The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has elected a new president, Live to 100 celebrity guest editor Dr Amir Khan. Its first-ever ambassadors have also been announced at the charity’s 131st Annual General Meeting.
Dr Amir Khan was elected to serve as president for a three-year term. Miranda Krestovnikoff steps down from the role to become a Vice-President, following nine years in the role. Dr Khan is a familiar face to many, as the resident doctor on ITV’s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, as well as a number of other television programmes, and as the new celebrity guest editor of Celebrity Angels’ health magazine Live to 100. Dr Amir inspires his hundreds of thousands of social media followers with images and clips from his incredible wildlife garden.
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Supporter
Dr Khan has been a keen supporter of the RSPB, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic began. An NHS Doctor, living in Yorkshire, Dr Khan has been on the frontline of the pandemic for the past two years. Despite the huge pressures of his demanding job, Dr Khan frequently shares TV tips and posts on social media of the importance of caring for nature, whether that’s stocking his bird feeders – and importantly cleaning them – to feeding his resident hedgehogs and sharing the benefits of his garden’s flowers and plants for pollinators.
Dr Khan also regularly discusses the importance of nature for our mental and physical health. As a doctor, Amir is able to speak with expertise and authority on why access to nature and green spaces are beneficial to us, which became so apparent during the lockdowns.
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Dr Khan added: “I want to make sure our nature reserves and the wider natural environment is a place everyone feels welcome. Inclusivity and making sure everyone benefits from the wellbeing effects of nature are key for me. I am keen to do my best to help encourage and inspire more and more people to take action for nature.”
In addition to a new President, the RSPB has revealed nine new ambassadors to support the organisation’s mission, namely:
Steve Brown – broadcaster (BBC Countryfile), paralympian and public speaker;
David Domoney – horticulturist, broadcaster (ITV Love Your Garden) and author;
Indy Kiemel Greene – naturalist, conservationist and RSPB Youth Council member;
Lucy Hodson – naturalist, conservationist and social media influencer;
Deborah Meaden – entrepreneur and BBC Dragons’ Den investor;
Megan McCubbin – zoologist, author and wildlife TV presenter (BBC Springwatch);
Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera – co-founders of birdwatching collective, Flock Together;
Samuel West – actor and director.
Beccy Speight, RSPB Chief Executive said: “I’m delighted to welcome Dr Amir Khan as our new president, alongside our inspiring ambassadors, to help support our mission to save nature in this critical decade: needed now more than ever. They are all incredible advocates for our natural world and on behalf of all our members, staff and volunteers across the RSPB, it will be an honour to collaborate, share ideas and together inspire more people to take action for nature.”
Charity
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales and in Scotland. It was founded in 1889. It works to promote conservation and protection of birds and the wider environment through public awareness campaigns, petitions and through the operation of nature reserves throughout the United Kingdom.
To find out more about the new team, why they support the RSPB, their top reserve and even their favourite bird, head here.
