, Rebuilding Nature Board Member, BBC Group
• Ben Stone, Group Head of Environmental Sustainability, Kier Group
• Andy Griffiths, Global Head of Transformational Partnerships, Diageo

As the UK grapples with the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, it’s clear that nature is not a “nice to have” – it is critical national infrastructure. But how do we move from policy ambition to practical delivery and scalable investment? And how do we assure the multi-decadal viability of this significant yet degraded asset?

With :

• Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO, Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals
• Steve Elderkin, Director of Environmental Sustainability, Co-Founder Rebuilding Nature, National Highways
• Danielle Mulder, Sustainability Director, Rebuilding Nature Board Member, BBC Group
• Jonathan Nichols, Senior Associate Director – Natural Capital, Jacobs, and ISEP
• Evan Bowen-Jones, Co-Founder Rebuilding Nature, Managing Director, Wilder Carbon

From food to tourism and from ports to utilities, a wide range of sectors depend on our marine and coastal environments for the businesses they operate. Without investing in the protection and restoration of these ecosystems, there is considerable value at risk. Nature based solutions and enterprises are emerging to support economic development and resilience along our coastlines while delivering wider social and environmental outcomes. Join this session to hear about what makes a project/enterprise investible, and how these solutions are mitigating risk and delivering wider benefits.

With:

• Andreas Arvanitakis, Nature Opportunities & Development Director, Crown Estate
• Martha Pybus, Senior Associate, Finance Earth
• Chris Gorell Barnes, Founding Partner, Ocean 14 Capital

The UK is home to a rich array of nature-based projects. These projects are the foundation of rebuilding our sustainable natural infrastructure. While many are now seeking investment for actions that will deliver services to buyers, turning a project idea into a plan that can attract investment is challenging. Join this seminar to discover recent examples of nature projects that have successfully raised investment based on strong revenue plans associated with services such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity uplift.

• Laura Rumph, Senior Relationship Manager, Triodos Bank (Chair)

• Connell Grogan, Co-Founder, Nature Impact
• Gil Martin, Commercial & Nature Capital Director, RESTORE
• Aran Shaunak, Head of Business Development & Director, Avon Needs Trees

The role of local government in making nature finance work for places. Alongside our National Park Authorities, other parts of local government have a crucial role in enabling nature finance to flourish. Clare Steward, Environment Agency, will be in conversation with representatives of two Combined Authorities involved in the Local Investment in Natural Capital Programme. With:

• Clare Steward, Strategic Projects & Investment Manager, Environment Agency
• Ross Lowrie, Head of Clean Energy and Environment, North East Combined Authority
• Tristan Semple, LINC Programme Manager, West Midlands Combine Authority

Jill May, Chair of the Environmental Markets Board will be in conversation with Will McDonald, independent sustainability and nature finance advisor

Karen Williams, who leads Michelmores’ Banking and Finance team, will be in conversation with James Hurrell, Head of Investments at Rebalance Earth, about the recently-announced investment in Oyster Heaven, an enterprise that is developing oyster reefs off the Norfolk coast. They will discuss the wider takeaways from this in terms of how investments in nature are structured.

With:

• Karen Williams, Partner, Michelmores
• James Hurrell, Head of Investments, Rebalance Earth

Guest address: Claudine Blamey, Chief Sustainability Officer, Aviva

To achieve our 2030 nature targets, we need immediate action on nature finance. We also need to look ahead to the new world of financing our natural infrastructure for decades to come.

With:

• Emily Martin, Director, Head of Carbon Markets, Finance, Lloyds Corporate & Institutional (Chair)
• Craig Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer, Climate and Nature Finance, University of Edinburgh Business School
• Naomi Conway, Director of the UK Natural Capital team, Palladium
• Ben Sharples, Partner & Head of Natural Capital, Michelmores
• Ben Brinded, Head of Investment, Crown Estate