Conservative party member John Gummer, Lord Deben is a former member of parliament and was later made a member of the House of Lords when he was awarded peerage in 2010. Gummer began his extensive career in politics during the 1960s and it was in 1970 that he was first elected to parliament. Throughout his time as a politician, Gummer has held many influential positions including Chairman of the Conservative party from 1983-85.

With a fervent passion for the environment, Gummer was later appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1989 before becoming the Secretary of State for the Environment under John Major in 1993 until 1997. It was during this period that he introduced the UK’s first environmental tax under the Environment Act 1995, a new set of standards that lead Gummer to be dubbed as “the best Environment Secretary we’ve ever had” by Friends of the Earth and an environmental hero by the BBC Wildlife Magazine. Gummer was later awarded the RSPB Medal, the associations most prestigious award that recognises individuals for their outstanding contribution to nature conservation.

Continuing his ongoing commitment to pressing environmental issues, Gummer is now the Chairman of the UK’s independent Committee on Climate Change, advising the Government on tackling matters such as carbon budgets and building a low-carbon economy. Alongside this senior role, he also chairs the sustainability consultancy for leading UK businesses, Valpak, Veolia Water UK, GLOBE International and the Association of Professional Financial Advisors. Leading Environmental charities Cool Earth and the Blue Marine Foundation have also named Gummer as a member of their trustees for his dedication to the environment.