Alison Barnes is the Chief Officer at New Forest National Park Authority and has spent 25 years of her professional life in roles linking the natural environment with people. She chairs the Green Halo Partnership, which brings together businesses, communities, charities and universities to ensure the world class environment in and around the New Forest National Park flourishes as an integral part of life in the Central South. She leads on health and wellbeing on behalf of all the English National Parks. Prior to this she was director for Natural England Team in London, championing London's green spaces, their enhancement and the benefits these bring to the social and economic fabric of the Capital. As a London Sustainable Development Commissioner between 2008 and 2014 Alison advised on the natural environment and initiated Sowing the Seeds - focused on reconnecting London's young people to their green and blue city spaces.. Alison began her career with the RSPB and led on local biodiversity policy within Defra for four years, shaping policy, legislation and delivery partnerships. She is a fellow both of the RSA and Landscape Institute.