Robert Easton

Non-Executive Chair

Dr Robert Easton brings to Finance Earth decades of experience spanning private equity investment, higher education leadership, and strategic philanthropy focused on nature conservation and innovation.

Robert is a former Partner at Carlyle, the global alternative asset management company. During his 19 years at the firm, he performed a number of roles as an investment professional, leading investment teams and funds in buyout and technology investing, while serving on multiple portfolio company boards.

Robert is a past Chairman of the British Venture Capital Association and a serial investor in technology-driven small and start-up businesses. He has had a variety of engagements with the higher education sector, including at Oxford University, where he was a Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and at Imperial College London.

In addition to being a Trustee of Cancer Research UK, Robert is a Fellow of the British Heart Foundation and a Trustee of the Young Vic Theatre. Through his philanthropy, he funds causes in science, sport, music, theatre, higher education, and sub-Saharan Africa. For conservation-focused philanthropy, Robert established the Elgol Fund for Nature in 2024, a grant-giving charity dedicated to bridging funding gaps across the conservation landscape.