Graduated in 1992 with an Honours Degree in Environmental Science. He joined the Forestry Commission in 1993 as a Ranger in East Anglia, spent three years in the Forest of Dean as Chief Ranger before moving to Wales in 2003 as Recreation Advisor for Wales. Going part-time with the Forestry Commission in 2007, he joined Hay Festival as Sustainability Director, having worked in a voluntary capacity for the Festival since 1995. Within the Festival, he is responsible for three key areas: improving the Festival’s direct impacts through changing management practices, providing options and incentives for visitors to reduce their own impacts and influencing and informing by hosting leading authors and commentators in discussions, debates, events and seminars. In 2008 he set up EqualState, a freelance sustainbility consultancy and is also a Governor on the board of Fairfield Secondary School Academy. He lives just outside Hay-on-Wye on a small-holding with his wife and son.