Helen Deavin Email & Phone Number

Norwich, England, Gb

Responsible for developing and managing the Eastern England pipeline of projects from early ideas to funding and delivery. Projects range from habitat creation, flood defence, visitor developments, buildings, climate change adaptation.• Reporting to the Regional Director, I manage the Regional Projects Team (9 individuals), a high performing team who deliver our most exciting and challenging projects such as the Wallasea Island Wild Coast project in partnership with Crossrail, the Hanson-RSPB Wetland Project at Ouse Fen, and ‘Project Godwit’, part of the HLF funded ‘Back from the Brink’ programme of species recovery.• I manage the Regional Projects Programme, balancing priorities, funding opportunities, project timelines and staff resource to maximise our impact. I recently co-ordinated and signed-off the regional response to the new Defra Water Environment Grant, accelerating the development of four suitable projects to fit the 6 week application timeline. • I am Chair of the Regional Programme Board, a decision making group that moves projects through the RSPB’s Project Management Framework, I work with the project managers to identify and manage risk at each stage of project development.• As Project Executive (Sponsor) for the Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project, Ouse Fen and several other projects, I am accountable for delivery to time, budget and quality. I have budget responsibility for c5million spend in the next two years.• I am a member of the Eastern England Regional Management Team, translating corporate strategy and national programmes of work into clear priorities for the regional team. • I lead the RSPB’s coastal work in the region, adapting our existing landholdings in the light of coastal change and working with partners to identify new opportunities for intertidal habitat creation.

Eastern England Regional Office

• Reporting to the Area Operations Manager, I managed the Regional Projects Team (5 individuals) working to deliver important visitor projects such as the Minsmere ‘Discover Nature’ Project with HLF (£2 million visitor experience and education project). • Led and delivered significant organisational change through the adoption of the RSPB’s Project Management Framework (PMF) within Eastern England. Developed a robust system of project identification and progression through the regional pipeline with PMF Gates managed by a cross-functional Programme Board. • To support this change, my team and I delivered Project Management Training to over 90 people in the region and Project Executive Training to 30. This required excellent working knowledge of project management tools and processes. • I successfully implemented one of the RSPB’s highest risk projects, the installation of a wind turbine at our HQ. This included leading the multi-disciplinary project team, working with land agency colleagues to negotiate terms with our partner Ecotricity, working with the local authority to secure planning permission, ensuring the Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out to a suitably high standard and managing the sensitive communications messages with both local communities and the wider membership of the RSPB. The turbine is operational and directly powers the Lodge HQ buildings, generating c1.85million kWh per annum and has reduced UK carbon emissions by around 600 tonnes per year.

REGIONAL PROJECTS MANAGER, RSPBReporting to the Area Operations Manager I initiated and led the Titchwell Marsh Coastal Change project to sympathetically adapt one of the RSPB’s flagship nature reserves to the impacts of coastal change through a managed realignment project. During this time I:• Commissioned consultants to help understand the changes taking place on the coastline and the long term prognosis for the reserve. • Identified a solution that took account of predicted coastal changes including future sea level rise, whilst minimising impacts on designated habitats. • Secured all internal approvals and external consents such as planning permission, marine management license, protected species, Habitats Regulations assessment.• Worked through the dedicated staff and volunteers at Titchwell Marsh to explain the project to the c90,000 visitors the site receives and secured support from a range of external stakeholders such as neighboring landowners and parish councils. Unusually for a managed realignment, no objections to the project were received by the planning authority.• Commissioned and managed an architect to design the new viewing facilities.• Secured 100% funding for the £1.5million scheme through multiple sources.• Managed the civil engineering contract during implementation, resolving issues with the engineers and the principle contractor as they arose and managing the project budget.• The project was completed in 2011 to time and budget. The new viewing facilities won a prestigious RIBA award for architectural merit. In November 2013 a storm surge hit the east coast. As a result of the Coastal Change Project, damage at Titchwell Marsh was limited. If I had not instigated and delivered the project, the damage to the wildlife of the reserve and to the RSPB’s business interests would have been irreparable.

• Responded to planning casework with potential for impacts on designated sites.• Specialised in coastal change issues as they impacted on designated sites.• Led the RSPB’s input to the London Gateway Port public inquiry.