ABOUT Me

Nice to meet you

I am a painter, poet, environmentalist, and expert advisor on multicultural environmental participation, probably best known as the Honorary President of Black Environment Network (BEN). For 27 years I was the UK Director of BEN, with an international reputation as the pioneer and creator of the field of multicultural environmental participation in the built and natural environment. 

I am recognised as a major voice on policy and practice towards social inclusion. My creative approach has led to my being called a vision caster.

Biographical Notes

2010 onwards – President Black Environment Network.

1987-2010  Director of Black Environment Network. Organisational operations. Partnership. Funding. Effective delivery. International reputation as the pioneer of the field of multicultural environmental participation. Promoted environmental science. Pioneered methodology and training. OBE recognising this work. CBE recognising services to heritage.

1949-1987 Lived in 3 different cultures before the age of 25. This experience of repeated cultural displacement formed the basis for my social commitment in later life. Born in Hong Kong. Moved to Australia for school and university in 1965. Arrived in Europe and lived in West Berlin in 1972 as a painter. Settled in the UK from 1974. Exhibited Britain, Europe, Australia and the United States. My work as a community artist in the UK consolidated my social commitment, with a complete change of career direction from immersion in the arts to environmental concerns in my thirties.

Honours and Awards

2023 RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Elisabeth Medal of Honour “For having affected the lives of people who would not traditionally have access to nature and brought joy to countless lives, along with stimulating a desire to enhance and protect the natural world around them” Keith Reed RHS President.

2021 BBC Power Women List, Forbes List of 100 Leading Environmentalists in the UK, Climate Reframe List of 100 best known BAME activists, Vanity Fair International Women’s Day. Challenger Award 2021, Earth Day Green Plaque Award 2021.

2014 Honorary Fellowship Society for the Environment HonSovEnv For influencing policy and practice re diversity and equality across the environmental sector.

2013 Honorary Fellowship Institution for Environmental Sciences HonFIES For contribution to opening up understanding of environmental science and unlocking contribution by multicultural communities.

2007 CBE Queen’s Birthday Honours For Services to Heritage. Recognition for pioneering multicultural interpretation of heritage across the sector.

2005 Honorary Doctorate University of Gloucestershire HonPhD For outstanding contribution to multicultural environmental participation and environmental justice.

2003 Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institution for Water and Environmental Management HonFCIWEM For outstanding contribution to diversity and equality practice across the environmental sector.

2000 OBE Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of pioneering work in establishing the field of multicultural environmental participation.

1997 Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts FRSA for contribution to contemporary environmental thinking.

1977 First woman in the history of China to be Master of the 3 Arts (the 3 Chinese arts of painting, calligraphy and seal carving).

1969 Nell Norris Prize in Architecture University of Melbourne. Most outstanding student of the year in the whole of the architectural school

1967 First Academic Colours in the history of Clyde School, Woodend, Australia. The honour was created for her exceptional academic achievement across the arts and sciences.ha

Committees Advisory Groups and Campaigns 1994-2022

  • UN Habitat Global Stakeholders Forum, representing UK Urban Ecology Forum. Leading sub-group for international work, creatively framing urban ecology to meet stakeholder needs in an urbanising world.

  • DCMS Historic Environment Executive Committee member. Teamwork to review policies for the historic environment to set the direction of travel for the next 50 years. Specific input into document “Power of Place” 2000 in the area of diversity and equality.

  • ODPM Urban Green Spaces Task Force. Developed policy framework. Set up typography of green spaces.

  • National Trust Council for England and Wales board member.  Instrumental in putting into place the historically first Diversity and Equality Policy. Coined the term “multicultural interpretation” and stimulated its practice in the wider heritage sector, across heritage sites and museums. CBE recognising this work.

  • Wales Assembly Government Environmental Strategy Reference Group. Worked on biodiversity policy, with input into communication issues to increase civil society involvement. Societal implications of policy.

  • Scottish Museums Council National Access and Learning Steering Group. Advising on approaches to representation and increasing access to learning by disadvantaged groups within the museum sector.

  • Attingham Trust Working Group. Worked on definitive report on heritage learning and education “Opening Doors: Learning in the Historic Environment”. Coined the term “Hidden Histories”, widely used in the heritage sector. Following on from this, commissioned by Heritage Lottery Fund to write the paper “Multicultural Interpretation and Access to Heritage” to coincide with the “Whose Heritage Conference”.

  • OPAL (Open Air Laboratories) Imperial College Advisory Board. Advising on the significance of citizen science engagement in the policy context. Evaluating and planning activities such as Bioblitz at Brompton Cemetery Park, with diverse partners, including scientific partners such as Natural History Museum.

  • Trees Woods and People Campaign Steering Group. Led by Woodlands Trust involving over 70 organisations. Public awareness campaign building up to mass signing and launch of the Tree Charter.

  • Tree Charter Board, consolidating the work of the Tree Charter

  • UK Urban Ecology Forum – representative at the UN Habitat Global Stakeholders Forum

  • DEFRA Civil Society Partnership Network core group – Vice Chair

  • Hidden Histories Advisory Group. AHRC and NERC, UKRI – Member

  • Healthy Environment Engagement Project Advisory Group. NERC – Member
  • Living Landscapes Research Steering Group. Royal Society – Member
  • Green Apprenticeships Advisory Group (IFATE) – Chair,   supporting the BEIS Green Recovery Taskforce

Committees Advisory Groups and Campaigns - Current

National Park City Foundation/London National Park City – Co-Founder

  • Black Environment Network – Honorary President

  • IUCN/WCPA Urban Conservation Strategies Specialist Group – Member

  • Countryside and Community Research Institute – Advisory Board member

  • Aluna – Cultural Strategy Development Group

  • Smart Parks Standard Panel – British Standards Institution BSI – Panel member

  • Population Matters – Patron and Advisory Group member

  • Botanic Gardens Education Network – Expert Advisor

  • Women’s Environmental Network – Ambassador

  • Weston Communicating Climate Advisory Group. Media Trust – Member

  • CIEEM Chartered Institute for Ecological and Environmental Management – Patron

  • Plants People and Places Archive Network – Member
  • Green Apprenticeships and Technical Education Advisory Panel GATE-AP – Chair