Chris is the secretary of the BOU Records Committee (BOURC). He developed a diverse interest in birds from an early age and as well as a natural enthusiasm for rarities, he is a trained ringer and has enjoyed roles as both local bird recorder and report editor. Whilst graduating in Ecology at the University of East Anglia he worked for Rare Bird Alert where nearly thirty years of service have given him a sound knowledge of the British birding scene that, alongside a wide range of identification interests, was recognised by his election to the British Birds Rarities Committee on which he served for twelve years.

Alex is the chair of the BOU Records Committee (BOURC) and Reader in Biodiversity at Manchester Metropolitan University. He works principally on the impacts of land-use change on bird populations but has long maintained an interest in avian vagrancy and with James Gilroy (former BOURC Chair) recently authored the first book on the subject. As well as serving as BOURC chair he is a member of the steering committee of the Sustainable Amazon Network (RAS), the United Nations Science Panel for the Amazon, the IUCN Species Survival Commission Red List Authority and the Manchester Biodiversity Action Group. He recently retired from the Brazilian Ornithological Records Committee.