Empower Ecological Change
Our Story
BRANCH Institute was born out of a decade of global ecological research and real-world experimentation in how science can drive meaningful change.
Built on the legacy of the Crowther Lab, BRANCH was established by colleagues who wanted to continue and expand a body of work they were deeply proud of. The Crowther Lab brought together an interdisciplinary team of scientists studying ecosystems at a planetary scale to understand how biodiversity, climate, and human systems are interconnected. That work helped reshape how restoration, climate mitigation, and ecosystem recovery are understood and measured worldwide.
BRANCH carries forward a simple but ambitious idea: to create a global restoration movement grounded in transparent, connected science that empowers local land stewards and ensures that wealth and opportunity flow back to those who care for the land. At its core, this vision recognizes that ecological degradation is driven as much by economic pressure as by environmental mismanagement, and that durable solutions must address both.
Today, BRANCH operates as a collaborative research hub that connects scientists, practitioners, and institutions across the world. Research is carried out in partnership with universities, research centres, and practitioners, while BRANCH provides the connective tissue: shared scientific priorities, data integration, synthesis, governance, and translation into decision-ready evidence.
Operations Team
Emily Clark
Managing Director
Emily serves as Managing Director, overseeing organizational systems, governance, and capacity development across the institute. With a background in human ecology, and extensive experience in group management, cross-sector collaboration, and leadership development, she designs systems that keep Branch’s research, policy, and partnerships aligned, efficient, and accountable. Emily leads Branch’s institutional operations, building systems that connect research excellence with operational efficiency. At Branch, Emily connects operations with research and policy goals, ensuring the institute remains agile, transparent, and impact-driven.
Dr. Ian Brettell
Policy Director
Dr. Ian Brettell serves as Branch’s Policy Director, bridging ecological research with international policy and market standards. Trained in bioinformatics (PhD, University of Cambridge/EMBL-EBI) and law (LLB, University of Sydney), he connects science, technology, and governance to advance nature-positive economies. Ian leads the policy development and market transition of the SEED Biocomplexity Index, engaging governments, companies, and multilateral frameworks to embed biodiversity metrics in decision-making.
Scientific Advisory Council
Providing strategic stewardship and scientific rigor to ensure our mission remains innovative, credible, and impactful.
Prof. Constantin Zohner
Senior Scientific Advisor (Research Strategy)
Dr. Lalasia Bialic-Murphy
Senior Scientific Advisor (Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics)
Lalasia advises on research strategy related to forest ecosystem resilience, biodiversity dynamics, and extinction risk under global change. Her advisory role at Branch ensures scientific coherence across projects, promotes the generation of globally relevant datasets, and supports inclusive, equitable research collaborations.
Dr. Johan van den Hoogen
Senior Scientific Advisor for Data Science & Modeling
Johan provides guidance on the integration of ecology, geospatial modeling, and environmental informatics. Currently a data scientist at ETH Zürich, he co-developed influential global datasets and models, advising Branch on data standards, modeling strategy, and interoperability.
Dr. Robert McElderry
Senior Scientific Advisor for Biodiversity Metrics and Analytics
Robert is a quantitative ecologist and nature data specialist who brings deep ecological knowledge together with expertise in biodiversity risk modelling, geospatial analysis, and global biodiversity indices. At Branch, he advises on scientific frameworks, methodological rigour, and the policy relevance of biodiversity modelling and indicator development.
Meet Our Board
Thomas Crowther
Tom Crowther is a British ecologist, focussed on understanding the forces that shape biodiversity at a global scale. He is the founder of the Crowther Lab and Restor.eco. Collectively, his global network of projects is supporting the recovery of healthy soils and vegetation across 160 million hectares of land. In 2021, the World Economic Forum named Crowther a Young Global Leader. Tom provides long-term scientific stewardship and continuity with the institute’s founding vision. In this advisory capacity, he offers strategic guidance on research direction, systems-scale biodiversity science, and the integration of science with policy and societal impact.
Milena Scherrer
Vice-Chair
An economist by training, Milena brings over 15 years of experience in strategy and partnerships. After holding senior roles at BCG, Swiss Re, and Google, she joined Tom Crowther to lead fundraising and partnership efforts for the Crowther Lab, building bridges between science, action, and global collaboration.
Susannah Williams
Susannah brings a strong scientific foundation to her administrative work, with a research background in regenerative medicine before transitioning to a venture capital firm investing in scientific spin-outs. There, she gained insight into how ideas move from laboratory benches to real-world impact. As she developed a passion for supporting research that delivers tangible, long-term benefits, she became increasingly drawn to work that extends beyond human health to planetary health and with an organisation that will have meaningful impact to people and planet, Branch.
Eric Winkler
Board Member
Eric founded Ryder Industries in 1979, growing it into a multinational across three continents. A physicist by training (ETH Zürich), his management approach centers on integrity and sincerity.
Christabel Reed
Board Member
Co-founder of Advaya and Earthed, Christabel weaves ecology, spirituality, and culture to upskill the grassroots nature restoration movement.
Alexa Firmenich
Board Member
Founder of Naia Trust and podcast host of Lifeworlds, Alexa is an investor and consultant focused on nature-based solutions and new economic models.