Trustees The Glacier Trust is run by five trustees, three in the UK and two in Nepal.
The Trust's director, Robin Garton works full time for the Trust from his home in Wiltshire, UK. No trustee derives any financial benefit from the Trust.
Robin Garton
Robin Garton had a forty year career as an international art dealer, specialising in German Expressionism, with sales to over 150 museums and public collections. At 55 he began mountaineering, which led to an interest in glaciology, climate change and glacier hazards. To develop these interests further, he went to Southampton University, graduating with a Physical Geography degree in 2007, aged 61. He is now a Visitor to the University.
"Following my degree I found that the physical sciences quantifying the hazards produced by climate change, such as outbursts from rapidly melting glaciers, had little or no connection with those communities most at risk. Yet there are many areas where environmental science could do much to benefit the Himalayan communities that are so dramatically affected. So I became interested in trying to bridge these gaps between science and the community."
Robin set up The Glacier Trust, a registered charity, in July 2008 from his home in Wiltshire from where he manages the organisation full time. The Trust works with high altitude communities in Nepal, sponsoring pilot projects that use environmental science to mitigate the problems of climate change. Locally devised adaptation strategies have the best chance of success and enable the indigenous people to find solutions to their changing circumstances. Replicable schemes include innovations in water storage, alternative fuel sources and agroforestry. The Trust also funds local postgraduate research in order to strengthen the scientific basis and implementation of its work.
Robin also supports The Funding Network, Combat Stress, WaterAid, One World Action and The John Muir Trust.
Richard Allen
Richard Allen is a soil scientist working in Nepal as an International Programme Adviser for the Sustainable Soil Management Programme sponsored by Helvitas, the Swiss Development Agency. He has 38 years of experience in International Development, starting in 1973 in Africa. Since 1981 he has also worked on numerous projects in South and South East Asia. His skills include watershed management, land use and Agroforestry. His advice, enthusiasm and wide range of contacts were instrumental in setting up the Glacier Trust and continue to be of enormous benefit to our work in Nepal.
Dr.Juerg Mertz
A Swiss and British national born in April 1971, has lived and worked in the Greater Himalayan region for the last 12 years. Since the end of 2010 he is the International Programme Advisor of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Nepal. Previously he worked for the German based agency, Integration environment and energy. Integration Group's expertise provides technical assistance and training, carrying out consulting assignments in emerging markets and developing countries. Before this, Juerg worked on different projects in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, India and China as an advisor, hydrologist, erosion specialist, and information and communication specialist. He has a PhD in Natural Science with specialisation on catchment hydrology and an MSc in Geography from University of Bern, Switzerland. He has several reviewed articles on water and erosion issues in the Greater Himalayan region to his credit. His interests are in water, rural development, environmental education, glacial and periglacial landscapes and the mountains in general. Having Juerg on the ground in Nepal is invaluable to the Trust's work. His skills have helped develop our education side and will be important for our forthcoming permafrost project.
Andy Rutherford
Andy Rutherford was the Head of International Partnerships of the UK based development and policy agency One World Action. He has worked with community based and peoples organisations in Asia, Africa and Central America over the last 25 years. Building on his degree in Development Studies, his career evolved from being a member of a joint UK-India research programme on the social effects of the Green Revolution to working with grassroots and women's organisations across Asia, Africa and Latin America. He worked first with organisations in India and then with two UK based organisations, War on Want (1985-1990) and One World Action (1990 to 2011). One World Action had a pioneering role in developing the concept of partnership development, where a locally based NGO can call on the financial support and expertise of an experienced UK NGO. It achieved this by exploring ways of developing democratic accountability through active citizens organisations and systematic development of relationships with local and national service providers and decision makers. Many initiatives have directly examined the gaps between policy and practice by both national and local governments and national and international NGO's. Particular emphasis is placed on women's rights and gender equality. Andy's lifetime of experience in International Development is of enormous value to The Glacier Trust, and provides the basis of best practice for the funding support which the Trust offers.
Peter Osborne
Peter has had a 30 year career in the art world, first at Christie's and then as Managing Director of the Harlech Fine Art Group. He founded Berkeley Square Gallery in London and now owns Osborne Samuel, a well known London Gallery specialising in Modern British art and in art from emerging markets. Peter has held board positions at the Society of London Art Dealers for many years and also lectures on the art business and new markets. Through the gallery and personally Peter supports several causes. For many years he was on the corporate advisory board of the British Red Cross. The gallery founded the Bombay Street Children Fund, and for years has supported the work of One World Action on working women's rights in India and elsewhere. The gallery also supports Tamwed, a small charity funding agricultural projects in Southern India. The gallery is often used for awareness raising events and fundraiser's, most recently to focus attention on the risks from carbon monoxide poisoning in the home and workplace. Peters business experience makes him a valuable non executive board member.