Appointments made to the Board of Natural England

Appointments made to the Board of Natural England
Kunle Barker and Tom Sleigh confirmed as new members
Two new appointments have been made to the Board of Natural England.
Kunle Barker and Tom Sleigh have been newly appointed to the Board for three-year terms, both of which will commence on 1 August 2026 and run until 31 July 2029.
The new appointments have been made on merit, and all appointments have been made in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments. Political activity plays no part in the process, nor is a bar to appointment.
Biographies
Kunle Barker
Kunle Barker is a placemaker, property expert, writer and broadcaster with more than 20 years’ experience across construction, housing, regeneration and sustainable development. He is co-founder of Natural Places, a consultancy and think-tank combining research and practice to embed nature-led thinking into housing, regeneration, place-making and urban futures, and has advised government and industry bodies on housing and urban development. Kunle is a regular contributor on property, design and sustainability across television, print and live events, including Grand Designs Live, Architects’ Journal and national broadcast media.
Tom Sleigh
Tom Sleigh is an experienced board leader and non-executive director with expertise in governance, planning, infrastructure and organisational transformation. He chairs the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee and serves as a Non-Executive Director of the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority. He previously chaired the Barbican Arts Centre, leading major governance and renewal programmes, and has held senior executive roles across financial services, media and the public sector. He also chairs Norwich Theatre.
Further information
- Natural England is a Non-Departmental Public Body, established by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 to act as the government’s advisor for the natural environment in England.
- Its purpose is to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.