PHILLIP SMART

Consultant, UK

Phillip joined the Brakeley team of consultants in July 2007 with 15 years' experience of working within heritage and natural resource management across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Phillip originally graduated in Arboriculture from the Royal Forestry Society, before gaining an MSc in Landscape Ecology, Design and Management from Imperial College, Londonand more recently an MBA from the Cambridge University in 2005.

Phillip came to Brakeley from the Earthwatch Institute, an international environmental charity where as Director of Development, Phillip was responsible for developing new business partnerships for conservation projects across Europe and Africa and for managing the Earthwatch fundraising team.  As a member of the management team, Phillip contributed towards the strategic direction of Earthwatch as well as securing several new corporate sponsors, grants from Trusts and foundations, and producing a new strategy for major donors and legacy fundraising.

Prior to studying at Cambridge University, Phillip worked alongside the major UK conservation bodies including The National Trust, English Heritage and the Woodland Trust on a multi-million pound heritage regeneration project for Cobham Park near Rochester, Kent.  As Programme Manager, Phillip was responsible for day-to-day management of the project and co-ordination of the partnership programme.  The project involved the repair and conservation of listed buildings, formal gardens and courtyards, as well as protected landscapes and habitats.  As part of fundraising element of the project, Phillip secured over £7m for the project including £5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund through their two-stage application process. With such a high profile national project, Phillip was frequently in the media spotlight to talk about the project and this included several appearances on the BBC2 television series ‘Restoration’.

Phillip’s main challenge lies in the protection and sustainable management of natural and built heritage whilst benefiting local communities and promoting business development – this he says can be done by helping to transform the performance of value-driven organisations!  As a founding Director and Trustee of the West Kent Downs Countryside Trust, Phillip has demonstrated his commitment to the ethos of community engagement in pursuing charitable objectives and solving local problems.  He is a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites UK, and holds professional membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Landscape Institute.  A keen sportsman, Phillip has both rowed and played cricket for Cambridge University College teams.