Simon Cooper

Member since 2004

Simon Cooper is Communications Specialist for the UNDP Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems practice, which works with commodity producing nations to combat deforestation and climate change.

Simon has led strategy work at international sustainability organizations such as the Alliance for Water Stewardship, Better Cotton Initiative, ISEAL Alliance, Textile Exchange, Pesticide Action Network UK, Cotton Made in Africa and the Social and Labour Convergence Project.

He spent 25 years as a broadcaster and senior radio executive, running GWR-FM in Bristol (now Heart) followed by periods as HR Director and Communications Director at Classic FM.

For 9 years he was chair of the Encounters Film Festival in Bristol. He now sits on the board of We The Curious the hands-on science centre, and the Advisory Board of Bristol and Bath Regional Capital, the social enterprise funder. He is a trustee of MusicSpace, the music therapy charity, and a trustee of The Grand Appeal for Bristol Children’s Hospital.

He serves as a Governor at St. Gregory’s College in Bath and is Chair of Governors at Venturers’ Academy in Bristol.

His first degree was in Geography at Queens’ College, Cambridge: in 2005 he graduated with an MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice from the University of Bath, on the course set up by Anita Roddick of the Body Shop. He is a Fellow of the Radio Academy and of the Royal Geographical Society.

He has a daughter, Grace, and two sons, Sebastian and Hugo. He lives with his wife Liesl in Bath.