Carrie Symonds to start job with animal charity in return to work after birth of son

Symonds has been hired as head of communications for the leading wildlife charity The Aspinall Foundation

PM’s fiancee was named ‘person of the year’ by leading animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) in 2020 (PA)

Carrie Symonds, prime minister Boris Johnson’s financee, is returning to work following the birth of the couple’s son last April.

According to reports, Symonds, 32, has landed a high-ranking role at a famous animal charity, nine months after the birth of their son Wilfred.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed Johnson’s fiancee has been hired by the Aspinall Foundation as head of communications for the wildlife charity and conservation project.

The foundation is internationally known as a leading conservation charity that breeds and protects endangered species.

The Aspinall Foundation was founded in 1984 by professional gambler and zoo owner John Aspinall and its mission is to halt the extinction of rare animals,  They have two animal parks in the UK open to visitors, Howletts near Canterbury and Port Lympne, near Ashford, where there are dedicated sanctuaries for protecting endangered animals.

They fund animal protection projects in Congo, Gabon, Java and Madagascar while also providing financial support for sanctuary schemes in India and Cambodia.

Damian Aspinall, the charity’s chairman, said: “Carrie takes up her new role at an exciting time for the Foundation, and we are delighted to have someone of her calibre on the team.”

Aspinall added: “She’s a passionate champion for wildlife and conservation, whose energy and expertise will be a huge asset to us.”

Symonds is a known conservationist with a history of campaigning for animal welfare. Her new role follows a stint in public relations for the Oceana project that tackles plastic pollution. Carrie Symonds was named “person of the year” by leading animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) in 2020.

She has previously held positions as a press officer in the Conservative Party and as a media special advisor to former chancellor Sajid Javid. Symonds became the Conservative Party’s head of communications in 2018 but resigned from the position later that year.

After beginning a relationship with Boris Johnson, Symonds moved into 10 Downing Street with the prime minister in July 2019 and the couple announced their engagement in late 2019.