Niall Watson (Attended 1977-1979)
Niall's Journey From Scots College to Global Conservation Advocacy
Published November 2024
Niall Watson attended Scots College from 1977 to 1979, and was a member of Fergusson House, and Head Prefect.
“My father was a NZ diplomat so Scots was the last of nine different schools I attended,” says Niall. “I arrived in 5th Form in 1977 and it was quite the baptism of fire (I had to lose the Canadian accent pretty quickly!), but it was loads of fun and the start of some of the best friendships I've ever had.”
Niall has many fond memories of his time at Scots. “Some highlights were the 1978 rugby tour to Brisbane, and beating St Pats College in what was such a major rugby upset that it even got written up in the papers,” he recalls.
Being a Head Prefect meant a weekly meeting with Headmaster Bill Heppleston. “There were also lots of formal functions, made tolerable only by the company of my cool-as-a-cucumber best mate Andy Findlay.”
While he was at Scots, Niall’s ambition was to become a naturalist, driven by a deep love for the environment. However, as often happens in life, plans shifted. Niall went on to complete a Law degree at Victoria University, graduating with Honours in 1984. His environmental interests were incorporated into his studies with electives in environmental law.
During this time, his ambitions adjusted and he set his sights on becoming an environmental lawyer; however on graduating, Niall discovered that such a practice area barely existed in New Zealand at the time. Instead, he entered the field of energy law, and worked in offshore oil and gas exploration.
In the late 1980s, Niall was offered a role at the Ministry for the Environment, and from there, the environmental law wave took him to the UK, where he fulfilled his career goal as he joined the environmental law team at Dentons, one of London’s prestigious firms.
Four years later, Niall took a bold step, leaving behind the comforts of London to finally go on the African adventure he’d always dreamed of. He spent 18 months volunteering across the continent, contributing to the Biodiversity Convention negotiations in Nairobi and cheetah conservation efforts in Namibia - experiences which further solidified his complete commitment to the environment.
When Niall returned to the UK, he was offered a three-month contract with WWF UK. “That temporary role turned into a twenty-year career with one of the world’s leading conservation organizations!” he laughs.
Initially hired as a Biodiversity Policy Officer, the position evolved over time, culminating in his role as the organization’s first in-house General Counsel. Along the way, he worked on critical issues such as the illegal wildlife trade, the Heathrow airport expansion, and corporate responsibility for environmental and social practices.
One of Niall’s proudest achievements was spearheading a successful two-year campaign to prevent oil exploration in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the home of the endangered mountain gorilla. It was a career-defining moment for him and a powerful demonstration of the impact that environmental law could have on preserving critical ecosystems.
“My time at WWF also included a famous legal battle with the World Wrestling Federation over the use of the ‘WWF’ initials,” recalls Niall. “The result was a victory for conservation, though not without consequence—we were receiving up to 100 hate emails a day from wrestling fans.”
After two decades at WWF-UK, Niall co-founded two influential NGOs: the Corporate Responsibility (CORE) Coalition and Legal Response International (LRI). The latter provides pro bono legal advice to developing countries during Climate Convention negotiations, bringing together lawyers from across the world to support those most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
In 2016, Niall left WWF, pointing out that it was not out of dissatisfaction, but a recognition that sometimes you must move on. His next chapter saw him consulting, including a role at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), where he led investigations into whether the Bank’s projects adhered to strict environmental and social policies.
Reflecting on his career, Niall acknowledges that it wasn’t the most conventional legal path. “But it was a path that aligned with my values and passion for the environment,” he says. His journey serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of following your passion, even when the road ahead isn’t clear.