The Jury

We are delighted to announce our expert UK-Swiss jury, who will judge the application shortlist (Top 10) and select our Ambassador for a Day 2024.

Our jury is thrilled to support the Ambassador for a Day programme and holds glaciers dear. Most of all, they can't wait to see your photos!

Composed of a group of globally renowned photographers, several glacial and climate experts, and His Majesty's Ambassador James Squire - find out more about our jury below.

His Majesty's Ambassador James Squire

His Majesty’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein James Squire took up his current post in January 2023.

Before joining the British Embassy in Berne, he was Head of North East Asia and Pacific Department (2019 to 2022) and Head of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Department (2018 to 2019) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). He served as the Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan (2018).

Since joining the FCDO in 2008, Ambassador Squire has also worked in several other foreign policy and corporate roles, including four years at the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Before joining the FCDO, he worked in the private sector as a Fund Manager with Schroders PLC.

Swiss Photo Club

Founded in 2016 in Geneva, the Swiss Photo Club (SPC) has become Switzerland's largest dedicated photography school, with thousands of students in five major cities across the country.

Its mission is to help photographers of all levels to upgrade their skills, whether by taking a photography class (for individuals or organisations), joining the popular SPC Photo Awards competitions, or joining a photography trip in Switzerland or around the world.

SPC's CEO, Osan Altun, begun his adventure with photography as a hobby, trying to take good photos of the Wine & Tapas parties he was organising in Geneva. This hobby turned into a passion very quickly. After a 14-year finance career, Osan decided to leave his well-paid corporate job to pursue his dreams and convert his photography passion into a full-time job.

After studying at New York Film Academy, he launched "Geneva Photo Club", which quickly became "Swiss Photo Club" with incredible feedback from students. Osan is busy with three jobs at the moment, wishing for more than 24 hours in a day: managing SPC, doing photography and teaching photography.

Professor Neil Entwistle

Neil Entwistle is a Professor of River Science and Climate Resilience at the School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford. The University of Salford is located in Manchester, UK, and is partnering with the British Embassy Berne to offer one of the two competition prizes: a field-trip in the UK, led by Professor Entwistle, to study the impact of glaciers in different regions.

Professor Entwistle writes:

"Our climate is changing and I am able to put this in historical context thanks in part to work by the charitable organisation Alpine Glacier Project, which was established in 1972 and, along with the University of Salford where I work, I have led scientific expeditions to glaciers near Zermatt every summer for 20 years.

Scores of students have helped to observe the effect of our warming climate through chemically monitoring changes in meltwater, topographically surveying the landscape and by taking photos from the same position over the years. Over the project’s five decades, Gorner Glacier and Findel Glacier have retreated well over 1.5km and lost a staggering amount of mass.

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful, diverse, and awe-inspiring planet , it’s our duty to help nurture it for our children, and all future generations. Through understanding and science we can make a difference."

Professor Thomas Stocker

Professor Thomas Stocker has been the President of the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research since 2017 and Professor of Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland, since 1993.

Professor Stocker writes:

“I am working with UK and European scientists to find the oldest ice in Antarctica.

In order to learn more about the fragile polar areas and better understand tipping points in ice sheets and ecosystems, we are counting on the next generation of scientists and explorers.”