Dr Julia Aglionby DL

Julia is Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land and Professor of Practice in Protected Areas at the University of Cumbria’s Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas.

She started work in SE Asia as an environmental economist and later returned to Cumbria working as an agricultural valuer. Her PhD was in Law and Julia specialises in negotiating multi-partite agreements for improving farming and environmental outcomes from common land.

Julia from 2014-2019 was a Board Member of Natural England. Julia lives near Armathwaite in the Eden Valley with her husband, Charles Weir. Their two children are away studying and working.

She was involved in establishing Susan’s Farm CIO, an educational care farm of which she a Trustee and helps on the farm. Julia is active in Penrith Quaker Meeting and has a particular concern for supporting refugees and climate resilience.

Julia is a Member of Lancaster Royal Grammar School Academy Trust. Away from work her passion is outdoor swimming and with two friends in 2023 she swam the 85 mile River Eden. From this emerged ‘View from the River’ which campaigns on improving river quality. 

Julia has in the past stood for Parliament, reflecting her longstanding commitment to public service.