Michael Rands

Dr Michael Rands will take up the newly-created post in March [2009] as the Director of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative "after stepping down as Director and Chief Executive of BirdLife International, a network of national organisations conserving birds and their habitats in more than 100 countries worldwide.

"Dr Rands' appointment is a major step forward for CCI. As Executive Director, he will be charged with establishing an international centre for biodiversity conservation and fostering collaborations between Cambridge University and a cluster of internationally renowned conservation organisations in Cambridge.

"Created in early 2007 to bring together leaders in biodiversity conservation research, education, policy and action, CCI's founders include Cambridge University, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Fauna and Flora International, BirdLife International, Traffic International, Tropical Biology Association, RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology and IUCN."