Dr S Lyster (Independent Non-Executive Director) joined the Board in 2006. A lawyer by training, Dr Lyster qualified in both the UK and the USA and is the author of the leading legal textbook on international wildlife law. Dr Lyster was Chief Executive of LEAD International from 2005 to 2011. Before joining LEAD, he was Director General of The Wildlife Trusts and previously worked for World Wildlife Fund for nine years, where he was responsible for its global policy work on international conventions.
He is Chairman of Conservation International-UK, a Trustee of Kilverstone Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Rural Community Council of Essex, and a Council member of World Land Trust. In July 2014, Dr Lyster was appointed to the Board of Natural England and he is a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Essex. Dr Lyster is a member of the PR19 Board Sub-group, Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee, and the Assurance Sub-committee and Risk & Compliance Subcommittee.