About the event

Our Annual General Meeting is a great opportunity to meet the Avon Wildlife Trust team and hear how your support has made a difference for nature. 

This year we will have updates from our youth programme, progress at our newest land acquisition, Ebdon Farm, and an update on our work for returning species.

In addition, we’ll be welcoming a panel of guest speakers to talk about 'Keeping climate positive': building a climate resilient future in our region.

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The formal AGM meeting is for the following purposes:

As Ordinary Business

1. To receive the Annual Report of the Board of Trustees and Audited Annual Accounts, together with the Auditors’ report, for the year ended 31 March 2026.
2. To elect as Trustees any persons duly proposed for election or re-election.

The board is proposing the election as Elected Trustees of Sam Cole, Brian Glasson, and Laura Shakespeare.

Trustee bios

Sam Cole

Sam Cole is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist and communications specialist based in Bristol. Over the past 25 years, he has worked with organisations including the United Nations, Greenpeace, Environmental Justice Foundation and Bristol City Council, creating films and campaigns on nature, climate, food systems and social justice. His work has focused on making complex issues accessible and engaging for diverse audiences. Alongside filmmaking, he has delivered training in visual storytelling and communications. 

Sam brings strategic communications, creative thinking and a collaborative approach, and is committed to supporting Avon Wildlife Trust's vision for nature's recovery across the region.

Brian Glasson

After a bucolic childhood in North Somerset, where his family were among the very first members of the Trust, Brian returned to Bristol in 2002 to continue a career in Local Government, before retiring this year as Chief Planning Officer for South Gloucestershire Council.

During his leadership of the award-winning planning service, Brian helped establish the West of England Nature Partnership in 2012, recognised nationally for its effectiveness and innovation.

Brian brings a wealth of experience and strategic knowledge of local government across the Trust’s area, and is well placed to assist the Trust in advocating for a strengthened voice and role for nature as key decisions are made about the future development of the region.

Laura Shakespeare

With a longstanding passion for wildlife, Laura brings 10 years’ experience fundraising for national and international conservation NGOs, securing support from trusts, foundations, businesses and government sources. She is dedicated to using her development expertise to inspire others to care deeply about the natural world.

Recently completing four years as a trustee of the Osprey Leadership Foundation, supporting the next generation of conservation leaders, she has also volunteered with organisations including the Woodland Trust, RSPB and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Now living in south Bristol, she looks forward to bringing her fundraising expertise, governance experience and commitment to the environment to support the Trust in enabling wildlife to thrive across the region.

The board is proposing the re-election as Elected Trustees of Karen Hills and Sumita Hutchison.

View bios of existing Trustees

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Under the Companies Act 2006 the serving Auditors, Burnside, are deemed re-appointed and continue in office.

The Audited Accounts and Trustees’ Annual Report will be available on this page 28 days before the AGM

Notes

Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to attend, speak and vote at the meeting on their behalf. A proxy need not be a member. To be a valid proxy, an appointment form must be received by the Trust not less than 48 hours before the time of the meeting. For a proxy form please contact communications@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or download one from this link at return it to that email address:

Download a proxy form here

New Elected Trustees (ie Trustees elected at the AGM) can be nominated by the Board of Trustees or by four members of the Trust by way of formal written proposal delivered to the Trust office at 17 Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5QT no later than 24th October, together with the written consent of the candidate to act as a Trustee. Candidates are required to provide verification of identity and a declaration of suitability and personal interests.

Without in any way restricting the members’ rights to propose new Trustees in this way, members will note that the Board has not carried out a Trustee recruitment exercise this year as we are not anticipating any vacancies in elected Trustee positions after proposed Trustee re-elections.

Members, volunteers and friends of Avon Wildlife Trust are welcome to attend, only members will be invited to vote. 

For more detailed directions to the venue, please visit Watershed’s website