Meet the In Our Nature Steering Group
We’re creating a movement, or a ‘Community Coalition’ – a wide-ranging group of people who are taking action on climate in a way that is meaningful to them: by participating in projects, attending events, and engaging with us via our newsletter and Learning Hub.
The Coalition Steering Group is a self-selecting diverse group of 12 residents from across Manchester, who meet every two months to make collective decisions about future activity and drive forward more action.
The group receives regular programme updates, and works with us to co-create opportunities to:
Widen participation and increase programme impact, by ensuring that community voices are represented in the programme and in citywide consultation work
Enable community groups to connect and collaborate
Support the development of more climate projects by sharing learning and best practice
The group also benefits from training by programme delivery partners, including tailored group support from In Our Nature partner, Amity. Each member of the Steering Group brings their own unique set of skills and valuable knowledge about their local communities. We are grateful to the group for their enthusiasm and commitment to making Manchester a greener, healthier, more connected city.
Meet the Coalition Steering Group!
Ngwafu
My name is Ngwafu Tansie, I am the founder and chef of gwafuvegan based in Manchester. We specialise in catering and educating the public about plant-based West African food and cooking sustainably using seasonal produce. I wanted to join the steering group to help further educate about cooking sustainably, reducing food waste and what it means to lower your carbon footprint through food.
Joss
My name is Joss Bennett. I live in the City Centre ward, having moved from Fallowfield, as is customary for many students in Manchester. The city has been home for 10-years. I was motivated to join In Our Nature steering group out of a curiosity to better understand and support the continuation of local environmental projects that best serve residents across Manchester.
As an environmental consultant I have had exposure to commercial sustainable initiatives, from small organisations through to large corporates in the public and private sector. In Our Nature provides a space for me to use my experiences to support grass-roots projects and represent my peers on the environmental trajectory of Manchester. I am interested to understand the rich history of environmental impact initiatives in Manchester, created and run by innovative residents and how these can be supported to continue to best safeguard our ecosystems and connect people with nature.
Marie-Fluer
I work at a Manchester based engineering company and I’m also studying for an MSc in Climate Change at Manchester University, focusing on class inequalities and just transitions in the city via the medium of urban gardening. Looking to support local groups and listen and learn!
Danielle
Danielle lives in South Manchester and works for a sustainability consultancy. Her interests lie in local and urban food projects, having enjoyed regularly volunteered at local community gardening and food waste projects over the past few years.
Ghada
I am a researcher at the University of Manchester, passionate about sustainability, social impact, and community engagement, and I lead initiatives that empower communities through sustainable fashion, migration awareness, and environmental action. As the founder of Sustainable Threads and a co-host at ALLFM, I work with asylum seekers, students, and local communities to promote inclusivity, skill-sharing, and social justice, aiming to create a more sustainable and equitable Manchester.
Nazmeen
I’m the founder of Bike It Walk It CIC, a not-for-profit organisation based in North Manchester. As a Cycling Instructor and Cycle Mechanic, I love seeing people grow in confidence and become happier through cycling. I’m passionate about promoting wellbeing and creating a cleaner, greener environment. In my spare time, you’ll find me on my bike exploring new places and enjoying the ride.
Haojun
Haojun Shuai is an Environmental Management student at The University of Manchester and a Steering Group Member of In Our Nature, working to amplify community-led climate action. He collaborates with local organizations, policymakers, and residents to co-create sustainable solutions, integrating science, policy, and innovation. Passionate about net-zero initiatives and community engagement, Haojun also leads sustainability efforts at the university and was shortlisted for The University of Manchester’s Volunteer of the Year 2025 award.
Alice
Hi I’m Alice and I work at No.93 Wellbeing Centre in Harpurhey. I think it’s important that North Manchester is represented at In Our Nature and my role enables me to chat to local people and community groups. We need to have a greater focus on the environment and by involving the community, people are more likely to take ownership of projects and make positive changes.
Kat
I'm Kat, I live in Withington in Old Moat ward. I am a keen cyclist and passionate about the wellbeing benefits of access to local green spaces. I joined the In Our Nature Steering Group to engage with like-minded and inspiring people from around the city to bring about positive change.
Bernard
I'm vegan. I live in Hulme. I cycle. I swim. I walk. I survived COVID completing 'Farmstart' in Stockport. My allotment likes Jean-Martin Fortier, Iain Tolhurst, and Vita Sackville-West. I attended Climate Camps 2003 - 2010 and advocate non-violent direct action that seeks to face off ecocide. I like puddles.
Helen
Although I’m not originally from Manchester, I love that anyone can get involved in the local community and making a difference here. I’ve been involved in community events and action for the last 15 years – initially with Sofar Sounds Manchester (an organisation that puts on secret gigs around the city) as the Deputy City Lead and Partnership Manager, and then most recently as part of local greening, climate and sustainability community work in the Northern Quarter.
My group received funding via In Our Nature a few years ago, and through the support of that programme we were able to run planting workshops for the local community, improve existing planters with new plants and artistic surroundings, change a piece of waste land into a “pocket park” which then had a herb garden, fruit trees and bushes and a space where people can just sit and enjoy nature.
It's through the In Our Nature programme that I was also invited to be part of the Community Coalition Steering group, and it’s been a fantastic opportunity to meet and learn from other local people and to work with Manchester Climate Agency.
My full-time job is working at The University of Manchester in International Relations.
Jane
Jane grew up on a small farm in Shropshire hills, came to Manchester to study maths and got involved in community action and social sciences. She says "My adult life has been here, except two years in Nigeria as a young graduate teacher. My degrees are in Psychology and ‘Epidemiology & Social Research’. My professional life was in research and development, promoting public health and addressing health inequalities. I worked on whole system approaches, healthy and age-friendly cities, healthier eating, physical activity; interfaces between health and environment eg ‘Local Agenda 21’; key innovations such as Healthy Living Networks and ‘Exercise on Referral’ and I taught ‘Environment & Health Promotion’ at MMU. Living in the inner city involved me in the women’s health movement and varied community activities including ‘In Our Nature’ & ‘Creative Rusholme’. My need to feel close to nature brought me to forest gardening around the turn of the century. Birchfields Park Forest Garden (BPFG), now 18 years old, demonstrates novel ecosystems’ potential for food security, climate resilience and improved health and wellbeing. I am a core gardener at BPFG, the BeeWalk leader in Birchfields and helped develop the National Forest Gardening Scheme; also I'm the ‘Biodiversity Champion’ for the Friends of Platt Fields Park, Manchester Friends of the Earth nature activist, occasionally lead other Nature and Tree Walks and I am also and member of Manchester Permaculture Network and the national Permaculture Association.