Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

My son - OBE

20 June 2012

Categories: Homepage News

The Foundation is elated that our Chief Executive Will Travers has been awarded an OBE.  His mother, our Founder Virginia McKenna, explains.

“It was with indescribable  joy that I learned that my son Will had been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. I suppose I have a particular and personal understanding of his unfailing dedication to the work we do at Born Free. As, together with his late father, Bill Travers, we have shared much of the long and often challenging journey since we started our charity 28 years ago. His commitment to the plight of animals, whether in the wild or in captivity, is total, and it is his vision that has enabled our work to expand.

Like his father Will never asks anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. In this way he is a team player. In another way he is an exceptional leader. Speaking always with an informed voice and a voice of reason and compassion.  His deep-seated modesty will make him believe he receives this award on behalf of all his colleagues at Born Free and those who work in the field of conservation and animal welfare. Of course, in this work one never does things completely alone, we each of us rely on the support of our colleagues and friends, but I hope he will realise that it is he himself who has been recognised and who inspires so many people.  Including myself.”

Virginia McKenna OBE
Founder and Trustee, Born Free Foundation