Our people

William Lynam

Senior consultant

William Lynam

Location

United Kingdom

Languages

English, Spanish

William Lynam is a specialist in climate finance, forest ecology and management, agriculture, and nature-based solutions with 15 years of experience working in countries across the world. A UK/US dual citizen, he has worked on forestry and AFOLU assignments for research organisations, non-profits/NGOs, funders, and for clients in the private sector. At E Co, William is a Senior consultant, developing projects and programmes for major clients like IUCN, FAO, UNCDF, and various governments, and for funds including GCF, GEF, and Adaptation Fund, and calculating the mitigation and adaptation potential of these projects. His expertise spans from project and policy development to practical implementation, including REDD+, forest restoration, and climate-smart agriculture. Prior to joining E Co, William worked in research and sustainable development and in the practical management of forests, agroforestry systems, agricultural lands, and urban greenspaces, particularly in Kenya. This included collecting primary data about the effects of climate change on the ecology and management of agroforestry systems as well as managing climate change adaptation projects in areas experiencing landscape degradation, desertification, deforestation, and the diffusion of invasive species.

Qualifications

Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance – Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
PHD – Plant Sciences – University of Cambridge
Master of Forestry – Yale School of the Environment, Yale University
BSc – Environmental Science – Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University

A Q&A with William Lynam

In a nutshell, tell us about yourself

I was born in Colombia and I grew up in Kenya, where my family would immerse itself regularly in the spectacular nature found there, and my love for the environment blossomed. Those early experiences inspired and informed my career path, where I have been working at the nexus of sustainable development and environmental management, particularly within the realms of ecology, forestry, and agriculture.

Name three things on your bucket list.

There are three regions/ecosystems I’d love to visit and explore: Madagascar, Antarctica, and the Amazon rainforest.

How do you like to spend your weekends?

I like to spend my weekends outdoors: hiking, swimming, or cycling.

What makes you laugh?

I love a good pun, and all of the films by Monty Python.

When are you happiest?

When I’m with friends and family in nature or sharing a meal, but preferably a combination of the two, cooking over a campfire.

Who’s the most inspiring person you’ve ever met?

I met Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. It happened to be Valentine’s Day, and we were chatting about a particular invasive species we were standing near, so I jokingly picked her a flower and asked her to be my Valentine.