## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From** 01.04.2024 **period start date to** 31.03.2025 **period end date**
**Charity name:** The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP) **Charity registration number:** 1164082
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|1) To promote the conservation and better
management of tropical ecosystems and the
scientific understanding of the rainforests and
other natural and modified habitats of South
East Asia; and
2) To advance research, training, education and
awareness in, and associated with, the
rainforests and other natural and modified
habitats of South East Asia|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|During the reporting period, activities focused
primarily on governance, oversight, risk
management and strategic stewardship of
SEARRP’s scientific and conservation mission.
The charity does not directly deliver field
programmes; instead, it provides assurance,
oversight and expert guidance in respect of
activities delivered by its long-standing not-for-
profit partner organisation in Malaysia,
Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd (RRSB).|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees have had due regard to the
Charity Commission’s guidance on public
benefit. SEARRP advances public benefit
through the oversight and stewardship of
internationally recognised scientific
research, capacity building and
conservation activities in South East Asia,
with a particular focus on Malaysia and
Indonesia. Trustee oversight helps to
ensure that these activities are conducted
to the highest standards of scientific rigour,
ethical practice, safeguarding and financial
probity, thereby delivering wider benefits to
society through improved understanding,
management and protection of tropical
forests.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|Collaboration agreement in place between
SEARRP and its Malaysian-based partner
organisation (Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd -
RRSB) to provide a governance structure and
mechanism for internal grant awards and fund
transfers.|
|---|---|---|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|None for the reporting period|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|None for the reporting period|
|Other||None for the reporting period|
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|During the year, the Board of Trustees met
formally on three occasions, including one in-
person meeting. Trustees provided active
oversight and advice in relation to:
• Financial management and review of audited
accounts for the Malaysian operating company;
• Governance arrangements for overseas
operations, including approval in principle for
revised shareholding and governance
structures for RRSB;
• Oversight of safeguarding, health and safety,
and the implementation of independent
whistleblowing and staff training systems;
• Strategic development of a proposed
SEARRP Training Centre in collaboration with
Universiti Malaysia Sabah;
• Succession planning for both senior staff and
the Board of Trustees; and
• Strategic engagement linked to SEARRP’s
40th anniversary, including support for an
application to the Royal Society for a Science+
Discussion Meeting.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|None for the reporting period|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|The SEARRP UK charity did not actively
conduct external fundraising during the
reporting period, reflecting its governance-
focused role, but income accruing to the
Malaysian-based operating company (RRSB)
showed strong growth and post-Covid recovery.|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|Not applicable for the reporting period|
|Other||None for the reporting period|
## **Financial Review**
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The charity itself continues to operate on a
low-cost basis and without a financial
reserve. Trustees kept the financial position
of the wider SEARRP programme under
close review, including scrutiny of audited
accounts for Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd,
which were fully up to date and unqualified
for the first time since the company’s
establishment.
The Trustees recognise the ongoing
financial risks associated with operating
without reserves and with a relatively
narrow funding base, and continue to
monitor income diversification through
training and advisory activities delivered by
the Malaysian partner organization
(RRSB).|
|---|---|---|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The Trustees continue to keep the need for
a formal reserves policy under review. At
the end of the reporting period, the charity
held no free reserves, reflecting ongoing
financial constraints and the governance-
focused nature of the UK charity.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|Zero|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|Limited fundraising activity, together with the
charity’s low-cost, governance-focused
operating model and ongoing financial
constraints.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|Not applicable|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|Not applicable|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|where relevant about:|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|To date, the principal sources of funding have
been philanthropic, including donations from
SEARRP Trustees and alumni.|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|During the reporting period SEARRP did not
raise investable funds. A policy on investments
will be developed as necessary.|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The Trustees reviewed principal risks
facing the charity and the wider SEARRP
programme, including financial
sustainability, safeguarding, reputational|
|||risk, and succession planning. Mitigation
measures are set out in the SEARRP Risk
Register and are kept under regular review.|
|---|---|---|
|Other||None|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Existing trustees: by re-election
New trustees: by appointment (of the Board of
Trustees)|
## **Additional information (optional)**
|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|
|---|---|---|
|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|Founding trustees received an induction from
SEARRP’s legal advisors during the first formal
Board of Trustees meeting. Trustees appointed
subsequently receive briefing materials|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|SEARRP does not, at present, directly employ
staff in the UK. The SEARRP Director is
employed in the UK through a renewable 5-year
post-doctoral appointment at Swansea
University.|
|Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|SEARRP works closely with a not-for-profit
partner organisation (RRSB) based in Sabah,
Malaysia which is responsible for the
management and delivery of scientific
programmes, training and capacity building.
