Ian Rappel

Ian Rappel is an activist, geographer and conservation ecologist by background. He has been working in conservation for NGOs and in academia since 1993 – an eventful career that has seen him involved in a wide range of issues from trawler-bound dolphin bycatch surveys to the biodiversity impact of the World Bank.

Ian was CEO for Gwent Wildlife Trust for 5 years until September 2019 – where he played a key role in the campaign to save the Gwent Levels against the planned M4 Relief Road. Before joining the Real Farming Trust at the end of 2021 he was the Wales Development Manager for the National Association of AONBs. He has also recently acted as curriculum advisor to the Black Mountains College and Bath Spa University.

Ian lives in Talgarth on the northern fringes of the Black Mountains with Sarah, their daughter Rosa, and their springer spaniel, Butty.

Key areas of work: Development of College for Real Farming and Food Culture, events, thought leadership