Alex Midlen

Alex Midlen has over 20 years work experience in coastal management, spanning the academic, business, public and charitable sectors.

During 10 years in local government Alex gained experience of local Plan Policy, developing policy for flood risk management and marine leisure, and planning for coastal development sites.

Regarding implementation Alex spent over two years as Regeneration Programme Manager, with a special emphasis on the regeneration of a former port area. Regarding more rural issues, Alex has written, guided and project-managed many coastal management plans, including for Natura 2000 sites, estuary areas, and for specific sectors (e.g. marine leisure, coastal landscape, coastal planning, finfish and shell fisheries), and has particular experience in community engagement.

Alex also has experience in inshore fishery management and in aquaculture. Furthermore, through CoastNet, Alex initiated five years of support work for Coastal Partnerships (including the Wash Estuary Partnership) and coastal governance. Alex worked for over 5 years to support the UK Local Government Association with regard to coastal issues, and represented it on UK Government working groups, in particular the Review of Marine Nature Conservation.

He was co-author of the LGA’s coastal strategy, ‘On the Edge&rsquo Alex has worked extensively in Europe and has particular expertise in the Interreg programme, having devised and managed a number of multinational, multi-partner projects, with budgets of up to €10 million.

Outside of work, Alex lives in a coastal community, and enjoys coastal walks and sailing. However, as a complete antidote to the coast, Alex enthusiastically follows vintage motor sport.