Head of WWF Scotland, Dr Richard Dixon

Biography
Richard has a BSc and PhD in Astrophysics, and an MSc in Energy Systems and Environment Management from Glasgow Caledonian University. Before joining WWF Scotland, he worked for Community Service Volunteers and Strathclyde Regional Council, and was Head of Research at Friends of the Earth Scotland. During his eight years at the latter, he worked on issues as diverse as climate change and fish farming. He helped to treble the number of beaches officially recognised by the government and wrote the first comprehensive report on air pollution in Scotland.

In 2002 he joined WWF Scotland as Head of Policy and led a seven-strong team working on marine, freshwater, climate, education, sustainable development and resource consumption issues. During this time WWF persuaded the Scottish government to adopt Ecological Footprint as a measure of environmental sustainability and set a climate change emissions target for Scotland.

Richard took over as Director of WWF Scotland in 2005. He is currently a member of two Ministerial working groups: one on offshore fisheries, the other on marine strategy. He is also a long-standing member of Scottish Power's Environment Forum. He continues to work on energy, climate, transport and consumption issues. Richard lives with his partner Vanessa and various animals in rural Perthshire.