Our Team

WHO WE ARE

Create The Future is a non-for-profit community group made up of an small team of imperfect environmentalists with a dream: change the narrative around the climate crisis.

The project was founded by Emma Turner and Leah Bennett, with the support of a small but growing team of volunteers.

We are also incredibly grateful to have the support our wonderful sponsors and partners.

MEET THE TEAM

Emma is co-founder of Create The Future and manages the Projects & Partnerships Team. In her full time role, Emma works in the public sector on developing sustainable transport strategies. When she manages to find some spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, walking in forests with ancient trees, learning languages, and travelling to new places.

Leah Bennett

Founder / Creative Editor

Leah works as an environmental consultant and co-created Create The Future with Emma. She believes that through creativity and collaboration, the climate crisis and its solutions can be explored, discussed and communicated. Her hope in starting Create The Future is that people will feel encouraged to come together and make positive changes for themselves and the planet.

Jess

Assistant Creative Editor

I am a freelancer, writer, and poet usually based in Bath, UK. Over the past few years, I have created several experimental poetry projects engaging with the public and the environment, including the Canal Poetry Route Project and the Predictive Text Poetry Project, which you can find out more about on my website. I have also had my writing published in a handful of small magazines and am about to start an MA in Environmental Humanities. Recently, I have been spending time in the south of Spain learning about permaculture practices and snapping shots of the local butterflies.

Alicia

Engagement Officer

My name is Alicia Aikens and I am from Québec, Canada. I studied Business at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia with a major in Environmental and Social Sustainability. I currently run a small business and podcast devoted to imagining the ideal future that is beautiful, sustainable and tactile- called Solacene. I believe imaginative and positive visions of the future will play an important role in changing the present

Kris

Education Content & Engagement Officer

Kris is a former secondary school teacher with experience in Drama, Geography and PSHE. Prior to teaching, she travelled Great Britain delivering cross-curricular theatre-in-education workshops in primary, secondary, and SEN settings. In her spare time, you’ll find her enjoying the countryside with her dog Banjo, travelling, or winding down and tuning up her creativity through various forms of arts and crafts

Maria

Comms & Engagement Officer

Maria volunteers as a Communication and Engagement Officer at Create the Future. In her full-time role, she is a sustainability insights professional who writes and talks about sustainability trends. She believes in the power of storytelling and creativity to build a hopeful vision of the future. In her free time she practices aerial arts. Sometimes you need to flip upside down to turn your world right side up

Aimee

Research Officer

Aimee joined the team in 2022 after finishing her MSc in Conservation Biology. She currently works in the conservation sector alongside her role at Create The Future. In her spare time, Aimee loves running, climbing, reading and playing the piano.

Benji

Writer

Originally from Oxford, Benji studied in Amsterdam, and now lives in a converted van, travelling between placements on eco-villages and permaculture farms. Passionate about writing and playing classical guitar, Benji also loves all things which allow him to be outdoors and immersed in nature, from hiking and climbing to surfing and sailing. He is enthusiastically confident in the reality of a future which allows the earth's beauty to flourish and continue to amaze generations to come

Adam

Projects Officer

Adam lives in London. He works for a disability organisation and makes podcasts and films.

Katey

Projects Officer

Katey volunteers as a education projects officer. In her full time role she is a teacher of English in a secondary school. Katey has lived in Kenya and Malawi and enjoys travelling to new places and learning more about our beautiful world. She currently lives in Yorkshire with her husband and two children. In her spare time she enjoys long walks on the beach, reading and drawing.

Anna

Research Officer

Anna is a research officer at Create The Future as part of the Projects & Engagement team. With a passion for environmental law and renewable energy, Anna recently earned her Masters in Law at Durham University, honing her researching skills along the way. Inspired by her studies, she's committed to making a difference here at Create The Future. In her spare time Anna enjoys running and reading classic literature.

Our Team

WHO WE ARE

MEET THE TEAM

Emma Turner

Founder / Programme Manager

Leah Bennett

Founder / Creative Editor

Jess

Assistant Creative Editor

Alicia

Engagement Officer

Kris

Education Content & Engagement Officer

Maria

Comms & Engagement Officer

Aimee

Research Officer

Benji

Writer

Adam

Projects Officer

Katey

Projects Officer

Anna

Research Officer