Finance & Risk Committee (F&R)

The Finance & Risk Committee are responsible for financial controls, plans and reports, and risk management.  The Chair of F&R sits on the Board and is supported by three Board members, including the Honorary Treasurer. It meets four times a year, normally quarterly. Urgent business may be transacted by email or teleconference.

Chair - Iain Coucher

Iain is an experienced Chief Executive who has led a number of large organisations involved in the delivery of public services in technology, infrastructure, transport and defence sectors. He is a life-long birder and is passionate about the environment and sustainability. He owns a small, coastal farm in west Scotland that he manages for the benefit of birds and other wildlife.

He has been a trustee of a global environmental charity, Earthwatch (Europe) for around six years. He is committed to continual learning and, over the last decade has completed Masters degrees in Environmental Decision Making and in Systems Thinking (with a focus on climate change and ocean acidification). He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Cranfield University, in 2019.

Jane Miller - Treasurer

Jane is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and has worked in the Telecoms, Retail Banking and Insurance industries in both the UK, the US and New Zealand.  She has experience in line finance, programme management, transformation, regulatory change and business optimisation.

Jane lives on the Suffolk coast and has a strong interest in waders and coastal birds. She is keen to bring her business experience to help BTO achieve its strategic aims.

Dr Debby Reynolds CB

A graduate of the University of Bristol, Debby has a strong record on effective governance to help organisations deliver successfully on their vision and strategy. She has been a member of BTO for 20 years and is an enthusiastic world birder.

Serving between 2004 AND 2007 as the UK's first female Chief Veterinary Officer (Director-General, Animal Health and Welfare) at Defra, Debby was the Government’s media spokesperson on veterinary issues and primary adviser to the Prime Minister on avian influenza, for which she was awarded the CB.

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