Living in the wilderness in rural Scotland, near the Trossachs, Eoin built a respect for nature’s power to heal. It also gave him a deep appreciation for adventure.
But with adventure, comes danger. Eoin turned his love of adventure and nature into a service for others, a commitment to mountain rescues.
Eoin shared his experiences in two very different worlds - one in finance and one in wilderness - with Executives in the Wild Hosts Diana Denke and Jessica Smith. This series features executives who find not only solace in nature, but also strength, resilience, balance and leadership in observing how nature creates a web of support and nurturing for every living thing, and regenerates.
Managing a career in nature finance while being on call for mountain rescue is difficult, Eoin explained. He relies heavily on the understanding of colleagues when he is suddenly called out to answer a distress call. Post-pandemic, call-outs have increased to nearly one per week, a 50% rise from previous years. A growing number involve people who go into the wilderness to find emotional comfort, or in some cases to find a way out. Eoin said some people in a mental health crisis don’t want to be found, so he and his team must respond with deep empathy and no judgement, as they may be a part of helping someone find a path back to stability. Eoin said it is a reminder that rescues are more than physically demanding. They can be emotional and psychological as well, requiring different skills and human sensitivity.
Join Diana and Jessica as they explore mountain rescue operations, where the rescuers must be careful to avoid becoming part of the problem as they rush in to assist others, always mindful of three concepts: self, team and casualty. Learn more about how Eoin applies the same philosophy in finance, where hasty decision-making can have serious consequences, and trust in the team is key..
Eoin is chief investment officer with Rebalance Earth, a boutique asset manager focused on financing nature as business-critical infrastructure. During his 30-year career, he has supported the launch of one of the first biodiversity equity strategies in collaboration with London’s Natural History Museum and initiated the UK Nature Investment Fund backed by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Eoin is currently studying for a PhD in Nature and Investment, cultivating a commitment to business as a vital role in protecting biodiversity. In his day job, Eoin is managing director of the Seed Bio Complexity Index at the Crowther Lab. He joined in 2024 to bring the index to wider use in the market. With over 30 years of experience as a successful business and investment leader, Eoin launched one of the first biodiversity equity strategies with the Natural History Museum in London and the UK Nature Restoration Fund.
Based in the UK, Eoin is chair of the Exmoor Search and Rescue Team, an instructor He instructs of swift water rescue, a water and flood incident manager, an ice rescue technician and a rope rescue operator. Eoin has a postgraduate diploma in Specialist Rescue from Coventry University and is an active member of the Institute of Search and Technical Rescue.
