Born 1960 in Ghana and raised in Nigeria, Pete has over 30 years of pioneering leadership and award-winning experience in effective international “Citizen Science” conservation programmes. In 2003 in recognition for his entrepreneurial leadership in volunteer-based coral reef & tropical forest conservation, Pete was awarded the MBE by HM The Queen for ‘Services to the Protection of Biodiversity’. He is also the recipient of numerous other accolades including the Worldaware Business Award for Effective Communication, Virgin Holidays “Responsible Tourism Awards” (Highly Commended: 2009, 2010 & 2011) and the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award ‘Global Winner’.

In 1982 Pete graduated from the University of Wales with a BSc (Joint Honours) Degree in Marine Biology and Biochemistry. In 1985 (during an eight-year university post-graduate research career) Pete founded Coral Cay Conservation (a British NGO) and over a 27 year period as CEO created a sustainable international ‘Citizen Scientist’ approach to community-managed reef & rainforest conservation programmes.

In 2013 Pete served as interim-CEO of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (a US$42 million financing mechanism created to support the Caribbean Challenge Initiative), following which he served as Director of International Operations at Coral Restoration Foundation International and CEO of Coral Restoration Foundation Europe (CRFE), with special responsibilities for the development and coordination of partnerships and sustainable financing arrangements in Europe.

Pete has always firmly believed in volunteering and the need to offer time and expertise pro bono wherever possible. In 2005 he became a trustee of the Chagos Conservation Trust and was subsequently invited to join the Executive of the Chagos Environment Network which went on to successfully lobby for the designation in 2010 of the Chagos Marine Protected Area, now one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. Between 2010 and 2012, Pete also served as Expedition Manager on two pioneering ship-based scientific research expeditions to Chagos which included the discovery of uncharted sea-mounts. Pete currently serves pro bono as a Trustee/Executive for a number of not-for-profit organisations.

Pete is a Chartered Geographer (CGeog), Chartered Biologist (CBiol), Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), Fellow of The Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) and Fellow of The Linnean Society of London (FLS).