Meet our president and vice presidents

Mary-Ann Ochota

Mary-Ann is a broadcaster, author and anthropologist whose  expertise has engaged people worldwide with landscapes, heritage and the natural world.

A passionate advocate of our countryside and natural spaces, Mary-Ann is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a member of Natural England’s Landscape Advisory Panel, and a patron of the Ridgeway National Trail. She is also a patron of the Tony Trust, which supports disadvantaged children to access outdoor adventure, and a member of All the Elements, a network driving better inclusion and diversity in the outdoors.

Mary-Ann was appointed as CPRE’s president in July 2024.

Ali Miraj

Ali Miraj is a social entrepreneur, political commentator, DJ and financier. In 2012, he founded the Contrarian Prize which recognises the independence, courage and sacrifice of British public figures whose ideas challenge the status quo.

He has had a deep affection for the English countryside and strongly believes in the importance of people connecting with the beauty and tranquillity of nature. He served as a CPRE trustee from 2009–2014.

Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE

Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE became Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 2012. Before this, she was Director-General of the National Trust, where she raised the profile of the trust’s work in the countryside.

Fiona was previously Director of the Council for the Protection of Rural England (now Campaign to Protect Rural England) and Secretary to the Council for National Parks (now Campaign to Protect National Parks).

Fiona holds many non-Executive roles and is a Member of the Advisory Panel for the Dasgupta Review of the Economics of Biodiversity. She was also was a Panel Member for the Glover Review of Protected Landscapes and Adviser to the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission.