Breaking News!
Big congratulations to our Founder/CEO, Maxwell A. Ayamba BEM who has been conferred with a doctorate in Black Studies, Department of American & Canadian Studies, School of Arts and Cultural Studies, University of Nottingham at a graduation ceremony on 28th July 2025. Maxwell was awarded the Midlands4 Cities/Arts & Humanities Research Council Scholarship which enabled him complete his PhD research studies successfully. His research explores the lived experience of people of Black African ancestry’s perceptions of the English Landscape through the lens of the Peak District National Park, the first English National Park created in 1951.
Maxwell who is also an environmental journalist by profession was awarded a scholarship from Ghana to study Journalism at the University of Cardiff. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Management and Conservation from Sheffield Hallam University (SHU). Maxwell is a former Associate Lecturer/Research Associate at (SHU) and is a co-Founder of 100 Black Men Walking Group in 2004, which inspired the national play, “Black Men Walking” in 2018/19, which was a co-production between Eclipse Theatre & The Royal Court Theatre.
He is the first Black or person of colour to serve on the Board of the Ramblers Association UK (2005 – 2007). Maxwell was named in 2021 as one of the 70 most remarkable people in the history of the Peak District National Park since its creation in 1951. In 2021, he received the National Lottery Award in the Heritage category. He’s authored papers and chapters in books in relation to minoritised communities and the UK environment and was recognised in the 2023 King’s New Year Honours with an Order of British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the environment. He was awarded an M4C & AHRC scholarship to study PhD at the Department of American & Canadian Studies, University of Nottingham. In 2022 Maxwell was also awarded the University of Nottingham Vice-Chancellor’s Medal in 2022 for outstanding work in grassroots communities in relation to part of the University’s Research Excellence Framework (REF).
In 2022 he co-designed and delivered “Engaging diverse communities training” for Natural England Inclusion and Diversity Officers. In 2020, he contributed to a national document titled, “Enhancing Access Opportunities ELM Test and Trial Literature and Evidence Review and Recommendations”, for Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). In 2013, Maxwell contributed to the publication of the Imperial College’s Open Air Laboratory Nature Community Environment Report – Exploring Nature Together launched at the House of Lords. In 2009 he produced a working manual, “Engaging Black & Ethnic Minority Communities” – Vols. 1 & 2 (unpublished) for the Environment Agency of the North- East Region.
In 2003, Maxwell was commissioned to undertake a piece of research titled, An initial overview of key issues relating to employment and ethnic minorities for the Peak District National Park Authority in 2003.