Justin Thomas Albert OBE (born 19 February 1965) is a conservationist, Educationalist, Broadcaster, Sustainable Food & Farming Advocate, Film Maker, and the former head of National Trust for Wales,[1][2]
Justin Albert OBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 February 1965 London, England |
| Nationality | English/American |
| Occupation | Conservationist | Educationalist | Broadcaster | Sustainable Food & Farming Advocate | Film Maker | Former Head - National Trust Wales |
He is Vice President of Hay Festival and Member of the Hay Festival Council.[3]
In earlier years, he was a multi-award-winning history and environmental filmmaker and television executive. He is the son of lawyer Robert Alan Albert and filmmaker Revel Sarah Guest.[4]
He has a degree in law from the University of Buckingham and an honorary master's in arts from the University of Wales.
Sustainable Food and Farming - Research and Development Incubator
editAlbert transitioned on from his role at the National Trust in 2021 to work with Sir Tim Smit from The Eden Project and Fraser White of The Green School to lead a globally focused, UK-based agri-tech R&D lab that incubates and invests in circular food and materials production based in Cornwall.
Albert says their aim is to "rekindle Britain's renowned legacy in global innovation, focusing on the agri-tech sector."[5]
The National Trust
editAlbert was Director of Wales for The National Trust in 2011 - 2021.[6] The National Trust is the largest volunteer conservation charity in Europe.[7] National Trust Wales is the largest landowner in Wales, and it protects numerous castles and historic buildings, thousands of acres of wilderness and farmland, and 200 miles of Welsh coastline.[8]
International National Trust Organization (INTO)
editAlbert was appointed as lead director and Trustee to INTO in 2013. The international charity represents the interests of 64 international heritage and conservation charities from around the globe.
Other
editHe has been a vice president of Hay Festival since 2005.[9] He is a Trustee of Hay Castle Trust,[10] and a member of the Welsh Government Tourism Advisory Board.[11] In 2017 he became director and trustee of Michael Morphurgo's Farms For City Children charity.[12] He is also director and trustee for the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, and a founding trustee of the Hay Castle Trust.
Film and television
editDocumentary film production
editAlbert was a documentary filmmaker and company director of Transatlantic Films.[13] He has directed and produced over 60 documentaries, including: History's Turning Points (1995); Three Gorges: The Biggest Dam in the World (1998); Trailblazers (1998); Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: Ancient China (2000); China's Mega Dam (2006).[14]
Broadcasting
editHe was executive vice president at Mandalay Media Arts in Los Angeles 1999.[15] He joined Discovery Communications Digital Networks as a vice president in 1999, and became head of production at Animal Planet in 2001. He founded West Beach Television, an independent production company, in 2003,[16] and in 2008, he became general manager of Horse and Country TV.[17]
Personal life
editAlbert married Hester Amanda Jessica Gray, elder daughter of restaurateur Rose Gray, in 1991, and was divorced in 1997. He married Nancy Burns Lavin, a former television executive and building preservation charity director, in 2000. They live in Wales. He has three children, Charlotte (b. 27 March 1992), Oscar (b. 9 March 1996) and Theodore (b. 19 May 1997).[18]
Awards
editAlbert was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to the historic and natural environment in Wales.[19]
References
edit- ^ Martin Aaron. "'New Director for Wales', BBC Wales". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "'New director appointed for National Trust Wales', Wales Tourism Alliance". Wta.org.uk. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "About Hay Festival". www.hayfestival.com. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ "The Peerage". The Peerage. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinalbert/
- ^ "'New Director Appointed for National Trust Wales', Wales Tourism Alliance". Wta.org.uk. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Training, National Trust". Nationaltrustjobs.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Visit Wales, National Trust". Nationaltrust.org.uk. 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Hay Festival". Hay Festival. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ Period Property. "The Telegraph". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Welsh Government". Wales.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ Children, Farms for City. "Justin Albert". Farms for City Children. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Comdevelopment Ltd. "Companies in the UK". Companies in the UK. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ Justin Albert at IMDb
- ^ Graser, Marc (30 April 1999). "'Albert atop Mandalay Media Arts', Variety". Variety.com. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "'Justin Albert Tapped as Vice President...', The Free Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 30 November 2000. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Press Release - 07/04/09, Horse&Country" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "The Peerage". The Peerage. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B10.