News

Global Action Plan is pleased to confirm the appointment of our new Chair of the Board of Trustees, Chris Blake.

Chris is a founding director of both The Green Valleys, supporting community responses to climate change, and Community Energy Wales, dedicated to promoting the community ownership of renewable energy. He has also been a non-executive director of Natural Resources Wales.

Chris is a passionate champion of social and community enterprise. He currently leads the Skyline Project promoting community land stewardship for social, economic, and environmental renewal and is Chair of Black Mountains College and Co-production Network Wales.

Before moving to Wales in 2002, Chris had a successful career in the publishing and media industries and was formerly CEO of Elsevier Science (UK) and a director of Unruly Media. He lives on a small holding in the Black Mountains and is outside at every opportunity.

Chris shares what inspired him to work with us:

“Global Action Plan is focused on the biggest challenges that we face – the climate and nature emergencies and growing inequality.  I believe that Global Action Plan’s focus on mobilising organisations and individuals to take action is critical in bringing the changes that we need to see. 

I was attracted by both the breadth of mission and the targeted and detailed programmes that Global Action Plan leads and I'm excited to be joining a team with such a clear focus on action and values that I share.   

I look forward to working out how we can solve the many challenges we face and help to bring about a safe, resilient, and more equal future.” 

Sonja Graham, Global Action Plan CEO says:

"I'm delighted that Chris is joining as our new Chair. He is a great values-match for Global Action Plan, but importantly brings experience in supporting community-led climate action which is central to our 2025-28 strategy."