Who's Involved?

Jason Bissell is Chair of UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man, a board member of Digital Isle of Man, and a recognised leader in the global data and AI industry. With more than 25 years of leadership experience, he has helped governments and enterprises design and execute transformational data and AI strategies.

Jason spent 12 years in Singapore as CEO and SVP for companies including Databricks, Talend, Birst, and QlikTech, where he founded and scaled go-to-market teams across Asia Pacific and Japan. Earlier, he led the founding UK team for QlikTech and held senior roles at Business Objects (SAP).

An investor and advisor, Jason has a particular interest in the human relationship with AI, advocating for AI safety-first principles and exploring how culture and performance can be responsibly enhanced through data-driven platforms.

A passion for understanding 'how things work' and the understandings and collaborations  that will improve how we live in balance with each other and our planet -Gail's career has been wide and varied in IOM and Australia. As Higher Education Manager at UCM, a primary focus is facilitating research on and about the IOM towards a nation that lives in balance. 

Sarah is an award-winning professional climate presenter who has delivered high impact, transformational sustainability training for some of the world’s most influential companies, including Sky, Unilever and the NHS. She co-founded Earthscope, the 2024 UNESCO Biosphere Award winning social enterprise driving efforts to position the Isle of Man as a pioneering nature-first nation, a place where every decision considers both people and the planet. She led the production of the Torc Award nominated docu-film Island Utopias, and founded the now annual climate summit ‘Footprint’, held in Durham, UK. 

Dominic is a dedicated sustainability reporting and sustainable finance specialist with a passion for helping organizations create a net-zero and nature-positive future. He is driven to focus his career on sustainable finance, where he can play an active role in deploying capital towards vital nature restoration initiatives that align with the UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man's objectives.

Malcolm Couch is a seasoned executive leader with strategy, policy and negotiation skills at local, national and international levels developed in senior public and private sector roles. He has extensive experience of people management, tax and finance, law, communication, public relations and sustainable development. 

"I have been volunteering as a youth representative for UBIOM almost a year. I work a full-time job as a sustainability analyst and, in my free time, you’ll often find me outdoors enjoying the Manx countryside. It would be fair to say I enjoy telling everyone how beautiful our island is, and I am passionate about helping ensure it remains a gem for years to come"

Alice is a Trainee Advocate, and keen gardener, with a passion for growing food sustainably and nurturing wildlife, inspired by her upbringing on a plant nursery and family farm. Alice is a volunteer at the Ayres Nature Reserve and the Manx Bat Group. Her enthusiasm for conservation drives her commitment to engaging young people in hands-on learning about our island’s nature and history, she is eager to share her love for gardening and wildlife to inspire the next generation.

Outside of his volunteer role as Biosphere Youth Representative, Brandon is a Senior Investments Operations Administrator for IFGL. His passion is for history, heritage and culture, and he has a degree in History and Heritage, which he studied on the Isle of Man. You'll often find him exploring the glens or heritage sites of the island. He is truly passionate about the island, and hopes to help ensure it remains beautiful for future generations to come.

Graham has a commercial background in in marketing and joined Manx Wildlife Trust, the Island's leading nature conservation charity,  in 2018 becoming CEO in 2025. With a keen interest in wildlife he has volunteered on various conservation projects including tracking and recording wolves in Lower Saxony.

Dr Breesha Maddrell is the Director of Culture Vannin. She sits within the creative tradition of Manx culture as a musician, singer, composer, Manx speaker and writer, and works to support, promote and develop Manx culture for everyone to enjoy.

Joff Whitten is the CEO of the Children’s Centre, a well-loved Manx charity dedicated to helping children and families who miss out on government services. Joff has over 25 years’ experience working alongside education, community and cultural projects and has worked at a number of incredible places including The Courtauld and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park – and of course his current role with The Children’s Centre - always with the focus of supporting communities and helping people in need.

Mark Emmington is an award winning director at the Comis Hotel & Golf Resort where he leads major infrastructure, development and sustainability initiatives across the resort. With a background in civil engineering and a passion for the Isle of Man, he has played a central role in positioning Comis as a beacon of sustainable innovation and leadership. Mark is a committed UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man board member and a strong advocate for the enjoyment of the islands tourist attractions, open spaces and unique island culture.

Nigel is responsible for leading and delivering the Sustainability strategy for Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets (LBCM) in the Crown Dependencies. He has over 30 years experience at LBG, latterly as Head of Commercial Banking in the Isle of Man before taking up his current position in 2022. In addition to his position as Country Head in the Isle of man for LBCM, Nigel is a trustee Director of the Lloyds Bank Offshore Pension Scheme and is a member of the scheme’s Investment Committee.

Clare is Minister for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, within the Isle of Man Government. As Minister, Clare’s broad portfolio covers environment to energy policy, agriculture to fisheries, building control to biosphere; and much more, actively demonstrating the interconnectedness of Government policy with our UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. 

Clare is in her tenth year as a parliamentarian, building on a successful career as an Intensive Care nurse. Her passion for caring extends from people to planet, making a role on the Biosphere board very fitting.

Graham has spent most of his working life in public service, the majority of which has been spent in Education. In his current role, as the Chief Officer for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture, he leads a Department which is firmly placed at the heart of the island community, playing a pivotal role in island life. With a shared vision of an educational ecosystem that nurtures successful learners who are confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors who embrace learning and engage within their communities meaningfully to support positive outcomes for all.

Andrew Stewart is the interim Chief Officer of the Department for Enterprise – a Department of the Isle of Man Government with primary responsibility for supporting the Island’s economy and businesses and creating an environment where businesses can thrive, innovate and collaborate, fostering sustainable economic growth. Andrew first joined the Isle of Man Government in 2003 and has over 20 years of experience working within the Department for Enterprise and its predecessors across a range of managerial and leadership roles.