Sustainable Futures Wright & Wright - Flipbook - Page 49
Catherine Slessor is an
architectural critic, editor
and writer. She originally
studied architecture at the
University of Edinburgh,
before going on to pursue
a high profile career in
architectural journalism.
She is a former editor of
the Architectural Review
and has contributed to a
range of media outlets,
including the Observer,
Architects’ Journal, Icon,
Architectural Record
and Dezeen. Her selected
publications include
Eco Tech, a study of the
relationship between
architecture and
environmental awareness,
and Concrete Regionalism,
which considers the
influence of vernacular
traditions on contemporary
practice. She has
lectured at architectual
conferences in the UK,
USA, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka and
Argentina, and has been
a juror on numerous
national and international
awards programmes.
She is also current
President of the 20th
Century Society, which
campaigns for the
preservation and reuse
of Britain’s modern
architectural heritage.
Eilish McGuinness
became Chief Executive
of the National Lottery
Heritage Fund in January
2022, having previously
been its Executive
Director, Business
Delivery. Eilish has
worked in heritage all her
professional life and has
extensive experience
across the sector and the
breadth of the UK’s
heritage. She joined the
Heritage Fund in 1996
and has held a variety of
roles – both operational
and strategic – including
Regional Manager North
East, Head of the National
Heritage Memorial
Fund, Major Grants and
Special Programmes.
Prior to joining the
Heritage Fund, Eilish
worked with Historic
Scotland, Historic
Monuments & Buildings
Branch, Northern Ireland
and in the heritage sector
in Ireland. She has a
degree in History of Art
and Archaeology from
University College
Dublin, and an MA from
Queen’s University
Belfast, where she was
a junior research fellow
in the Institute of Irish
Studies at Queen’s
University Belfast.
Contributor biographies
Kathy Willis is Professor
of Biodiversity in the
department of Biology
and the Principal of St
Edmund Hall, University
of Oxford. She is also a
Crossbench Peer in the
House of Lords. Previous
roles include Director of
Science at the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew,
and a member of the UK
Government’s Natural
Capital Committee.
Her research falls into
three categories. First,
the determination of
how plant biodiversity
responds to climate
change and other
environmental drivers.
Second, the flow and
spatial distribution of
critical ecosystem
services, such as the
drawdown of
atmospheric CO2, flood
risk protection, clean
water and soil erosion.
Third, the relationship
between biodiversity
and human health,
as explored in her recent
book Good Nature:
the New Science of How
Nature Improves Our
Health published in 2024.
Michael is the Director
of Bishoprics and
Cathedrals & Lambeth
Palace Library for the
Church Commissioners
and has been in this role
for 5½ years leading a
great team supporting
many aspects of the
Church and particularly
those at our great
Cathedrals. Most recently
he has played a key role
in the Lambeth Palace
Refurbishment Project.
Previously, Michael was
Director of Property and
Development at the
Diocese of Chelmsford.
He is a Fellow of the
Institution of Civil
Engineers.
49
