Beaver Trust is delighted that our Head of Restoration, Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, has been recognised in the ENDS Power List 2026 as an ‘unsung hero’.
The annual list celebrates individuals making a significant contribution to environmental protection and nature recovery. Roisin has been recognised for her outstanding role in the return of beavers to Britain, following more than 15 years of work at the forefront of beaver restoration, conservation science, animal welfare and coexistence.
A field biologist and one of Britain’s leading beaver specialists, Roisin has spent the last 15 years helping to shape the return of beavers to Britain, from working on the Scottish Beaver Trial to overseeing releases into new catchments in the Cairngorms National Park, Cornwall and Somerset.
Her work spans practical reintroduction, health screening, translocation, captive care, management advice and research, as well as building relationships with landowners and communities living alongside beavers.
Roisin has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and is lead author of the Eurasian Beaver Handbook. She was also recognised in 2020 with the Conservation Scientist Award at the Nature of Scotland Awards.
ENDS described Roisin as a recognised beaver reintroduction specialist and highlighted the vital, often unseen work she has carried out to support the species’ return. Nominators praised her expertise, resilience and dedication, noting that beaver reintroduction in Britain would have been hard to imagine without her contribution.
Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer said:
“I’m genuinely touched to be recognised in this way. So much of beaver restoration is about quiet, practical work behind the scenes, supporting animals, landowners, communities and stakeholders to make sure beavers can return in a way that works for people and nature. It’s a huge privilege for that to be acknowledged in such a way .”
Roisin has previously described her career as one shaped by a passion for animal welfare and a determination to “champion the underbug”: giving attention to species and ecological stories that are too often overlooked.
You can read more about Roisin’s career to date in our blog: Always champion the underbug: career insights with beaver specialist Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer.
As beavers continue to return to more landscapes across Britain, Beaver Trust is proud to have one of Europe’s leading beaver experts lead our team and this work to ensure this native species can once again play its vital role in restoring wetlands, supporting wildlife and building more resilient landscapes.