Our People

Dr Abigail Barker is one of the UK’s leading natural capital specialists, bringing deep scientific expertise and commercial insight to the application of nature-based solutions, carbon and biodiversity across rural estates.

Her work sits at the intersection of science, data and land management, supporting landowners and estates in navigating the increasing complexity of natural capital markets, environmental policy and emerging land use frameworks. She provides clarity on how natural capital can be applied in practice, from carbon and biodiversity net gain to wider land and estate strategy.

Abigail has worked with a wide range of clients including farmers, estates, as well as asset managers, water companies and charities.

She co-founded Natural Capital Research alongside Professor Sir Dieter Helm and Professor Baroness Kathy Willis, playing a central role in building the business as COO and later CEO.

Her background is rooted in science, having spent over 10 years at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where she led Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis. She holds a PhD in spatial and statistical modelling and brings over 20 years’ experience working with data, modelling and environmental systems.

Abigail is often called upon where a high level of technical understanding and analytical rigour is required, particularly in situations where natural capital needs to be understood, structured and applied in a credible and measurable way.

She brings a clear and analytical approach, helping clients move beyond theory to make informed, commercially relevant decisions that align with long-term land and estate objectives.