Sarah Puntan-Galea

Director @Chagos Conservation Trust

I currently run the only charity in the world solely focused on the conservation, protection and sharing knowledge of the Chagos Archipelago (an Overseas Territory administered by the UK government): 55 Indian Ocean islands that make up one of the world\'s largest \'no-take\' marine reserves. I oversaw the recent successful application for Darwin funding, which will see the Trust awarded nearly £1m from the UK government for our key rewilding programme, Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs, over the next 3 years.My role consists of usual C-suite administrative duties, from governance (inc. Charity Commission obligations), to finance (budget), and the publishing arm of the Trust (oversaw the of 2 books). I lead the strategic direction of the Trust, having written-launched our 5-year strategy, organise the AGM and other events, inc. online members\' talks. I undertake all marketing/comms, from social media to our annual publication Chagos News, writing the Annual Report and leading on a website revamp. I also lead on Trustee and staff management, training and recruitment, inc. a Project Manager, advisors, and a Chagossian Website Officer; I devised an Internship Programme and Youth Ambassador scheme with Swansea University; lead on external engagement with partners inc. RSPB, Zoological Society of London, Kew Gardens, etc, and stakeholders like the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum; and will lead on a membership/fundraising drive in 2026; plus outreach with the Chagossian community, hopefully launching another Chagos Connect project to equip community members with skills needed to undertake expedition conservation work.I also successfully applied for the Trust to become a Partner in the United Nations Decade of Restoration due to our recently funded work in rewilding the Archipelago’s outer atolls and main island, Diego Garcia, which aims to remove rats to increase the seabird population which, due to guano run-off, leads to healthier coral reefs and fish stocks.