Chris Spence (journalist)

Christopher Robert Spence
Chris Spence at Point Reyes National Seashore
Personal details
Born (1970-06-08) 8 June 1970
Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Nationality United Kingdom & New Zealand
Spouse(s) Nicole Eppolito Spence
Children 3
Profession Writer

Chris Spence (born June 1970) is an award-winning British / New Zealand journalist and former political advisor on environmental issues and foreign affairs. He has spent almost 3 decades working internationally and in the United States on sustainable development, conservation, climate change, and health policy. In 2005, Chris published Global Warming: Personal Solutions for a Healthy Planet ( ISBN 1403966982 ), which offers a description of the climate change problem and a practical guide to the solutions.

Biography

Spence was born in 1970 in the small town of Wakefield in Yorkshire, England and raised in Bingley. His family moved to Wellington, New Zealand when he was 12. In New Zealand, Spence attended Wellington College and Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with BA and MA degrees in political science and history.[1][2] After living in New Zealand in his twenties, he moved to New York and later to San Francisco, following a short stint in London. He is married with 3 kids and currently lives in California.

Career

In the 1990s, Spence worked as a political researcher at the New Zealand parliament, speechwriter, journalist and lobbyist in New Zealand and he was also the lead singer and front man in a popular rock band called Edge with his younger brother for a while. In 1997, Spence became the youngest ever Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, a public health advocacy/lobby group. While at the New Zealand Drug Foundation he earned the nickname, the 'ED'. Spence led intensive communications and public relations work, policy development and political lobbying, taking a public health perspective, on behalf of the drug and alcohol sector. This involved developing media campaigns, being a public spokesperson, and leading the development of research-based advocacy work. He also co-hosted a successful drug education conference and launched a popular website.[3]

In 1998, Spence left New Zealand to travel, and after spending time in New York visiting friends including his great friend John O'Brien and searching for work, his focus shifted to international diplomacy, particularly United Nations negotiations on climate change and other environmental law issues. He worked as a consultant and advisor for a range of international organizations, including the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Then in 2006, he took on the position of Special Advisor to IUCN-the World Conservation Union. Spence led the Earth Negotiations Bulletin team to United Nations climate change negotiations from 1999–2002, and again in 2005 (Montreal, Canada), 2006 (Nairobi, Kenya), 2007 (Bali, Indonesia) and 2008 (Poznań, Poland).

In 2012, Spence joined the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, running their policy and innovation team at the Institute at the Golden Gate. In 2014, his role was expanded and he eventually went on to become Executive Vice President responsible for strategy and partnerships. In this role, he oversaw five departments and a large staff responsible for ensuring Golden Gate National Parks delivered inspiring programs and park experiences to the community.

In 2014, his role was expanded to encompass the additional position of Vice President, Strategy and Innovation with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

In late 2016, he resigned to take some time off including to spend more time with his young family and resume his writing and singing.

He explained his reasons for leaving in a heartfelt blog.

He also returned to his former musical interests with a new band, TDK. (Link: https://www.facebook.com/TDKBayAreaBand/)

Spence has also authored and co-authored several books. In September 2005, he authored the book Global Warming: Personal Solutions for a Healthy Planet.[4] The book drew from Spence's experiences with the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and took issue with some of the policies of the Bush Administration on climate change. Spence has also been published in the American British Business Magazine,[5] the New York Daily News,[6] and Discover magazine.[7]

References

  1. ↑ See Victoria University of Wellington Career View 2002 -
  2. ↑ Daily Press (November 8, 2005) Says who. Section: Editorial; Page A8.
  3. ↑ April 24 Events Calendar - NYSIA Archived November 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Canadian Journal of Sociology (September 22, 2005) Books received/livres recus. Volume 30; Issue 4; Page 553. (writing, "Spence, Chris, Global Warming: Personal Solutions for a Healthy Planet. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, 191 pp., cloth")
  5. ↑ Chris Spence Article in 2006 American British Business Magazine Archived October 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Shin, Paul H.B. (December 11, 2005) New York Daily News White House Icy Reception to Climate Threats not Stopping Some Cities. Warming to local solutions. Section: News; page 26.
  7. ↑ Glausiusz, Josie (February 1, 2006) Discover Global warming : Personal Solutions for a Healthy Planet. Volume 27; Issue 2; Page 70.
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