“We established ANIMONDIAL to offer travel & tourism businesses and their trade associations a friendly, unrivalled and reliable service that guides them towards animal-friendly and nature positive operation that is good for business and the planet.”
– Daniel Turner & Helen Usher
OUR TEAM
Daniel Turner
Co-Founder of ANIMONDIAL & NATOUR IMPACT
Director of Strategy
(BSc Hons Environmental Biology)
Daniel is an environmental biologist who has been working for the advancement of applied animal and nature protection for over 25 years.
Read Daniel's Full Profile
Taking a more pragmatic approach to the challenges that face the natural world, he has created and led initiatives that have influenced international policy and national legislation, and tourism sector standards and best practice guidance. Achievements include: “The EU Zoo Inquiry”, an extensive evaluation of EU zoo law and zoo performance (2010 to 2016); instigator of the European Parliament’s MEPs For Wildlife and The EU Action Plan against wildlife trafficking; instigator and co-author of ABTA’s Animals Welfare Guidelines (2013), creating the complementary animal welfare and nature positive audit criteria, and most recently, he has pioneered “Nature Positive Tourism”, co-authoring supporting publications (2022 & 2024), which has led to significant industry policy change. Considered a leading figure in animal protection in tourism, in 2018, Daniel cofounded ANIMONDIAL, the specialist consultancy supporting tourism businesses on all animal and nature matters and, in 2021, he co-established NATOUR IMPACT, an evaluation tool for tourism businesses to measure and monitor their impacts and dependencies on nature. Daniel advocates an animal-friendly, nature positive, low carbon future, where tourism is part of the solution.
“I’ve worked with Daniel for 10 years. Daniel is widely regarded as one of the leading figures in the animal protection movement, in particular for his engagement and work with the tourism industry. He is vastly knowledgeable and experienced in the issues and in how to engage business to solve them. I have no hesitation in recommending him highly to any tourism businesses looking for support in this area.”
– Justin Francis, Founder and CEO, Responsible Travel
Helen Usher
Co-Founder of ANIMONDIAL & NATOUR IMPACT
Director of Operations
(IDM PG Diploma Direct & Digital Marketing, BA Hons)
Helen is a communications and partnerships specialist who has been working for environmental and societal change for over 15 years.
Read Helen's Full Profile
Helen is a communications and partnerships specialist who has been working for the advancement of environmental and societal change for over fifteen years. Working with corporations, NGOs and academia, Helen has driven award-winning strategic global CSR initiatives in support of numerous impact projects and is a recognised fundraising and corporate partnerships consultant. Helen established the award-winning, specialist consultancy ANIMONDIAL with Daniel, to provide Travel & Tourism with impartial advice and practical guidance to better manage animal and nature protection. Helen is also co-author of Preventing Illegal Wildlife Trade (WTTC, 2021), Nature Positive Travel & Tourism (WTTC, 2022) & Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action (UN Tourism, WTTC & WSHA, 2024).
Helen has worked with many clients inside the tourism sector and outside including Jaguar Land Rover, Microsoft, Allianz, Lush, Born Free Foundation, Mind, WWF, Make a Wish Foundation, Marie Curie, Body Shop, Hewlett Packard, and Deloitte.
“Helen was a huge help to the Mind Corporate Partnerships Teams as we secured the largest partnerships to date. Helen brought her indomitable drive, passion and rigorous approach to everything we threw her way, whether new biz bids, account management or strategic consultancy.”
– Richard Amos, Head of New Corporate Partnerships, Mind
Daniel Turner
Co-Founder of ANIMONDIAL & NATOUR IMPACT
Director of Strategy
(BSc Hons Environmental Biology)
Daniel Turner is an environmental biologist committed to identifying and delivering solutions to challenges that continue to threaten animals and the natural environment.
Read Daniel's Full Profile
Experienced in developing and driving policy and creating standards to protect animal welfare, combat wildlife trafficking and build back biodiversity, Daniel is vastly knowledgeable and experienced in the issues and in how to engage business to solve them.
