About Us
OUR VISION
The AEF was established in 2021 to help the communities of the Argolic Gulf become leaders in the transition to sustainability, protecting and regenerating key marine and terrestrial ecosystems and improving the relationship between humans and nature.
We work with local partners to develop and implement practical solutions to the region’s most pressing environmental issues. We believe that environmental sustainability need not come at the cost of economic development – rather, that the opposite is true.
By protecting and growing the natural capital of this special corner of Greece, we will help ensure health, abundance and resilience for its natural and human communities.
Our people
A Steering Committee (SC), composed of founding and actively involved donors, directs the strategy. They analyse and approve grants and use their personal networks to broaden the base of supporters. The SC members have a wide array of backgrounds and interests, but all share a passion for protecting the Argolic Gulf’s outstanding natural beauty.
Our local team consists of one person as the local Executive Director in charge of day-to-day management and coordination work on the ground, assisted by advisors and the SC.
LOCAL TEAM
CHAIRPERSON
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Nancy Burrell
Chairperson
In her third year as a DPhil candidate in biology at the University of Oxford, Nancy Burrell explores the carbon storage potential within rewilding ecosystems. She is driven by a desire to reveal the societal benefits of rewilding, focusing on natural capital and the various ecosystem services these natural processes can provide. Nancy’s deep-seated fascination with rewilding as a conservation strategy began in her childhood, spent at Knepp. This interest evolved into a conviction that nature holds powerful solutions to current global issues, including climate change, soil degradation, and human health.
Before starting her doctoral research, Nancy achieved an MSci in Marine Biology from the University of Southampton in 2018. Her master’s project took her to the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) and Bergen University, investigating the influence of megafauna on post-glacial landscapes.
In addition to her ongoing research at Oxford, Nancy is an avid scuba diver and has served as a divemaster on research expeditions across the globe – notably in Cuba, Honduras, and Costa Rica. These experiences have deepened her appreciation for fully functioning, dynamic ecosystems and the ways biodiversity contributes to ecosystem function and resilience. Above all, her global explorations have reinforced the importance of observing nature with a sense of humility.
How we work
Channelling funds from businesses and philanthropists to grassroots nature regeneration projects.
Tapping into our network of experts to ensure we support the projects offering the largest returns for nature.
Seeking to build local coalitions that catalyse systemic change.
Filling a gap by being agile, unbureaucratic, and ‘getting stuff done’.
Providing projects with vital funds to scale their impact.
Attracting new sources of environmental funding by showcasing what can be achieved by nature regeneration.
Pooling funds and creating leverage for each donor to share in the successes generated by total AEF funds raised.
We strongly believe that supporting local environmental groups can make a positive impact and bring about long-lasting change.