Liz Knapper

Community Engagement Lead -
North East England

Empowering students in the North East to drive social change for the benefit of people and planet

Liz joined the Education team at Global Action Plan in 2024, leading the Good Life Schools programme across the North East of England. She works with secondary schools, local councils and community groups across Durham, Redcar and Cleveland, to implement the Good Life Schools programme. Liz supports students to design and implement Good Life projects in their schools and to form positive and meaningful partnerships in their communities.

Liz is a former secondary and FE teacher of science, specialising in Biology which she taught for 15 years in a range of settings. Liz has also held responsibility for curriculum design and led on PSHCE delivery within secondary schools. Prior to her teaching career Liz worked in environmental education, delivering outdoor learning packages to primary and secondary school groups. With an MSc in Mammal Conservation and Management, Liz spent several years studying, living and working in South Africa and focussed her research on human-wildlife conflict issues.

Liz runs her own community interest company (Back Into Nature CIC) which aims to reconnect young children and their families with nature through outdoor play and learning. She is a qualified WILD passport practitioner and a certified Forest Therapy Practitioner. She also runs a reusable party kit hire service as part of the UK Party Kit Network, offering more sustainable options for celebration events.