Meet the Trustees: Danny Harvey

Tell us a bit about yourself

I've spent my career working in international development and humanitarian aid and spent around 20 years living in Africa and South East Asia. I am now the Technical Director for the same charity. Amongst my many experiences are securing sustainable livelihoods for women, supporting communities to access, protect and manage their natural resources and promoting climate smart agriculture. Principles of equality and inclusion have always been central to my work.

I've always loved wildlife and have had lots of good encounters, including having Pythons living in my roof in Cambodia, Hornbills clacking outside my bedroom window in Uganda and an Elephant shake my car because he could smell the oranges in it (I wasn't inside at the time). 

It doesn't have to be exotic animals though and now I am back, I get just as much enjoyment from seeing the local Fox in the park at night and hearing the Tawny Owls hooting in the trees at the end of my garden.

I spend most of my time in nature. I love long distance walking and completed the South Downs Way with my daughters last year. I row with Lewes Pilot Gig Club and spend a lot of time on the sea at Newhaven. I am also on the South Downs every day with my dog, enjoying the landscape and learning the names and habits of wildflowers and insects.

Why did you become a Trustee of Sussex Wildlife Trust?

When I came back to the UK, I was excited to become more involved in conservation and nature restoration in my local area. I believe that so much can be achieved when local people and communities are directly involved in protecting and stewarding bio-diversity, wildlife and landscapes. I had quite a bit of governance and charity experience and thought that offering my skills as a Trustee would be a useful way to volunteer.

What do you enjoy about it?

I have got so much from being a Trustee of Sussex Wildlife Trust. The other Board members, Senior Leadership Team and staff are all motivated and knowledgeable people and I have learnt about bird ringing in Rye, heard Nightingales sing in Ebernoe and learnt about the amazing world of underwater rewilding through the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project. The scope of what the Trust does and the scale of their ambition with the new strategy is really inspiring and I look forward to Board meetings and Committees as a way to connect and contribute, even when we are reviewing management accounts or approving the Health and Safety policy.

Please give me an example of a favourite local wildlife highlight?

My wildlife highlight is from 2024 when we were out for a row on the far side of Newhaven West Pier and a Dolphin who was fishing for Mackerel came to swim with us, just off our bow. It was magical.