Iolo Williams

Iolo Williams is a Welsh naturalist and television presenter who captivates audiences with his deep knowledge of wildlife and his genuine passion for conservation. With nearly 15 years as Species Officer for Wales at the RSPB and over two decades presenting for BBC and S4C, he has showcased the natural world through programmes including Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Winterwatch, and his recent series Nôl o'r Dibyn, which explores wildlife recovery across Wales and Europe. His presentations inspire audiences to understand the practical steps needed to protect habitats, restore ecosystems, and create space for nature to flourish in communities and organisations alike.

For almost 15 years, Iolo Williams worked as Species Officer for Wales at the RSPB, protecting some of the country's rarest breeding birds and gaining the deep field expertise that would later define his career in broadcasting. Born and raised in mid Wales, his degree in ecology from North East London Polytechnic laid the foundation for conservation work that inevitably drew media attention, leading to two BBC Two series, Visions of Snowdonia and Birdman, which documented his work on the ground. In the late 1990s, he made the transition to full-time broadcasting, creating programmes in both Welsh and English that brought the natural world of Wales and beyond into homes across the nation. Since 2010, he has become a familiar presence on BBC Two's Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, whilst also presenting series including Wild Wales, Rugged Wales, Iolo's Snowdonia, and Iolo's Borderlands, which explored the wildlife of the Welsh Marches.

His credibility extends well beyond the screen. As president of the Welsh Ornithological Society and patron of several Welsh conservation organisations, Iolo maintains active connections to the conservation community that shaped his early career. He has written numerous books on Welsh wildlife in both English and Welsh, and contributes regularly to BBC Wildlife magazine. His recent S4C series, Nôl o'r Dibyn (Back from the Brink), showcases wildlife recovery across Wales and Europe, including otter habitat restoration projects in south and west Wales where culverts are being redesigned to allow safe passage for returning populations. Bangor University, Aberystwyth University, and the University of South Wales have each recognised his contribution to conservation and public education with honorary fellowships. Beyond his professional work, Iolo holds a PADI Divemaster qualification and is a qualified paraglider, whilst his charity work has included climbing Kilimanjaro for Velindre Cancer Care and twice trekking the length of Wales for Air Ambulance and children's hospices.

Audiences at events gain practical understanding of how simple changes can yield significant results for wildlife, drawing on Iolo's decades of experience restoring habitats and observing ecosystem recovery. His presentations demonstrate that protecting nature is not solely about remote wilderness areas, but about creating space for wildlife in urban environments and everyday communities. Through accessible storytelling rooted in real conservation projects, he shows organisations and individuals alike how they can contribute to habitat restoration and species protection. His message is ultimately one of hope: that with informed action and collective effort, the natural world can recover and flourish, even in landscapes that have been degraded. Audiences leave with renewed motivation and clear, achievable steps they can take to make a tangible difference for the environment around them.