Chris Spence is an award-winning British / New Zealandjournalist and former political advisor on environmental issues and foreign affairs. He has spent almost 3 decades working internationally and in the United States on sustainable development, conservation, climate change, and health policy. In 2005, Chris published Global Warming: Personal Solutions for a Healthy Planet, which offers a description of the climate change problem and a practical guide to the solutions.
In the 1990s, Spence worked as a political researcher in the Labour Research Unit of the New Zealand parliament, speechwriter, journalist and lobbyist in New Zealand and he was also the lead singer and front man in a popular rock band called Edge with his younger brother for a while. In 1997, Spence became the youngest ever Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, a public health advocacy/lobby group. Spence led intensive communications and public relations work, policy development and political lobbying, taking a public health perspective, on behalf of the drug and alcohol sector. This involved developing media campaigns, being a public spokesperson, and leading the development of research-based advocacy work. He also co-hosted a successful drug education conference and launched a popular website. In 1998, Spence left New Zealand to travel, and after spending time in New York visiting friends including his great friend John O'Brien and searching for work, his focus shifted to international diplomacy, particularly the United Nations negotiations on climate change and other environmental law issues. He worked as a consultant and advisor for a range of international organizations, including the International Institute for Sustainable Development and United Nations Development Programme. Then in 2006, he took on the position of Special Advisor to IUCN-the World Conservation Union. Spence led the Earth Negotiations Bulletin team to United Nations climate change negotiations from 1999–2002, and again in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2012, Spence joined the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, running their policy and innovation team at the Institute at the Golden Gate. In 2014, his role was expanded and he eventually went on to become Executive Vice President responsible for strategy and partnerships. In this role, he oversaw five departments and a large staff responsible for ensuring Golden Gate National Parks delivered inspiring programs and park experiences to the community. In 2014, his role was expanded to encompass the additional position of Vice President, Strategy and Innovation with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. In early 2018, he resigned to take some time off including to spend more time with his young family and resume his writing and singing activities with a new band called TDK. He explained his reasons for leaving in a He also returned to his former musical interests with a new band, TDK. Spence has also authored and co-authored several books. In September 2005, he authored the book Global Warming: Personal Solutions for a Healthy Planet. The book drew from Spence's experiences with the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and took issue with some of the policies of the Bush Administration on climate change. Spence has also been published in the American British Business Magazine, the New York Daily News, and Discover magazine.
