Governance
Committee of Management
CRI is governed by a Committee of Management representing all six Schools of the University of Cambridge, with dedicated early career researcher representation. The Committee provides strategic oversight and helps guide CRI’s interdisciplinary approach to conservation research.
Core Leadership Team
A core group of faculty members based in the David Attenborough Building provide shared leadership across CRI’s activities. The team meets regularly to collaborate on initiatives, strengthen connections across disciplines, and support CRI’s mission to advance conservation research and practice.
CRI Director, Professor Chris Sandbrook
Professor of Conservation and Society, Department of Geography
Chris Sandbrook is a conservation social scientist whose research explores the relationships between people, biodiversity, and conservation practice. His work reflects a strong commitment to transdisciplinary approaches, bringing together insights from different disciplines and working closely with practitioners and partners.
Chris trained in both the Zoology and Geography Departments at the University of Cambridge and spent seven years working with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) World Conservation Monitoring Centre, a partner organisation of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative. He is also Director of the Master’s in Conservation Leadership, CRI’s flagship training programme.
Cambridge’s ecosystem of partnerships enables conservation research that connects theory with practice and delivers real-world impact.
Professor Chris Sandbrook
Director of CRI
Research & Communications Manager, Dr Diane Lister
Department of Geography
Diane Lister has been the CRI's Research Manager since 2022. She supports the CRI community by helping coordinate funding and development opportunities, the Early Career Researcher Programme, seminars, events, communications, and day-to-day operations, including financial processes and space allocation. She is passionate about interdisciplinarity and is committed to supporting researchers build the skills, networks and confidence they need to develop their careers.
Diane is originally from Australia, where she studied Botany and Zoology at the Australian National University. Following a move to the UK, she completed her MPhil and PhD in microbial biotechnology, at the University of Cambridge. She has over 30 years of research experience, including most recently 17 years in the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, working as a botanist in an interdisciplinary team studying the spread of agriculture in prehistory.
CRI Coordinator, Mrs Lucy Bigam
Department of Geography
Lucy coordinates network activities that bring researchers together and foster collaboration across the Institute. She also provides executive and strategic support to the CRI Director, helping to advance CRI’s strategic objectives, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and support the Institute’s long-term growth and success.
Lucy studied Geography at the University of Birmingham and has over twenty years of experience in the sustainability sector. Passionate about conservation and environmental sustainability, she is committed to supporting initiatives that drive positive environmental change and strengthen connections between research, policy, and practice.