New Chair for Badger Trust – Welcome Peter Jackson

We are delighted to announce Peter Jackson as Chair of Badger Trust as Jo Bates-Keegan steps down after almost four years.

Peter told us: "I’m honoured and delighted to become Chair of Badger Trust. I’ve been a volunteer for the RSPCA for about 40 years – man and boy! – so I’ve always been concerned about animal welfare. My active interest in badgers really began when I moved into a village where badgers were under threat from developers. I joined Badger Trust and became very aware of the need to ensure badgers’ survival.

"The outgoing Chair, Jo Bates-Keegan, worked tirelessly for Badger Trust for many years, and I am sure I’ll be calling on her knowledge and experience in future. Now that the staff team is at full strength, and we have a new Executive Director, we’ll be able to make much more impact on the welfare of badgers. I hope we can all work together to stop the cull and preserve their habitats."

Badger Trust is incredibly grateful for the huge amount of work Jo has done, and we are pleased to report that Jo will remain on the Board to support Peter.

Jo told us: "It has been an incredible experience, at times really tough but also exciting and incredibly rewarding. I have been lucky to work with so many fantastic colleagues, on the board and in the staff team, and in the badger groups – all willing to push the charity forward. I've also had fantastic support from other individuals and partner organisations in the wildlife and animal welfare community.

"We've been able to build on the reputation that previous staff and board developed. We've taken Badger Trust through some necessary modernisation, to keep up with the environment we are now in, create a sustainable future for Badger Trust and its member groups, and allow us to do more for badgers.”

“I will look back with immense pride at what we have achieved over the last few years. I'd like to thank the groups and the board members I worked alongside for giving me the opportunity and working with me – teamwork is key. I look forward to playing a smaller part (as a board member) as we continue to look to improve and make Badger Trust more successful and more effective."