SEARRP has a formal collaboration agreement
with RRSB which includes provisions for joint
projects, fund transfers, grant payments etc.|
|Other||The SEARRP Board of Trustees had three
formal meetings during the reporting period.
The Chair of the BoT and SEARRP Director
held regular monthly update meetings and
additional meetings were held between the
Director and individual trustees on an ad-hoc
basis.|
|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|
|---|---|---|
|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|Founding trustees received an induction from
SEARRP’s legal advisors during the first formal
Board of Trustees meeting. Trustees appointed
subsequently receive briefing materials|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|SEARRP does not, at present, directly employ
staff in the UK. The SEARRP Director is
employed in the UK through a renewable 5-year
post-doctoral appointment at Swansea
University.|
|Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|SEARRP works closely with a not-for-profit
partner organisation (RRSB) based in Sabah,
Malaysia which is responsible for the
management and delivery of scientific
programmes, training and capacity building.
SEARRP has a formal collaboration agreement
with RRSB which includes provisions for joint
projects, fund transfers, grant payments etc.|
|Other||The SEARRP Board of Trustees had three
formal meetings during the reporting period.
The Chair of the BoT and SEARRP Director
held regular monthly update meetings and
additional meetings were held between the
Director and individual trustees on an ad-hoc
basis.|
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|SEARRP|
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee (if
whole year
any)
Professor John Pyle Chair SEARRP Board of Trustees
1
FRS CBE
2 Irene Dorner
3 Dr Rosie Trevelyan
4 Professor Jane Hill
5 Anthony Geffen
6 Geoff Lye
7 Emmet Keeffe
Boyd McCleary CMG
8
CVO
9 Datuk Darrel Webber
Dato’ Henry Barlow
10
OBE
Professor Andrew Professor Krockenberger
Krockenberger acted up to March 2025,
11
when he sadly died after
a period of illness
Registered charity number 1164082
Charity’s principal address Kings College Villa
Kings College Road
Belsize Park
London NW3 3ES
**----- End of picture text -----**
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name** None
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** None
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the Not applicable charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for Not applicable safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser** None
## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
Dr Glen Reynolds MBE, SEARRP Director and Managing Director of RRSB ( _please note_ : Dr Reynolds is employed at Swansea University, UK via a SEARRP/RRSB-funded Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship – and is registered as a correspondent for SEARRP with the Charity Commission)
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable
## **Other optional information**
None
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)**[Professor John Adrian Pyle FRS CBE] **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair, SEARRP Board of Trustees **Chair, etc) Date** 13th January 2026
||**The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S**|**The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S**|**The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S**|**The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S**|**The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S**|**1164082**
**No (if any)**
**E**|**1164082**
**No (if any)**
**E**|**1164082**
**No (if any)**
**E**|**CC16a**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**For the period**
**from**||01.04.2024
Period start date||**To**||31.03.2025
Period end date|||
|||||||||||
|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||||||
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest**
**£**||**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**||**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**||**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|None for the period|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for_
_AR)_|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**27,575**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**|||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**||||||||||
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_ **
**A3 Payments**|**-**||**-**||**-**|||||
||||||||**-**||**27,575**|
|||||||||||
|Bank charges|**25**||**-**||**-**||**25**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_ **|**25**||**-**||**-**||**25**||**30,205**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**|||||
|**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**||||||||||
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|||
|**_Sub total_ **|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Total payments_ **
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_ **
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_ **|**25**
**- 25**
**-**
**3,375**
**3,350**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|||||
||||||||**25**||**30,205**|
||||||||**- 25**|||
||**- 25**||**-**||**-**||**- 25**||**- 2,630**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**3,375**||**-**||**-**||**3,375**||**6,005**|
||**3,350**||**-**||**-**||**3,350**||**3,375**|
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)|None
**Details**
Cash in bank
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**
None
1|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**3,350**
**3,350**
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**-**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
OK
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||OK|
|||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
|||||**-**|
||||||
## **B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use**
## **B5 Liabilities**
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
|Signature
**Details**
None
None
**Details**|**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
Professor John PyleFRS CBE
Print Name|**Current value**
**(optional)**|
|---|---|---|
|||**-**|
|||**-**|
|||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||**-**|
||||
|||Date of
approval|
||Professor John PyleFRS CBE|15.01.2026|
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2