Welcome

Thank you for your interest in becoming the first Chief Executive Officer of the East Suffolk Trust (EaST). As the charity’s founding trustees, we are proud to share this extraordinary opportunity to shape a legacy for the environment and communities of East Suffolk for decades to come.

EaST has been established to create transformational environmental change in one of the most ecologically rich and climate-vulnerable parts of the UK. As a region marked by nationally significant landscapes, coastal habitats, and marine biodiversity — East Suffolk is both treasured and challenged. The Trust is being launched in recognition of those challenges and as a commitment to long-term investment in the protection, enhancement, and restoration of our natural capital.

This is a moment of genuine significance. The Trust will invest £60 million over 70+ years, delivering a strategic grant-making programme to restore biodiversity, build ecological resilience, and support education and community connection with the natural world. We are creating an organisation that will catalyse bold action, enable innovative partnerships, and become a trusted custodian of East Suffolk’s environmental future.

As the first CEO, you will be instrumental in bringing this vision to life. You will shape the culture and operations of the Trust from day one—establishing core systems, building a team, guiding strategy, and stewarding our relationships with local communities, stakeholders, and partners. You’ll be our lead voice and ambassador, working closely with us as Trustees to ensure this charity realises its full potential.

We are looking for a leader who is strategic, collaborative, and deeply motivated by the mission. Someone with a passion for the natural environment and a commitment to long-term impact. You’ll need to be a self-starter with the confidence to build something new, while also creating strong foundations for effective grant-making, financial management, and public engagement.

In return, you’ll have the rare opportunity to shape a new charity at scale, backed by a guaranteed funding stream and a governance structure designed for independence, integrity, and innovation.

If you believe in a future where people and nature thrive together — and want to lead a charity that exists to make that future a reality — we warmly encourage you to apply.

With best wishes,

Lynn Dicks and Clare Matterson,
Co-Founding Trustees, East Suffolk Trust