David Murray

Catch David on DO Radio 01-08 September on It's Not About Trees with John Lunn.

David joined as Executive Director in May 2022 from Article 25, where he was Managing Director.

With over 20 years in the charity sector, he has championed urban travel infrastructure and conservation. Highlights include securing the first Green Party seat in Parliament, establishing public coastal access through the Marine & Coastal Access Act, and unlocking £1 billion for cycling infrastructure via the government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

David is a Chartered Environmentalist and a Fellow of both the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and the Royal Geographical Society.

Show notes:

John Lunn sat down with David Murray, Executive Director of Sustainability First, for a conversation that began with the UK’s energy and water systems but quickly opened out into a bigger exploration of how we reshape the way society, business, and nature work together. 

David’s career has been rooted in purpose - from leading the Green Party to driving campaigns with the Ramblers and using cricket as a tool for change in Africa. Now, he’s at the heart of conversations about how to reform the systems that deliver two of life’s essentials: energy and water.

He talked about why the energy transition can’t leave people behind, why water governance needs a rethink, and how nature-based solutions could solve some of our toughest infrastructure challenges. 

This isn’t just about policy or technology - it’s about trust, fairness, and imagination.

Along the way, David reflected on the political polarisation around climate action, the need for new skills in a green economy, and why the next generation gives him genuine hope.   The pace of change won’t slow down.

But as David reminds us, how we respond, and who we include, in that response is still up to us.

Newsletter: info@sustainabilityfirst.org.uk