Audrey Burns

Audrey Burns is a Mediator and Program Manager at Meridian based in London, United Kingdom. Audrey specializes in multilateral environmental policymaking and negotiations, with a focus on biodiversity and tropical forest conservation. She coordinates a learning community of a dozen organizations engaging in dialogue on pressing issues related to deforestation and promoting deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains. Audrey facilitates high-level political engagement for the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) to support governments in meeting their commitments under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use. In her capacity as a member of the Digital Sequence Information (DSI) project team, Audrey contributes to the development of an equitable and well-coordinated approach to the governance of DSI. Finally, as a member of the Mindfulness Initiative Team, Audrey works towards embedding mindfulness and wellbeing in Meridian’s organizational culture and across Meridian projects.

Formerly a Programme Officer at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Audrey worked with teams in Ghana, Uganda, and Mozambique to develop tools to place biodiversity information at the heart of government decision-making. Other foci included developing guidance for policymakers to account for Indigenous Peoples’ rights in Guyana and creating a set of principles for socially equitable governance of protected and conserved areas.

Outside of work, Audrey enjoys going on multi-day hiking trips around the UK, cycling around the English countryside, and playing on her tag rugby team. Audrey spends her evenings going to the theatre, attending folk music performances, or enjoying another of London’s diverse cultural offerings.