During his 17 years of service at the wildlife NGO, Born Free Foundation, he became the Associate Director in EU Policy & Tourism, before establishing ANIMONDIAL in 2018 and NATOUR IMPACT in 2021. Notable achievements include: The EU Zoo Inquiry (2011, 2016), an assessment of EU zoo compliance; co-creator of the European Parliament’s MEPs For Wildlife and The EU Action Plan against wildlife trafficking; and co-author of tourism sector guidance – ABTA’s Animal Welfare Guidelines (2013, 2019), The Paradox of Elephant-friendly Tourism (2020), Preventing Illegal Wildlife Trade (2021), Nature Positive Travel & Tourism (2022) & Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action (2024).
Daniel advocates an animal-friendly, nature positive, low carbon future, where tourism is part of the solution.
“I’ve worked with Daniel for 10 years. Daniel is widely regarded as one of the leading figures in the animal protection movement, for his work with the tourism industry. He is vastly knowledgeable and experienced in the issues and in how to engage business to solve them. I have no hesitation in recommending him highly to any tourism businesses looking for support in this area.”
– Justin Francis, Founder and CEO, Responsible Travel
Helen Usher
Co-Founder of ANIMONDIAL & NATOUR IMPACT
Director of Operations
(IDM PG Diploma Direct & Digital Marketing, BA Hons)
Helen is an experienced communications and partnerships specialist who has been working for meaningful environmental and societal change for over 15 years.
Read Helen's Full Profile
A passionate and creative team-player, Helen has worked with corporations, NGOs and academia to drive award-winning strategic global CSR initiatives in support of numerous impact projects and is a sought-after fundraising and corporate partnerships consultant outside of her role in tourism. Helen established the award-winning, specialist consultancy ANIMONDIAL (2018) and NATOUR IMPACT (2021), to provide Travel & Tourism with guidance to better manage animal and nature protection. Helen is also co-author of Preventing Illegal Wildlife Trade (WTTC, 2021), Nature Positive Travel & Tourism (WTTC, 2022) & Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action (UN Tourism, WTTC & WSHA, 2024). Helen advocates to raise awareness of lesser-known NGOs showcasing their value for strategic collaboration with business and governments to support a global approach and lasting change.
Helen has worked with many clients outside tourism including Jaguar Land Rover, PwC, Microsoft, Allianz, Lush, Born Free, Make a Wish Foundation, Marie Curie, Body Shop, Hewlett Packard, and Deloitte.
“Helen is a dedicated professional who goes beyond surface-level collaboration to drive real impact. Working with her has been a game-changer. She listens intently, understands the bigger picture, and ensures we gain access to the right resources— those that truly move the needle. Her commitment to meaningful progress and real outcomes sets her apart. If you’re looking for someone who genuinely cares about making a difference, she’s the one you want by your side.”
– Che Greenidge, Executive Director, Barbados Environmental Conservation Trust (BECT)
David Jay
Biodiversity Partnerships Manager
(MSc Conservation Biology)
David has been working in the nature conservation space for nearly thirty years in various roles including programme management, network co-ordination, fundraising and writing. He has worked with UK-based NGOs and academic institutions on projects for the United Nations, the European Commission and the IUCN. As manager of ANIMONDIAL’s Animal Protection Network, David onboards trusted animal and nature protection organisations, advises and supports existing members and makes connections with travel businesses seeking authentic biodiversity partnerships.
Cara Oliver
Communications Manager
(BA Hons Marketing)
Cara is a skilled Marketeer with over 20 years experience. Passionate about both travel and the natural world, she spent a number of years exploring and working in Australasia including working for World Animal Protection in Sydney. She is passionate about finding ways we can communicate the urgent need to act now for nature.
Laura Pizzolo
Impact Analyst
(BEng in Biological, Agronomic and Environmental Engineering)
Laura brings her experience in communications and compliance to the service of halting and reversing biodiversity loss. As Impact Analyst, she supports clients with nature-related impact disclosures through ANIMONDIAL and assessing their nature-related impacts with NATOUR IMPACT.
Mark Bowden
Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of NATOUR IMPACT
Mark is a data and technology specialist with a broad range of skills across data, software engineering and analytics. He has over 25 years’ experience leading change programmes and business teams at a senior level, as well as being an experienced practitioner with application development, data science, data engineering, reporting and analytics skills. He has worked primarily in Financial Services and has specialised in sustainability and risk management, having developed one of Lloyds Bank’s early climate models. He is a member of the Taskforce for Nature Related Disclosures’ Data Catalyst group, helping to define the reporting and data standards required by TNFD.