Meet our president and vice presidents

Mary-Ann Ochota

Mary-Ann is a broadcaster, author and anthropologist whose expertise has engaged people worldwide with landscapes, heritage and the natural world.

A passionate advocate of our countryside and natural spaces, Mary-Ann is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a member of Natural England’s Landscape Advisory Panel, and a patron of the Ridgeway National Trail. She is also a patron of the Tony Trust, which supports disadvantaged children to access outdoor adventure, and a member of All the Elements, a network driving better inclusion and diversity in the outdoors.

Appointed as the first Independent Chair of the Protected Landscapes Partnership, effective January 2026. She leads efforts to strengthen England’s national landscapes, parks, and trails.

Mary-Ann was appointed as CPRE’s president in July 2024.