Vance Russell
Trustee

Vance Russell is a Wildlands and Climate Change Adaptation Consultant. Prior to this he was the California Director of Programs for the National Forest Foundation where he managed community forestry projects throughout the state. Prior to joining NFF, he was Director of Audubon California’s Landowner Stewardship Program, working with farmers and ranchers throughout California to restore habitat in a manner compatible with existing agricultural operations. He has nearly 30 years of experience working in agriculture and natural resources management.

Vance is one of the founding members of the Wild Farm Alliance, which promotes agriculture that helps to protect and restore wild nature, and currently serves on the organization’s board of directors as the treasurer. Vance served on the Management Board of the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture that protects and restore habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. He co-authored Wild Harvest – Farming for Wildlife and Profitability which details the importance of conservation incentives for landowners and Maximum Yield, Sustainable Agriculture as a Tool for Conservation, which examines the relationship between agriculture and conservation. Vance received his M.S. degree in Forest Science and Natural Resources Management from Cornell University in 1996 and a B.A. in Biology from the College of Wooster in 1987.

Toni Shaw
Trustee

Toni Shaw is the Director at Sequoia Consultancy Services which provide guidance and support to Trustees running charitable Trusts. Formerly a successful Marketing and Business Development Director in IT and Telecommunications, Toni changed direction and joined the voluntary sector in 2004.

After taking a Masters Degree at Roehampton University in Voluntary Action Management, her first role was as Business Development Director at the National Council for One Parent Families, now Gingerbread Families. In 2007, Toni become CEO at the  Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation where, with the support of the Board of Trustees, she established the Foundation and built an endowment of nearly £11 million for the long term support of communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. A further £7 million in small grants was also distributed to over 2,000 small local charities and community groups around the county. During this time, Toni was a Trustee for a number of other charities, including the Bordon Charity, the Saints Foundation and the New Forest Trust. She chaired the BBC Trust’s Audience Council England: South Panel for three years and was a mentor for the Hampshire School of Social Entrepreneurs.

In 2016, Toni set up Sequoia Consultancy  services, a Charitable Trust Business providing support and guidance to charitable trusts and helping to release charitable assets back into communities. She is currently a Trustee for the Blue Lamp Trust, the Bordon Charity, and the Saints Foundation.