MASIC presents: Being Fruitful

Dave Bookless is Director of Theology for A Rocha International, an international Christian nature conservation organisation.

He is also an ordained Anglican minister leading a multiracial church in Southall, London, and a member of the Church of England’s Environment Working Group. In addition, Dave is an Associate of the Faraday Institute in Cambridge, a Global Catalyst for Creation Care with the Lausanne Movement, and serves on global committees for the Season of Creation and Renew our World.

Born in India, Dave and his wife Anne have lived in multifaith Southall since 1991, and their four daughters have all grown up there. He has a PhD in Theology and Biodiversity Conservation from Cambridge University, has spoken and lectured on environmental issues across six continents, and has contributed to over 20 books including Planetwise (translated into Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Korean and Spanish) and God Doesn’t do Waste. 

To relax, he enjoys wildlife, running, mountain walking and Indian food.

Lizzy is currently a gap year intern and soldier at Addlestone Salvation Army. She is passionate about social action and climate change and is currently project managing Addlestone Salvation Army's communal garden, 'The Garden of Hope', which aims to promote sustainability, community and well-being by bringing isolated individuals together and back to nature.  

Lizzy has been raising awareness locally through various community events. In September 2021 she was a guest panellist at the launch of The Cumberland Lodge 'Climate Futures: Youth Perspectives' report, which offers practical recommendations from young people to the international delegations and other stakeholders preparing for the UN's COP26 summit in Glasgow.

She is continuing the conversation with her church as to how best they can care for creation and live out The Salvation Army’s theology of 'caring for creation' as individuals and as a church.  

Alan has been the Secretary for Business Administration since July 2014 and is responsible for all business functions of the UK and Ireland Territory – Finance, Property, Information Technology, Audit and Assurance and Business Services, which includes Fleet Management, Business Development and Tendering, Risk, Safe Mission (Health and Safety), Procurement, Data Protection and Secretarial and Administration Unit.  

In 1975, Alan started work in his home city of Newcastle Upon Tyne where he worked in the Education Department of Newcastle Metropolitan District Council, as a Finance Assistant. Three years later, Alan trained to be a Salvation Army officer in London and then served in South Wales and in North and then West Yorkshire. 

Since 1989 Alan has worked in Salvation Army finance in a variety of roles, moving between the headquarters responsible for the Army’s work in the United Kingdom and Ireland and in its International Headquarters. 

Alan is married and has three children who are now grown up and married. He and his wife have six grandchildren ranging in ages from 11 years to 4 months. 

Violet works as a Programme Adviser in charge of Sustainable Livelihood Programmes within the International Projects in the Salvation Army UK and Ireland. She has expansive experience working with varied faith-based organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa. She has a Masters in Agroecology and Food Security and has researched on how Climate Change is impacting the Food Security of populations in Africa. 

She is a committed Christian member of Rugby Baptist Church where she also serves in the Environment Committee.